Windowsill and Conservatory Herb Gardens

Quite the easiest place to create an indoor herb garden is on a windowsill. Since one of the essential requirements of plant life is plenty of light, this is clearly an excellent location as long as you remember to turn the pots round regularly to ensure even growth. A south-facing window is admirably suited to pots of Mediterranean herbs like sage, thyme, myrtle and rosemary, though the leafy, moisture-loving herbs such as sorrel and chives may flag unless shaded during the hottest part of the day. Given a choice, I prefer a wooden windowsill rather than one of stone or tiles because the latter tend to chill the pots during cold weather. One solution is to place a plank of wood or other insulating material under the pots to keep the roots warm and promote growth. Since plants like to grow in groups it makes sense, and often looks more attractive, to plant your herbs in a trough or bowl to create an indoor windowbox. Remember that if you lower a blind or pull curtains across the window at night then the herbs would prefer to be with you in the warmth of the room rather than shut out in the chilly - and possibly drafty - space against the window.