How to Grow Medicinal Herbs On Your Windowsill

This article was originally published by Diane on www.askaprepper.com

I am a firm believer in growing your own medicinal herbs and I have quite a few in my garden. But what if you don’t have garden space or if your garden is already full growing crops to feed your family? Most medicinal herbs will grow very well in containers placed on windowsills or in other sunny locations. I even have a few containers along the side of my driveway.

Growing Herbs in Containers

Not all containers are created equal, although if you purchase a commercial pot designed for this purpose, you’ll probably do ok.

My three main guidelines are:

• use a large container with room for roots;
• make sure it has drainage holes;
• choose a light reflective color (dark colors absorb heat and dry out the soil).

Water is critical when growing plants in containers. Plants need a balance of water. Not too much or their roots will rot, but usually enough to keep the soil moist at all times. This is accomplished by using rocks or other porous materials on the bottom to provide good drainage and regular waterings.

The soil in a container dries out much quicker than the ground soil and must be watered regularly. Daily watering is needed in the heat of summer, possibly even twice daily if your pot is small or the sun is brutally hot.

Use a sterilized potting soil to start your seeds and fill your pots, if possible. This will cut down on weeds and provide a fertile growing medium for the plants. Compost or a mixture of black earth and peat moss is also fine. Water the soil thoroughly and let it drain before planting your seeds or plants.

How to Grow Yarrow

Yarrow is perennial and a member of the daisy family. It is great for your windowsill or container garden. The plant is extremely hardy and will withstand cold weather easily, once established. It needs a large garden container, 1 gallon or larger is best.

Yarrow can be grown readily from seed. It needs light to germinate, so place the pots in a warm, bright spot. Give them up to three weeks to germinate. Keep the soil moist, but not wet.

The plant will grow in any standard potting mix. Add in some compost or slow-release fertilizer and they will do fine.

Yarrow likes the sun, but it will do well in partial shade also. It is best in east or west facing locations and makes a good companion plant for your vegetable garden. It repels pests while attracting insects that prey on common garden pests. When mature, yarrow will reach 1.5 to 3.5 feet tall and will die back over the winter.

How to Grow Peppermint

Peppermint is a perfect choice for window boxes or windowsill containers. It grows quickly, trails nicely, and will spread quickly if you let it. I grow all my mints in containers for this reason. Otherwise, it would take over the garden.

You can sow peppermint seeds in your pot. Peppermint likes water, but not wet roots, so put it in a soil that drains well. It likes rich soil and plenty of sun with partial shade in the afternoon.

I like to plant a large pot of peppermint because I love the flavor in foods and teas, but it doesn’t need a deep pot because the roots are fairly shallow growing. It will do well in any container as long as it is well-drained and the soil stays moist.

How to Grow Wild Lettuce

Wild lettuce is a tall plant, growing up to 6.5 feet at maturity, so you’re going to want a large, stout pot for this one. It is a biennial, taking two full years to mature and produce seed. It needs full sun or partial shade and rich moist soil with a pH of 7.

Wild lettuce seeds are available online and unless you have a nearby source, this is probably the best way to obtain them. Soak the seeds for a half-hour before sowing, then sow on the surface of the soil and do not cover them. Wild lettuce seeds need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. The seedlings will most likely die if the soil dries out at this early stage.

I start my wild lettuce indoors on a table in the early spring. I place a plastic bag over the pot to act as a miniature greenhouse and check the moisture level daily. Remove the plastic as soon as they sprout – up to 4 weeks later. Wait until the last frost date has passed before leaving them outside.

How to Grow Chamomile

Chamomile is a pretty plant that you’ll be happy to have on your windowsill. It produces daisy-like flowers throughout the summer. It also produces a multitude of seeds, so it will take over an area over time if you plant it in the garden.

Roman chamomile (Matricaria recutita) will grow compactly in a small container. German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) needs more space, so use a large container. Chamomile needs good drainage, so use a loose well-drained potting mixture and put it into a pot with a drainage hole.

Sow seeds on the surface and leave them exposed. Chamomile needs light to germinate. Once established the plants need very little care beyond water and monthly feeding.

Move the pot out of the sun when temperatures climb above 90 F and bring indoors when a frost is predicted.

Related: 79 Edible Flowers in North America (with Pictures)

How to Grow Echinacea

Echinacea grows slowly from seeds, taking several years to flower.

Place the container in full or partial sun.

The plants are drought tolerant once they are established, but don’t allow the soil to completely dry out.

How to Grow Calendula

Calendula is readily available in garden centers as a plant or seeds. I prefer to grow it from seeds since it grows easily. I sow the seeds directly into the growing pot.

Calendula prefers well-drained, organic potting soil or garden soil mixed with well-rotted compost. Place the pot in a full sun location and keep the soil moist but not wet. You can plant calendula in the fall for flowers in the spring, or in the spring for a long-lasting burst of color all summer.

Related: 21 Wild Edibles You Can Find in Urban Areas

How to Grow Comfrey

Comfrey takes a long time to germinate (up to 20 weeks).  The comfrey plant has a deep root system, so it needs a deep pot. It is cold hardy in zones 3 to 9. In colder areas, it will die back in the winter, but the roots will survive and sprout again in the spring.

Comfrey prefers full sun or partial shade. It likes a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0 that is well-drained and fertile. It needs plenty of water and high nitrogen fertilizer.

When choosing a pot for comfrey, look for a large, deep pot that won’t tip over in a wind. The plant has a deep growing taproot and grows to reach five feet or more.

The Medicinal Garden Kit is a great way to start growing your medicinal plants. It includes various types of seeds and containers, as well as instructions on how to care for them and use them in your treatments. Growing your own medicinal herbs can give you a whole new perspective on your life when you learn about their healing properties. Gardening is very common these days, and with Medicinal Garden Kit, you get not only quality seeds but also years of experience gathered by Dr. Nicole through her free detailed guide.
For more details about Dr. Nicole’s Medicinal Garden Kit, you must visit the product’s official website!