Not everyone has a garden or, especially in the big city, even a balcony. Fortunately, a small herb garden can also be set up in the apartment, because most herbs thrive in pots without any problems.
Many herbs also thrive indoors
Cultivate herbs indoors all year round
The various types of herbs can be kept indoors all year round on the windowsill, in hanging baskets or in a DIY greenhouse. Naturally, the right place for such a mini herb garden is in the kitchen, because this is where the fragrance and aroma suppliers are needed the most. However, this only works if the site conditions are right: As a rule, herbs (with a few exceptions) need a lot of sun in order to be able to develop an intensive aroma in the first place. The kitchen (or wherever else you want to place your herb pots) should therefore face south if possible. During the winter months it can sometimes get too dark for the plants, so it is advisable to install plant lamps. If, on the other hand, you mainly cultivate annual species anyway, the problem of overwintering has been solved from the outset.
Popular potted herbs for indoors and outdoors
The table below gives you an overview of various popular potted herbs that have also proven themselves as houseplants at home. Some of them can be quite large and comprehensive, but are also great for the conservatory, for example. All of the listed species must hibernate in a light and cool place - not necessarily in a heated living room.
| German name | botanical name | properties |
|---|---|---|
| lemon verbena | Aloysia triphylla | shrubby growth; for tea and desserts |
| lemongrass | Cymbopogon citratus | clumpy growth; for tea and Asian dishes |
| curry bush | Helichrysum italicum | evergreen scented plant with silvery leaves and yellow flowers |
| laurel | Laurus nobilis | evergreen spice plant |
| crested lavender | Lavandula stoechas | Popular scented plant with violet flowers |
| scented geraniums | Pelargonium spec. | fragrant leaves; for desserts and drinks |
| rosemary | Rosmarinus officinalis | aromatic kitchen spice |
| Fruit Sage | Salvia dorisiana | leaves smell fruity; for teas and desserts |
Take care of potted herbs and overwinter properly
Many perennial species cannot be cultivated all year round, but require a winter break. This serves as a recovery phase for the plant so that it can sprout again in spring. Simply place the plants to be overwintered in a light and cool room, water them little and stop fertilizing. Annual or biennial herbs, on the other hand, can be cared for continuously until they die on their own anyway.
tips
Make sure you always have fresh offspring in good time by repeatedly sowing new herbs and raising the seedlings. This is particularly important when cultivating one- to two-year-old varieties.