Window Box Herbs

by S. Miller
(Acworth, GA, USA)

I generally grow my herbs in window sill containers in my kitchen. I like to go to garage sales and find cute, unique little containers that are the right size to sit on my window sills.

One of my favorite finds is a long, skinny planter that looks like a chicken. I use regular potting soil and pick the herb that I think will do best in each container. My favorite herbs to grow have been dill, basil, purple basil, peppermint, spearmint, thyme, chives, and sage. I haven’t had much luck with growing rosemary, though I have tried it a couple of times.

Growing in window will containers does limit your yield, but they’re convenient because you can just snip off what you need right there in the kitchen. When I grow in the window containers I find that I use the herbs more quickly and less of them go to seed on me.

I prefer to use the herbs fresh, but I have also grown larger batches of herbs in long planter boxes on my deck for drying purposes. This works well, but you have to be mindful of critters. I had a beautiful box of chives that were destroyed by one very greedy tomato horn worm.

The great thing about growing herbs is that really anyone can do it. I am no green thumb, but I manage to grow some really nice little herb gardens. I think herb gardens are a great way to introduce children to gardening! They’re simple to plant and they require little maintenance, but they are really very rewarding.

Herbs on eBay