Garden Nations

Winter · Indoor Herbs Fresh Herbs All Winter, Right on Your Windowsill When the garden goes quiet, your kitchen window can keep the harvest going. There is something special about cutting a few leaves of fresh basil or chives in the middle of January, when everything outside is grey and frozen. And it doesn't take a greenhouse. A bright windowsill, the right herbs, and a few simple habits are enough. The hard part is not planting, it's keeping them alive. Short days, dry heating air, and too much water kill more indoor herbs than anything else. Here is how to avoid all three and keep your herbs growing until spring. The Biggest Challenge: Winter Light In Central and Northern Europe, a December day can bring as little as seven or eight hours of weak daylight. Most herbs want at least six hours of direct light , so placement matters more than anything else. South-facing window: the best spot by far. West-facing comes second. As close to the glass as possible: ...

Herbs · Tea Garden Grow Your Own Herbal Tea Garden A few easy herbs on a sunny windowsill or balcony give you fresh teas all year. There is something special about making a cup of tea from leaves and flowers you picked yourself a few minutes earlier. Many of the herbs people have used for tea for centuries are also some of the easiest plants to grow: they need little care, little space and very little money. The best part: you probably already know these plants. Mint, chamomile, ginger, lemon balm, lavender and thyme are not exotic. Here is how to grow them, harvest and dry them, and turn them into simple, comforting herbal teas. Why Grow Your Own Tea Herbs? Cost: A packet of seeds costs €2 to €4, and a single chamomile plant produces enough flowers for months of tea. Store-bought herbal teas run €5 to €10 per box. Freshness: Dried herbs sitting on a shop shelf can be months old. Herbs from your own garden are harvested at peak potency. Control: You know exactly what you are consu...