Food on Friday (A Confession)

Friday, February 18, 2011

Today's topic is herbs.

Specifically, idyllic kitchen-window herb gardens.

You know, so that when a recipe calls for fresh parsley or basil or rosemary, you think to yourself, "Ah, I will just prance over in my frilly apron and snip some fresh herbs from my beautiful little herb garden that is basking in the afternoon sun on my counter."

In a nutshell, I cannot seem to keep herbs alive.

I think I overwater them, and then they get to looking like they are drowning. So then I don't water them for a week because I think they have had their fill. Then they start to shrivel up, and so I water them again, but they still look shriveled. Or maybe they now look overwatered and underwatered! Aah!! (I killed a rosemary plant in the fall, and my basil plant is looking pretty sad of late...)

Do you have kitchen herb gardens? (Or ones outside, when it is warm enough?) What is your secret to keeping them alive???!?!

10 comments:

... said...

I have big deep cement pots outside on the deck: basil, rosemary, parsley, chives. I start with seed on all but the rosemary. Never had luck with that and just started from a small plant. In my climate, they grow better outside than in the air conditioned inside. I tried inside and they looked so whimpy so I think it is best to stick to outside. Try that and see if you have better luck and use deep pots that will help you manage water issue better. They get a lot of afternoon sun so in the deep summer, I have to water a good bit, but I usually forget about them until they look droopy. My basil grows like crazy so I have to “chop” it down probably every week or so. (I make pesto or plain olive oil & basil to freeze in ice cube trays, then transfer to plastic bags. Use all through the winter.)

FYI: herbs are the ONLY thing I can grown.

Brigittemarie said...

I had to toss my inside herb garden because it was dying and had little buggies in it. EW. And it was so nice to "prance" over to get fresh herbs!!! I'm going to try it again with a regular watering schedule. Generally I think things just grow better outside :-P Have you seen these though?!! It's like a space station herb garden...

http://www.amazon.com/AeroGarden-900110-1208-Classic-Garden-Gourmet/dp/B0015MG9P2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1298037928&sr=8-4

Happy Friday :)

Praying for Hope said...

I can't keep herbs alive indoors, either. I do have a rosemary plant that's survived for three years. Since it's an annual in PA, I over winter it in our garage in front of a window. So far, so good. I think they need a dormant period to do well for the rest of the year.

Coco said...

I can't grow herbs in pots. Period. But I have a little spot in my flower garden, right outside my front door and they seem to do well there during the growing season. It is just a little less than full sun, with shade for only a couple hours am and pm. I remember to water them a couple times a week. It's the only place I can grow them, but they do really well there. Although I've always been curious about those water based kitchen top herb garden. No dirt, just water. Wonder if they work? Good luck!

Maegan said...

I have the same problem, although I have NO issues with growing herbs outside! I think a lot of herbs needs lots of sun - basil, for example. It takes off like crazy outside. I start basil from seed in long boxes on the deck. At the end of the year I chop all the extra leaves and add oil, then freeze. I break off as much as I want and put it into sauces. It tastes just like fresh! But yes, I can't get the hang of growing inside.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, that's strange. Are they getting enough sun? We had several pots of herbs on our deck (right outside the kitchen - we move them inside in the winter), and I barely ever watered them unless we were having a really dry summer and they just grew. And when I did water them, I pretty much soaked them. Are the pots big enough?
I used organic potting soil from our local grocery store, but didn't really use anything else on them. Did you start from seeds or from seedlings?
A tip for making them grow bushier rather than taller is to cut often, and don't let them flower (cut below bud).
Sorry, probably none of that is very helpful...

Jessica said...

I don't grow herbs, but SO want to! Look forward to hearing if you have any success. :)

Trisha said...

You have to be careful with the windows too; we have one that if you put a plant in front of it, the sun will fry it. My Dad, Mr Green thumbs, taught me that :) I did one outside here but haven't tried indoors yet.

Adele said...

We have a few pots of herbs. I don't touch them. My husband is responsible for the watering, care, re-potting, etc. Because I consistently (though unintentionally) kill them:)

The Wife said...

I can usually do herbs for a few months, maybe a whole season but I never can get them to grown enough that I can use them w/o decimating the plant. Except chives. I'm awesome at chives!