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Indoor Herb Gardening

Discover the art of growing herbs indoors with this comprehensive guide. Learn cultivation methods, soil requirements, nutritional needs, and pest control strategies. Explore which herbs thrive indoors, and how to harvest and preserve your bounty. Uncover the history and culinary uses of herbs while gaining practical insights for successful indoor herb gardening. Find advice on container cultivation, lighting, soil composition, fertilization, and combating insects and diseases. From basil to thyme, master the essentials of growing and maintaining your indoor herb garden.

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Indoor Herb Gardening

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  1. Indoor Herb Gardening Mary Beth Culver, Gul Behsudi, and Sid Abel

  2. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

  3. What you will take away from today How to successfully grow herbs indoors Cultivation Soils/Growing medium Nutritional needs Insects and disease control Herbs to grow indoors Harvesting your bounty Sources of Information

  4. Herbs Plants valued for their flavor, fragrance, medicinal and insecticidal qualities or economic or industrial use, or in the case of dyes, for the pigments they provide

  5. History “An herb is the friend of physicians and the praise of cooks.” – Charlemagne • Lascaux cave paintings depict herbs dating back perhaps as much as 25,000 years! • Referenced in Indian, Chinese and Egyptian writings for medicinal uses • In the Middle Ages, herbs were uses to preserve meat, mask odors, and were associated with witchcraft and paganism • First accounts of food use or in cooking date back to the Romans

  6. Why Grow Herbs? • Easily grown indoors or outdoors, in pots or in the garden • Very little space is needed • Few pests or diseases • Rewards are tangible

  7. Indoor Container Cultivation • Types of plants: • Annuals • Biennials • Perennials • Grown from: • Seeds • Cuttings • Division of roots • Well drained growing medium using soil-less mix and compost

  8. Indoor Container Cultivation • Prefer full sun or under grow lights • 6 or more hours of sun daily • Under lights, 14-16 hours under T-5 fluorescent lights (more expensive than T-8 lights, 2-3 times the output) • Fertilize sparingly with a slow release form, if at all • Water requirements depend on indoor environment and location

  9. Soils • The right growing media: Lightweight, soilless growing media (a.k.a “potting soil”). They usually contain a combination of ingredients: peat moss, coconut coir, compost, bark fines, rice hulls, perlite, vermiculite • A 50:50 mix of commercial growing media and compost is also ok

  10. Indoor Nutritional Needs • Fertilizer: commercial growing media have enough nutrients to get plants started • Plants can be fertilized lightly with a balanced, liquid fertilizer after four weeks. Healthy herb plants that are thriving indoors are fertilized as needed • Water when the soil feels dry to the touch – don’t drown them!

  11. Insects and Disease • Less susceptible possibly because of their fragrance and flavors • Major insects: Aphids Whiteflies Mites Slugs

  12. Control of Diseases and Insects • A healthy growing environment is important to control insects and especially diseases • Mechanical control (hand-pick pests and dying leaves) – preferred for light insect infestation • Chemical control of severe pest infestation: • insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, neem oil, pyrethrins

  13. Ideal Indoor Herbs • Most any herb can be grown indoors, good light, water and the right nourishment are key • Food Favorites: Sweet basil Dill Mint Chives Oregano Parsley Cilantro Sage Thyme • Aromatic Favorites: Lavender Aloe vera Chamomile

  14. Harvesting and Preserving Highlights Harvesting: • Flowers – Pick as they fully open • Seeds – Fully ripe (no green showing) • Leaves – depends on the species Preserving: • Freezing – Rinse well, pat dry, cut into small pieces and place on waxed paper or ice cube tray wrapped in freezer bags. Drying: • Similar to dehydrator directions; bundle stems removing leaves near base, secure with elastic band, hang in dark cool location.

  15. References • https://www.herbsociety.org/herbs/documents/BeginnersHerbGarden_pdf.pdf • http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/srb9606.htm • http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/herbs/ne208hrb.htm • http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/boulder/horticulture/pdf/Year-Round%20herb%20Garden.pdf • www.extension.umd.edu/hgic (search HG #600)

  16. References • http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications/pubDetail.cfm?pk_id=7751 • http://clark.wsu.edu/volunteer/mg/gm_tips/Herbs.html • Herb gardening from ground up , 2012 by Sal Gilbert and Larry Sheehan • Homegrown herbs, 2011 by Tammi Hartung • Beautiful easy herbs, 1997 by Laurence Sombke

  17. Resources Grow It! Eat It! http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit We have all types of practical food gardening tips and information. Check out our popular blog! Home and Garden Information Center http://www.extension.umd.edu/hgic Here you will find factsheets, photos, and videos. You can also subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter. We answer gardening questions 24/7…just click “Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts” Maryland Master Gardener Program http://www.extension.umd.edu/mg Consider becoming a trained MG volunteer!

  18. This program was brought to you by the Maryland Master Gardener Program Howard County University of Maryland Extension

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