Grow your own Herb Garden in your Four Seasons Sunroom
A Four Seasons Sunroom is a great year-round environment in which to grow your favorite culinary herbs. Its unique CONSERVAGLASS SELECT™ glass formula will prevent your herbs from frazzling in the scorching summer sun as well as protecting them from freezing winter chills. And just imagine what a beautiful backdrop your lush, green windowsill herbs will make, while being tasty too!
So how do you go about growing your herb garden? Here’s a simple guide to help get you started.
1. Choose herbs from your garden center that grow well in containers and are a wonderful seasoning in foods, such as chives, thyme, oregano, basil, parsley, cilantro, sage, tarragon, rosemary and mint.
2. Some herbs work well as a mixed arrangement in the same container, others are better grown in their own pots because they are in danger of crowding out their neighbors. If you’re growing herbs together, you’ll need to separate them into two groups – those that need lots of moisture and those that don’t.
For example, basil and tarragon need a moisture-rich soil while chives, oregano, rosemary and thyme are known as Mediterranean herbs and require less water. Herbs that need their own container include parsley, cilantro, sage, rosemary and mint.
3. Herbs need plenty of drainage so make sure you select pots with holes in the base. Later, you can arrange your pots in pretty windowsill tubs or planters. Obviously the size of pot depends on the size of your herb plant but 10cm – 20cm pots are suitable for most type of herb. Moisture-loving varieties go well in plastic containers but a terracotta pot will help draw out the excess moisture from the soil of Mediterranean herbs.
4. Fill the pots with equal parts of compost, potting soil and perlite to promote good drainage.
5. Scoop a hole in the mixture and transfer your baby herb plant into the hole, pressing down the soil around the center stem with your fingertips.
6. Stand your pots on a tray or inside another container and water thoroughly until water drains out of the bottom. After 10 minutes drain the tray under your pots and your herbs are ready to arrange in planters on the windowsill of your sunroom, conservatory or patio enclosure.
7. Remember to water your herbs regularly, preferably in the morning so they stay moist throughout the day in your sunny sunroom. If the soil feels dry on top, they need watering! Remember, moisture-loving herbs may need checking more often.
8. Feed your herbs with a liquid plant food during periods of active growth. Take care not to overfeed because it can make the plant too leggy and impair the aroma and flavor of the herb.
9. Finally, the more you use your herbs, the more they’ll grow. Snip off leaves from the top of the stem and this will promote bushier growth. Remove dry or dead leaves and stalks because these will be taking up unnecessary energy. Simply ‘compost’ them by pressing them into the soil of your herb container.