HOW TO GROW AROMATIC HERBS

INDOORS

OVERVIEW

This guide is about aromatic herbs indoor gardening. Gardening indoors is useful for

any type of housing. Plants used for indoor gardening do not take much space and

require less maintenance than outdoor plants. You can also grow plants indoors for

aesthetic purposes when designing an interior garden for example. This gardening

method allows you to avoid the obstacles of changing seasons.

Audience

Indoor gardening is a useful gardening technique for most city dwellers and people who

do not have a gardening spot in their yard.

Purpose

With the information in this book, you will be able to:

Select the appropriate equipment and components to build an indoor planting

Grow and maintain aromatic herbs indoors

Harvest aromatic herbs

Understand aromatic herbs lifecycle

Prerequisites

Before you install your planter, make sure you do not have any allergy to the

plants (see page 3-6) fertilizers of pesticides mentioned in this guide.

Make sure you can have plants in your house.

Make sure you have enough place to store you materials.

Legal

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Unless otherwise noted, the companies, organizations, products, and logos depicted in examples herein are fictitious. Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, photocopying, or otherwise), or for any purpose, without the express written permission of Nature at home. Nature at home may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Nature at home, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property. © 2018 Nature at home. All rights reserved.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER 1: SELECTING MATERIALS ................................................................................................... 1

Equipment ........................................................................................................................................................ 2

Selecting your aromatic herbs .................................................................................................................. 4

CHAPTER 2: GROWING YOUR AROMATIC HERBS ............................................................................ 8

Germinating seeds ......................................................................................................................................... 9

Growing your seedlings ............................................................................................................................. 10

Watering your seedling ............................................................................................................... 10

Providing light to your seedlings ............................................................................................. 10

Growing your herbs .................................................................................................................................... 11

Transplanting your herbs ........................................................................................................... 11

Providing light to your herbs .................................................................................................... 11

Watering your herbs..................................................................................................................... 12

Pruning your leafy herb .............................................................................................................. 12

Protecting from pests ................................................................................................................................. 13

Most common indoor plant pests ............................................................................................ 13

Preparing insecticidal soap ........................................................................................................ 14

Applying insecticidal soap .......................................................................................................... 14

Protecting from diseases ........................................................................................................................... 15

Most common indoor herbs diseases .................................................................................... 15

Treating your herb diseases ...................................................................................................... 16

Harvesting your herbs ............................................................................................................................... 17

Harvesting grass-like herbs ....................................................................................................... 17

Harvesting leafy herbs ................................................................................................................. 17

Harvesting rosemary .................................................................................................................... 17

INDEX ................................................................................................................................................................ 18

TABLE OF TABLES TABLE 1 EQUIPMENT ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 TABLE 2 AROMATIC HERBS ............................................................................................................................................................... 4 TABLE 3 INDOOR PLANT PESTS ................................................................................................................................................... 13 TABLE 4 INDOOR PLANT DISEASES ............................................................................................................................................ 15

1

CHAPTER 1:

SELECTING

MATERIALS

2

EQUIPMENT

Table 1 Equipment

1 bottle of oil-based liquid soap

1 bottle of vegetable oil

1 large container (for example: a basin)

1 pack 10L organic Soil

(available in Nature at home stores)

1 pack of 1L organic fertilizer

(available in Nature at home stores)

1 pair of rubber gloves

(available in Nature at home stores)

1 plastic film

3

1 pocket of aromatic herb seeds

(available in Nature at home stores)

1 rectangular pot with drainage holes (50x20cm)

(available in Nature at home stores)

1 saucer (60x30cm)

(available in Nature at home stores)

1 empty spray bottle

1 medium size watering can

(available in Nature at home stores)

1 40-watt light lamp

6 small paperboard pots

(available in Nature at home stores)

Baking soda

4

SELECTING YOUR AROMATIC HERBS

The species are divided into three categories that correspond to the gardening and

harvesting methods mentioned later. Adapt your choice to your taste and refer to the

following table to ensure that your home is suitable for the species you wish to plant.

Table 2 Aromatic herbs

Leafy herbs

Basil Ocimum basilicum

Mainly used in Italian cuisine, frequently associated

with tomatoes, mixed with sauces (pesto, arrabiata,

etc.).

- Put it next to a southern or western window or use lights.

- Avoid cool places. - Move it in a warm place during winter. - You cannot use its leaves when the stems grow

woody. - Plant new seeds to replace woody basil.

Mint

Mentha requienii

This plant is used in several salty dishes (Lebanese

tabbouleh, spring rolls, etc.) as well as in sweet dishes

(ice creams, cakes, etc.). It is also served as a herbal tea.

Most are hardy perennials that can tolerate temperatures into the 30s.

- Keep the soil moist - Give it moderate to strong light.

5

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

This plant is a must for Mediterranean and Central

American cuisine. It is frequently used for sauces and

barbecue marinade

Growing oregano is similar to growing mint. - Water it when the surface of the soil is dry - Do not let it dry out. - Give it moderate to strong light.

Thyme

Thymus

Excellent seasoning for poultry meat.

- Pot it in a fast-draining soil mix - Place it next to a warm, sunny window. - Water it when the surface of the soil is dry.

6

Grass-like herbs

Chervil

Anthriscus cerefolium

One of the four herbs used to make the traditional

French fines herbes blend, chervil is an annual with

an anise-parsley flavor. It's an essential ingredient in

Béarnaise They are often added at the end of cooking

to retain their flavor.

- After sprouting, place it in a cool place.

- Give it moderate sun.

- Replant every few weeks to keep plenty of

fresh young leaves on hand.

Chives

Allium tuberosum

The spiky leaves of this onion-flavored herb are used to

season eggs, soups, and salads, and make pretty

garnishes.

- Provide moderate to strong light.

- Place it next to a southern window.

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

Parsley adds to soups, salads and fresh sauces like the

persillade, a famous French sauce used to season many

dishes.

- Grow in a deep pot with rich, organic potting soil.

- Provide strong light.

7

1 Other herbs

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

The needled leaves are used to season chicken, pork,

lamb, soups, potatoes and olive oil. It's also delicious in

tomato and cream sauces.

- Place it in hot, sunny, dry locations in the summer

months

- And place it in cool locations in the winter.

- Provide moderate to strong light

8

CHAPTER 2:

GROWING YOUR

AROMATIC HERBS

9

GERMINATING SEEDS

Germinating seeds helps get sprouts. Sprouts are the very first stage of germination or

growth of a plant. A seed becomes a sprout when a stem like membrane appears.

You will need:

- 1 pocket of aromatic herb seeds - Organic soil - Organic fertilizer - 6 small paperboard pots - Water - 1 large container - 1 plastic film - 1 pair of gardening gloves

1) Put your gardening gloves on.

2) Mix 1/5 of the organic soil with 1/10 of the organic fertilizer in the large

container.

3) Pour an equivalent amount of 1/10 of the soil quantity of water in the

container.

4) Mix the soil and the water with your hands until the soil is moisturized.

Do not compact the soil.

5) Fill the small pots to 2/3 below the top with the moistened soil.

6) Plant three seeds in each pot.

7) Add 2 cm of dry soil on top of the seeds.

8) Water the top of each small pot with one teaspoon of water.

9) To help retain moisture, put a plastic film on the small pots.

Sprouts appear in 4 to 5 days.

10

GROWING YOUR SEEDLINGS

Sprouts become seedlings when the seed leaves start to appear.

Watering your seedling

You will need:

- 1 saucer (60x30cm minimum) - Water

1) Remove the plastic film from the top of the pots.

2) Put pots into the saucer.

3) Water the top of each pot with one teaspoon of water.

4) Fill the saucer with water.

Note: Repeat step 3 and step 4 twice a week.

Providing light to your seedlings

Seedlings need much more light than sprouts. Indoor places may not provide enough

light and heat.

You will need:

- 1 40-watt light lamp or a grow lamp

1) Place the small pots in a warm and well lit location (for example : next to a

window).

Note: Sprouts need at least 16 hours of sunlight per day and about 20°C

environment.

2) Put the light bulbs from 5 to 10 cm above the pot.

3) Switch on the light at sunset and switch off the lamp at sunrise.

Note: You may use an automatic lamp and schedule the lighting for sunset.

Seedlings become plants when they have few sets of leaves.

11

GROWING YOUR HERBS

Transplanting your herbs

Make sure the stems are strong enough.

Follow this procedure each time the plant roots outgrow the pot.

You will need:

- 1 rectangular pot with drainage holes (50x20cm minimum) - Organic soil - Organic fertilizer - water - 1 saucer (60x30cm minimum)

1) Fill the rectangular pot with soil.

2) Put the saucer under the pot.

3) Make planting holes of the same size as the paperboard pots into the soil.

4) Distribute 1/4 of the organic fertilizer into the holes.

5) To unwrap the plants, slip them out of the paperboard pot with its soil.

6) Put the plants into the holes in the new soil.

7) Press the soil around each plant.

Providing light to your herbs

Indoor places may not provide enough light and heat.

You will need: - 40-watt light lamp or a grow lamp

4) Place the rectangular pot in a warm and well lit location (for example : next to a

window).

Note: Plants need at least 16 hours of sunlight per day and about 20°C

environment.

5) Put the light bulbs from 5 to 10 cm above the pot.

6) Switch on the light at sunset and switch off the lamp at sunrise.

Note: You may use an automatic lamp and schedule the lighting for sunset.

12

Watering your herbs

Large planters need water every three to four days.

You will need: - 1 watering can - water

1) Make a moisture test before you water your herbs.

Note: Do not water your herbs if the soil is moist 5 cm below the surface.

2) Fill you watering can with water

3) Water the top of the soil.

4) Fill the saucer with water.

Pruning your leafy herb

Pruning consists in cutting sets of leaves from leafy herbs in order to get more branches

and leaves when it is 12 to 16 cm high and has three to five sets of leaves. The first set of

leaves falls when the next set of leaves appears.

Notice: Do this procedure only for leafy herbs. Do not prune the first set of leaves.

1) Prune the last set of leaves at the top of the plant.

2) After the new shoots are ten centimeters, repeat this procedure on the new

stems.

13

PROTECTING FROM PESTS

Most common indoor plant pests

Pests can be attracted to aromatic plants although their smell and the essence they release are pest repellent. Table 3 Indoor plant pests

Aphids:

Green, red, pink, brown or black soft-bodied insects that

infect most garden plants. Aphids are usually about 1/8”

long.

Symptoms:

- Foliage curls up and become discolored and fall

off.

Mealybugs:

Mealybugs are crawling insects that are similar to scales.

Symptoms:

- Leaf distortion.

- Yellowing, stunting of the plant.

Scale:

Oval shaped insects that are found on the undersides of

leaves. They are usually yellowish-green, brown or black.

Symptoms:

- A white cottony mass stuck on the stems.

- Yellowing of the plant.

Spider Mites:

Minute pests found on the undersides of leaves. Mites

have a speckled appearance. In a dry environment, these

insects multiply quickly.

Symptoms:

- Fine whit webs cover the plants.

14

Preparing insecticidal soap

Insecticidal soap affects: aphids, mealybugs, scales, spider mites, immature whites flies etc.

1) Put one tablespoon of soap into the spray bottle. 2) Add two tablespoon of cooking oil. 3) Fill the spray bottle with water. 4) Mix the water with the soap.

Applying insecticidal soap

1) Shake the insecticidal soap. 2) Spray the tops and the bottoms of leaves as well as the stems.

Note: Spray your plants only in the morning or the evening. 3) Repeat the step 1 and step 2 after one week if there are some bugs lefts.

You will need:

- A liquid olive-oil based soap (like Marseille soap) - 1l spray bottle - Light cooking oil - Water

15

PROTECTING FROM DISEASES

Most common indoor herbs diseases

Table 4 Indoor plant diseases

Nutritional, hydration or/and oxygenation imbalance It is the main reason why your plants weaken. This imbalance is frequent in an inappropriate environment or when the growing process is not followed. Symptoms:

- Soil dehydration or soil overwatering - Leaves wilting

Botrytis An airborne fungus that land on damaged or dying tissue of the plant. Healthy plants in a reasonably dry environment can resist to botrytis. Botrytis becomes infectious when the environment is humid and cool. Symptoms:

- The plant is covered with grey or pale brown fungus.

Phytophthora A soil-borne fungus which cause root rot of herbaceous and woody plants. Symptoms:

- Symptoms do not develop until the root decay is well advanced.

Powdery mildew An airborne fungus that spreads in warm and damp locations. Symptoms:

- White powdery spots spread on the infected parts.

16

Treating your herb diseases

Rectify imbalance

To rectify imbalance, refer to your herb characteristics (see pages 4-6) and the growing

herbs procedure (see pages 7-11).

Replicate air circulation

Air stagnation causes mold and humidity and attracts pests and fungi.

To replicate outdoor air circulation, you can open your windows.

If it is not possible:

1) Put a fan 1m from your planter and point it towards the planter.

2) Put the fan on lowest speed level.

Note: Do this when you are home.

Antifungal recipe

1) Put one tablespoon of soap into the spray bottle. 2) Add the baking soda. 3) Fill the spray bottle with water. 4) Mix the water with the soap.

You will need: - A liquid olive-oil based soap (like Marseille soap) - 1l spray bottle - 4 level teaspoons of baking soda - Water

17

HARVESTING YOUR HERBS

Harvesting methods differ according to the species.

Harvesting grass-like herbs

Harvesting grass-like herbs also consists in trimming. Trimming helps you to get new

growths. You can harvest your grass-like herb one month after transplanting your plant.

When you harvest your grass-like herbs for the first time:

1) Cut the leaves from the base of the plant to within 5cm of the soil.

2) Wait up to four months for the next cut.

When you have already harvested your grass-like herb:

1) Cut the leaves from the base of the plant to within 5cm of the soil.

2) Wait up to one month for the next cut.

Harvesting leafy herbs

You can harvest your leafy herb when it has six or more leaves. Harvesting leafy herbs is

similar to pruning leafy herbs.

1) Select a tall section of your plant.

2) Cut the last set of leaves at the top of the plant as shown in the example.

Harvesting rosemary

1) Select full length branches that are at least 20cm long for harvesting.

2) Cut through the tender new stem.

You will need:

- Kitchen scissors

Notice: Do not cut the woody, hard portion near the base of the branch. Do not remove more than 20% of the branch's length when harvesting.

18

INDEX

A

Applying Insecticidal soap, 13

Aromatic herbs

Growing, 7 Selecting, 4

D

Diseases, 14

G

Germinating Seeds, 7

Grass-like herbs

Harvesting, 16 Growing

Herbs, 10 Seedlings, 9

H

Harvesting Grass-like herbs, 16 Leafy herbs, 16 Rosemary, 16

Herb diseases

Treating, 15 Herbs

Growing, 10 Harvesting, 16 Provinding light, 10 Transplanting, 10 Watering, 11

I

Insecticidal soap Applying, 13 Preparing, 13

L

Leafy herb Pruning, 11 Harvesting, 16

Leafy herbs

Pruning, 11 Harvesting, 16

M

Materials Selecting, 1

P

Pests, 12 Preparing

Insecticidal soap, 13 Providing light

Herbs, 10 Seedlings, 9

Pruning Leafy herbs, 11

R

Rosemary Harvesting, 16

S

Seedlings Watering, 9 Growing, 9 Providing light, 9

Seeds

Germinating, 7 Selecting

Aromatic herbs, 4 Materials, 1

T

Transplanting Herbs, 10

19

Treating Herb diseases, 15

W

Watering Herbs, 11 Seedlings, 9