Growing a windowsill herb garden for kids is a great way to get them involved in gardening and cooking. You will be surprised at how their faces light up when they see their plants begin to grow.
This post may contain affiliate links.
When their herbs are used as part of a meal, they will let everyone know with pride. Fast-growing, easy to grow herbs are best for children.
Basil can be grown from seeds or cuttings, offering kids an opportunity to see more than one option for planting.
To prepare cuttings, soak steps for approximately two weeks in water until roots begin to appear and then plant in pots. It does well in sunny locations that are free of drafts.
Summer savory is another easy to grow plant. It is began from seeds and germination takes two to three weeks. It needs plenty of full sunlight and rich, well-drained soil to thrive.
In pots, you will find it necessary to fertilize every month or so to achieve optimal growth. To encourage prolific growth, you can pinch the growing points of the plant.
Fennel is a versatile herb as the entire plant-bulbs, seeds and leaves-can be used in cooking. It is grown from seeds planted an eighth of an inch deep. Care should be taken to find small varieties as larger ones can grow as large as four foot tall.
Fennel requires full sun and well-drained soil. Initially, soil should be kept moist. After about two weeks when the first leaves appear, you can reduce to watering when the finger test shows a need.
Thyme is one of the easiest to grow herbs you can find. It offers three methods of propagation-seeds, cuttings and root divisions.
When provided with a hot, sunny location with well-drained sol, it does well. It is even able to withstand drought conditions.
With potted plants, care should be taken to monitor growth. It is not unusual for herbs to run out of space in their pot and begin to wither. In these cases, it will be necessary to replant the herbs in a larger pot.
You generally want a pot that is a couple inches larger in diameter. Some plants allow root divisions, enabling you to keep the plant in the same pot, but use divisions to start additional plants.
These inexpensive colorful pots are perfect to start out with, until your herbs need to be replanted in a larger pot.
When doing windowsill herb gardens for kids, a close eye should be kept on watering habits.
Children often have difficulty determining exactly how much or how little water a plant needs. Over-watering is a frequent problem and can lead to root rot.
Teach children to do the finger test to determine if watering is necessary. Show them how to poke about an inch into dirt and check for dryness.
Since children sometimes have difficulty with measurements, indicate a location on their finger, such as a knuckle, to make it easier for them.
Instead of using a watering can, consider giving kids a small bulb syringe, the type you use for giving liquid medications to young children. This reduces the potential for accidental spills and limits the amount of water they can give to plants.
The most important thing to remember when planting a windowsill herb garden for kids is to have fun. To begin you can get this easy kit from Amazon. It contains everything you need to get started!
Nova Person, a mother and an herb expert, has been gardening for over 20 years and shares this passion with her kids. To know more about growing Windowsills Herb Garden or herb gardening in general, please visit her site at https://growherbsinfo.com.
Succulent Herb Flower Garden Window Box Planter Pots Indoor Outdoor Antique Copper
Follow my gardening board on Pinterest.
