Growing up, I always loved flowers and plants, but I didn’t know much about gardening. Then, I fell in love with cooking and had to constantly buy fresh herbs which are surprisingly expensive for a small amount! So, I started dabbling in indoor herb gardens and was instantly hooked. Below are 5 tips and tricks for starting your indoor herb garden!

1. Light- One of the most important aspects when starting an indoor herb garden is having a strong light source. Picking a sunny spot in your home is key! If you don’t have a bright area, you can supplement natural light with CFL lighting. You can buy something simple and low cost, light a bulb and a small lamp, or, you can use something more advanced like a smart garden. I have personally used a Click and Grow, but there are many options that vary in price! You can keep your herbs in small pots on window sills, shelves, or a bookcase- below are examples of various her garden set ups.

2. Water- One might think that you should water indoor plants the same way we water an outdoor garden, but this isn’t necessarily the case! Watering your herbs 2-3 times a week is best, and watering should be done slowly and gently so your plants can soak up the water. If you water them too fast, the water will drain and inhibit the growth of the herbs.

3. Temperature- Herbs do best in 65-70 degree spaces. Herbs can survive in 60-65 degrees, but this actually slows down their growth. One thing to be cautious of, is the leaves touching glass windows, or surfaces that retain heat from the sun as this can burn their leaves.

4. Containers- Being mindful of the containers you use is key. All herbs should have their own container. Herbs don’t like to sit in standing water, so be sure to have containers that drain. Because they drain, you’ll want to have saucers or an additional surface for the water to drain on so as to not ruin any surfaces that may be susceptible to water damage. The size of the container is also very important! Some herbs, such as basil, have long roots. If your plants don’t seem to be growing well, or aren’t retaining water, the container might be too small for the roots! If you take the plant out of the pot, and many of the roots are showing or they retain the shape of the container, it’s time to upgrade that herbs home to something bigger. Herbs like to be planted in potting mix, not outdoor soil. I prefer organic indoor potting soil, but any potting soil will.

5. Love them- My last, and favorite tip, is to show your plants love! Frequently picking dead parts of the herb, harvesting the herbs or trimming them will allow them to grow. Although it might sound odd, talking to and encouraging plants is my favorite way to show them love and studies show that this really does help! Don’t be shy to tell them how nice they look from time to time!

Growing my own herbs, as well as starting an outdoor garden has been so rewarding, and the aroma they give off keeps my place smelling divine. It’s very satisfying to watch the progress of your plants and it’s fulfilling to grow your own food. My favorite part of having an herb garden is the ability to pick fresh herbs in my own home and not having to take a trip to the store for something so small. Buying an herb plant is also almos the same amount of money as buying one small bundle or container of an herb at the store.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have, or to share your indoor herb garden by emailing me at kluther@umbc.edu.

Happy gardening, 

Kristen

Pawpaws (Asimina triloba) are a delicious native fruit that grows wild in Maryland and also makes a wonderful addition to your garden if you have a partially shady spot that gets a little bit more water. Pawpaws like to propagate by sending up new shoots from their root tips, although they're easily trimmed back if you want to keep them more tidy and limit the number of trees. They can also be propagated from seeds or purchased as juvenile plants from nurseries. If adding them to your garden, know that it takes quite a few years until they mature and start to bear fruit, but it's well worth the wait.

Groves of these small understory trees can also be found tucked away on our very own UMBC campus near streams and ponds as well as a few that were planted near the community garden.

Due to their short shelf life, pawpaws aren’t usually sold in supermarkets but can be found in local farmers' markets and at a few orchards in Maryland starting mid to late August and into September. There are a few annual festivals in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania that celebrate the fruit (although, sadly, probably not this year). Also, keep an eye out for locally made pawpaw jams and ice cream that tend to show up around this time. Squishing fresh ripe pawpaws up in some vanilla ice cream with a little sprinkle of cinnamon is a sure winner for hot summer evenings. Or the New York Times has a pawpaw pudding recipe that's pretty great.

Another interesting fact and reason to add them to your garden is that pawpaws are the sole host plant for beautiful Zebra Swallowtail butterflies.

Local nurseries will carry different cultivars of this native tree. It's best to purchase at least two for pollination. A few favorite spots to source these from are Herring Run Nursery (purchases supports clean water ways in Baltimore) and Chesapeake Natives, Inc.

For more information:

• National Parks

• USDA PDF download

• UMD Extension