Herbs like rosemary, basil and cilantro not only add flavor and color to some of our favorite dishes but are easy to grow indoors. They thrive in containers, grow fast and typically require little more than adequate exposure to sunlight and water.
Planting an indoor herb garden also makes for the perfect family project, with tasks appropriate for kids of any age. The family gets to spend time together, learn about the life cycle of plants, build nurturing skills and learn how to incorporate the product of their work into the food they eat.
If you’ve been looking for something to do with kids to pull them away from their screens, we can show you how to put together an indoor herb garden of your own.
Laying the groundwork
Make sure there is a place indoors that receives about six hours of sunlight. A window ledge in the kitchen is ideal, but the potted plants can live on a table anywhere in the home near a source of sunlight.
Decide what herbs you want to plant by thinking about what you use (or want to use) most in cooking. Herbs like oregano, rosemary and thyme are commonly used in Italian and Greek dishes. Cilantro is excellent in Latin-based recipes. Parsley and chives are often welcome additions to salads, soups and baked potatoes. Mint is a highly versatile herb that appears in both sweet and savory creations.
You can start with young plants or with packets of seeds purchased at a local home and garden store. In addition, you’ll need to grab a bag of potting soil, containers and a trowel for transferring soil.
The seed of a good idea
Starting from seeds adds an extra thrill to the project as everyone gets to watch them sprout through the soil. The seeds need to be incubated before being planted in their final containers. Repurpose an empty egg carton and washed eggshells to create a perfect home to protect the seeds and keep them warm.
Once supplies have been gathered, it’s time to get to work. Each eggshell will need to be filled with potting soil about one-third to half way. Place two or three seeds into each eggshell and cover with more soil. The seeds need to be covered with about a one-half inch of soil.
Now add a little water so that the soil is moist but not drenched and place in sunny area of the home away from drafts.
Sprouting can take anywhere from 14 days to two months. Continue to check the moisture levels every two or three days. Add water as necessary. Remember that not every seed will necessarily sprout. So, this method is a good way to make sure you’re planting the hardiest of the plants once you’re ready to transfer the seedlings to pots.
Repotting young plants
When your seedlings have started to grow several leaves, it’s time to transfer to larger containers. You can also find young herbaceous plants in the Publix produce department as well as home and garden stores.
Set up a workspace on a table with room for the plants, new containers and potting soil. If working indoors, make clean-up easier by lining the work surface with plastic or newspaper. It will also be helpful to place the potting soil in a shallow tub or tray rather than taking it directly from the bag.
Take your trowel or a large spoon and fill the new containers with enough soil to make sure the topsoil of the plant is about one inch from the top of the container. Carefully remove the plant from the eggshells or its current container. Put the plant into the center of the new container and hold it in place while adding more soil around the base of the plant until the root system is fully covered.
Add water until the soil is moist and place the new containers in an area of the home that gets adequate sunlight.
When you’re ready to get cooking, gently tear or cut off the herbs you need.
This article is published as part of the Sun Sentinel Kids of Character program sponsored by Publix which recognizes kids and staff in South Florida public schools who exhibit the character traits of responsibility, kindness and cooperation. Visit www.publix.com to find a store near you and discover delicious recipes that incorporate herbs from your new indoor herb garden like this Basil Arugula Pesto or this healthy and delicious Lemon Melon Salad with Mint.
Jessica Chesler for Publix
