You may have seen herb growing kits in stores, and wondered how practical it is to grow herbs indoors during the winter. It is not as easy as those kits may imply.
First off, herbs are outdoor plants, so finding a window with enough direct sun is tricky in the winter. Especially if your home has special glass designed to reduce ultraviolet rays from entering your home. Why? Plants need ultraviolet rays to grow!
The other tricky part is herb kits usually have tiny little containers for your herbs. While those containers will work for a few weeks, remember that herbs grow up to be quite large. Full grown basil is over 2 feet tall or more, and oregano is a spreading ground cover reaching out as far as there is available water. The point being is that in no time at all, your windowsill herb garden will need bigger containers.
If you have a sunny porch and can bring plants indoors on cold nights, you might be able to harvest herbs for cooking, at least for a while. For some plants, its better to wait until you can plant outdoors, and while the herbs are growing harvest some and preserve either by drying or freezing for winter use.
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