Herb lovers who have neither a garden nor a balcony to grow them need not despair. Because the aromatic kitchen refiners can also be grown well on the windowsill. We will show you how in this article.
Herbs on the kitchen windowsill are always within reach when cooking
Herbs by the window - but in the right place!
Of course, for herbs that you want to use to refine dishes, it is most practical to cultivate them on the windowsill in the kitchen. But if you want to have something from them for longer than just 3-4 weeks, you should choose the window sill according to its orientation.
Because if your kitchen window faces north or east, only a few half to shade-compatible varieties such as chives, lovage, parsley or basil can be grown there. Most other species, especially of course the Mediterranean herbs, need a south or at least west-facing location.
So:
- Orientation of the windowsill crucial for cultivation success of different types of herbs
- for Mediterranean herbs: south/west window
- for soft-leaved, native varieties, north/east windows are also conceivable
You can best plant your window sill herbs in individual pots, but also in a rectangular planter or balcony box.
Interior or exterior window sill?
Whether you place your herbs on the inside or outside of the window pane is essential for flavor retention. In a heated room with comparatively little air exchange, the herbs lose their aromatic intensity and valuable ingredients much faster. So leave them outside for as long as possible.
wintering
Of course, only perennial types of herbs such as parsley, marjoram, rosemary, lemon balm, sage or tarragon can be overwintered anyway. During the winter months, however, they should not be left too warm - the choice between an outdoor location that is too cold and an indoor location that is too warm can be tricky. A winter temperature of 5°C is ideal for most varieties. If there are severe sub-zero temperatures outside, you can also cover the plants well with fir branches or jute linen.
Close care
The window sill's small growing space and necessarily small planters require a little closer attention. Because in small pots and with the tendentially one-sided light, air and temperature conditions, the herbs are more sensitive to waterlogging and pests. This makes it easier for them to rot or get lice. This is especially true for the non-Mediterranean herbs - these are quite resistant to pests because of their essential oils. So water as regularly as possible without excess and treat any pest infestation immediately.