Container gardening, Herbs

Fresh Kitchen Herbs

Keep your kitchen supplied with fresh herbs all year with varieties that thrive on a sunny windowsill or under grow lights. For good results, give each plant their own pot. That way they can grow more swiftly.

Kitchen garden on a window sill.

Perennial herbs, such as rosemary, oregano, thyme, chives, and mint are easiest to grow from young plants that you buy at a garden center or start your own seeds. You can also use small plants dug from the garden. Many herbs can be started from cuttings, too. For instance, basil and mint are easy to root in a glass of water. Some herbs, such as basil, an annual, is best started from seed and replanted throughout the year.

How to Grow

Herbs in pots sitting on a window sill.

In natural light in a south-facing window have the brightest light and most hours of sun during the short, cool winter days. Good choices for these locations are rosemary, thyme, basil, mint, and oregano.

East- and west-facing windows receive bright sun for about six hours in the morning or afternoon, but east windows remain cooler. Good choices include mint, parsley, and chives which thrive with less intense light and prefer the cooler temperatures.

Under grow lights: Full-spectrum grow lights are ideal for all herbs and garden seedlings. Place plants within a foot of the bulbs and raise the light as necessary. Start by having the lights on for 12 to 16 hours a day for bright-light plants and adjust as necessary.

The soil media must have loose, fast-draining soil. Soggy soil, especially in cooler winter temperatures, can be fatal to these plants. Plant rosemary, thyme, oregano, and bay laurel in a blend of equal parts of cactus mix and regular potting soil. Let the soil dry a bit before watering. Other herbs grow well in regular potting soil. Keep soil slightly moist, but not soggy. Fertilize once or twice a month with a liquid houseplant fertilizer.

Types of Herbs to grow Inside

Basil herb in pot

Basil

A critical herb for cuisines around the world and a favorite pairing for tomatoes, basil is easy to grow indoors. Pinch off individual leaves and add to salads, sandwiches, and sauce. Plant seeds in a seed germinating medium and pot them in potting soil. Basil loves heat and bright light, so give it a southern or western window or use a grow light. Avoid cool, drafty spots, especially in the winter. Basil is not a long-term houseplant. You can expect to keep and use it for several weeks until the stems start to grow woody. To ensure a steady supply, plant a new batch of seeds every few weeks.

Bay plant in pot

Bay laurel

The thick, flavorful leaves of this Mediterranean shrub are essential ingredients for soups and stews. Pick individual leaves as needed or harvest a few from larger plants and dry them for storage. The oldest leaves have the strongest flavor. Plant in fast-draining soil, and place in a bright east- or west-facing window. Good air circulation helps prevent disease. Bay makes a nice houseplant to be moved outside in the summer.

Chives in terra cota pot

Chives

The spiky leaves of this onion-flavored herb added to eggs, soups, and salads. Use scissors to snip off individual leaves or give the whole plant a “crew cut” to keep floppy leaves tidy. Leave at least 2″ of growth so that plants can resprout. Chives are very easy to start from seeds and transplant a small “clump” to a bigger pot when they get a couple of inches tall. Chives grow best in bright light, such as a south-facing window.

Mint in pot

Mint

With so many varieties of flavorful varieties available including chocolate, you could devote an entire garden to mint. Snip leaves and sprigs for tea and mixed drinks, salads and desserts. Mint plants usually grow like a weed and their trailing, fragrant stems make them attractive houseplants. Keep the soil moist and give them strong light. Most are hardy perennials that can tolerate winter in our area.

Oregano in pot

Oregano

A must for Italian, Mexican, Central American and Middle Eastern cuisines, oregano is a member of the mint family. Strip the leaves from snipped stems and add to tomato sauces, meat, casseroles, soups, and stews. The dried leaves are more pungent than fresh. Grow oregano as you would other mints. Water when the surface of the soil is dry, but don’t let it dry out. Give the plants moderate to strong light.

Parsley in pot

Parsley

Choose curly or flat-leaf, but do give one a place in your kitchen garden. More than just a garnish, parsley adds bright color and flavor to soups, salads and fresh sauces. Harvest individual leaves by pinching stems off near the base. Grow in a deep pot with rich, organic potting soil and provide strong light.

Rosemary in pot

Rosemary

On a cold, wintry day, the earthy fragrance from a few crushed rosemary leaves can transport you to summertime. The needled leaves are among the must-add herbs to chicken, pork, lamb, soups, potatoes and olive oil. Snip 1-4″ sprigs and toss into soups, or strip the leaves and mince. Rosemary tolerates hot, sunny, dry locations in the summer months, but prefers cooler temperatures (40 to 65 degrees F) in the winter, as long as the light is strong.

Thyme in pot

Thyme

The versatile flavor of thyme and its many varieties make it a key ingredient in nearly every cuisine of the world. Its tiny leaves and trailing stems give it natural houseplant appeal, too. Pot thyme in a fast-draining soil mix and place it in a warm, sunny window. Water when the surface of the soil is dry, but don’t let it wilt.

Home Improvement

Coffee Tables

The furniture was inspired by Tudor’s design going back to Queen Elizabeth for in the bedrooms. Coffee tables grew in popularity from Victorian times and came out from the bedrooms. The tables that were part of the furniture were basically made from mahogany, rosewood, and oak. These settings often included the finest china, linens, and silver tea service on a marble tabletop. A nice tradition that has gone in the past. Today the wooden coffee tables may also be used in a more informal setting. Refreshments during a movie or sporting event in a family room or living room are common.

Victorian coffee table

Today, coffee tables in more formal settings are used for decorative accents. These tables may be made of wood, glass, wicker, marble or stone. They often display a floral arrangement, books or knick-knacks. Some families choose to use a coffee table to store books, magazines, newspapers or puzzles. Others may use it as storage for a homework center and for organizational space for families. Children may have fun spreading out their puzzles or games on a coffee table. Displayed models or puzzles can be shown off in a family room. A simple game of cards or checkers can be enjoyed by parents and children on a coffee table.

Marble topped coffee table

Unless you started a living room revolution and got rid of your coffee table, there’s a good chance it’s one of the most important pieces in your space. Nowadays your coffee table is so much more than a surface to kick up your feet or place a glass of wine. As the focal point of your living room, it acts as an anchor for your ottomans, armchairs, and sofas.

Your coffee table is such an important part of your living room, so it’s important it is designed, as you would your wall. Does stacking art books on your coffee table feel lackluster? Use your imagination by adding a plant and an art piece that has a personal touch to your living room. Or you could personalize it to suit your style. Do not forget to save space in case you want to invite some friends over to have coffee!

Container gardening, House Plants

Begonias make Excellent Houseplants

I’ve been personally perennializing my begonias for many years indoors. I can say from experience that it is super easy. Taking them in their pots in the fall, begonias make excellent houseplants. But before we get into the details, we should mention that there are two distinctly different types of begonias.

Wax begonias growing in a south window in the winter.

Actually, there are 1600. But that’s species; we’re talking about the two main types of fibrous-rooted begonias here. The “Dragonwing” begonias and wax begonias are the popular line of hybrids with big leaves and very colorful flowers—are an example of the ‘bedding plant’ type, sold as seeds or small plants and meant to be displayed in shady gardens from spring until fall, when the first frost kills them—same as other annuals like marigolds and impatiens.

The other type is the tuberous begonias. These fall into the category of ‘ summer blooming bulbs’. Like dahlias, tuberous begonias are sold as big bulbs or rhizomes (the ‘tubers’) and are typically planted in containers, so that you can easily take the root out before the first hard frost and store it indoors for the winter as they will go dormant and regrow sometime in the spring. It may be easier to buy new ones (either tubers or the actual flowering plant).

As for the fibrous-rooted begonias, I just bring the whole pot inside. If you can provide bright enough light either east or south window, they’ll bloom indoors all winter.