Spice up your meals this winter with herbs grown right in your kitchen. A little creative container gardening will go a long way in the flavor department, and can add a little spice to your kitchen decor, as well. With so many herbs to choose from, combining different plants in a single container can produce very eye-appealing greenery in your kitchen. Parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme are not only popular song lyrics, but a beautiful and aromatic herbal bouquet of shapes, shades and textures when planted together. Tarragon, oregano, basil and cilantro make a lovely combination as well.
Most herbs love bright sunlight. Small containers placed on a sunny windowsill, or a hanging basket suspended from the ceiling or window frame will do very well. For low light areas, however, several varieties of mint can be grown quite heartily with minimal sun. If you would like to enhance your kitchen decor, use containers that match your color or theme. Antique cooking utensils or garden containers, like an old watering can or strainer basket, can give a more rustic look and feel to your kitchen garden.
Be careful not to overwater your herbs. Always feel the soil first before watering. Allow it to dry out thoroughly between waterings and then fill until the water starts to run out the bottom holes of the planter. Also be sure your herb garden receives plenty of light. If there is not sufficient natural light, add fluorescent, spot or track lighting in your kitchen garden area. Improperly lighted herbs will be weak and wilty. Finally, harvest the flavors of your labor, and promote regrowth of your established herb plants by snipping often.
Herb planters make great personalized gifts for holidays and special occasions, too. You can root new plants by taking any leftover sprigs not used in cooking, stripping the stems of their bottom leaves and placing the stems in a jar of water. Within days, roots will form and your newly rooted herb will be ready for planting.
