Indoor Winter Herbs

[buzzingtalk]

Are there any herbs you can grow indoors during winter? I'd be getting the seed started now.

I'd love to get some Coriander, Basil and Oregano on the go for winter use but not sure if it is possible? Would be in a warmish room, not loadds of sunlight but light enough for things to grow.

My chive plant which is knocking on a few years old now seems to be doing really well still, and I noticed that seems to grow, albeit slowly, over winter. Do any other herbs do this? My Sage plant recently had a spurt of new growth, and has been chopped right back to make space and keep it tidy, I seem to remember this being OK for winter use and growth.

[Croila]

Well, I sowed basil in pots on the kitchen windowsill last week and they've come up beautifully. Not sure about anything else though?

[annacruachan]

Oregano will certainly survive over the winter. Even outside in last winter's weeks of heavy frost here it managed not to succumb. I have it and another grown this year which I shall keep indoors until spring, but I have never sown seed at this time of year. Still, if you don't do it you won't know. Give it a go - all you will lose is a couple of seeds after all.
Thyme, sage, parsley, chives, rosemary and marjoram will stand outside, though you shouldn't pick them too hard.

[Two_Sheds]

Ideally you would have sown them and they'd be small plants by now. With the days shortening quickly, you're fighting a losing battle with the light now.

Chives top-growth will die off over winter and come back early spring. You can however dig up a small clump, pot it and bring indoors

[buzzingtalk]

Crolia - I have some small basil seedlings too that seem to be doing alright Lets hope they make it! Also have a few coriander seeds popping up.

Anna - I just chopped my oregano plant back and its looking much healthier, its not quite as tasty as it is in summer though Last winter (that horrible one) I had all my herbs outside - oregano, sage, chives - and they all survived.

TS - Good idea - I'll dig up a clump of chives and bring it indoors. It would be nice to have fresh chives

[Mell]

I have an aerogarden, I tend to grow toms in it but herbs are good too for winter use

[Two_Sheds]

I have an aerogarden

Lucky you: that's an extremely expensive way to grow herbs (the kit is over £100, a pack of their herb seeds is £15 )

[stella]

I manage to grow parsley on the windowsill and keep it going.

[Mell]

Lucky you: that's an extremely expensive way to grow herbs (the kit is over £100, a pack of their herb seeds is £15 )

I'd certainly not buy their seeds, there is nothing special about them,It is quite an expensive way to grow herbs I agree, it is also pretty expensive to grow toms in it, but I use it & other hydroponic systems to start off other plants and for expereimental purposes. I guess it depend on how you see it, for example I think it is decorative enough to have in a house or office for display/use and I'm pretty sure over the course of a year or two it would pay back if it replaced cut flowers for example, and be potentially more useful, eg if used to grow edible crops. Very nice for those with restricted space or mobility too. Mine works pretty hard and I believe it was money well spent. I reuse the seed holders & sponges if possible or replace them with home made ones. The hyropoics nutrients can be bought elsewhere. The bulbs are the worst ongoing expense though. I didn't buy mine for £100 though I think I paid about £50 on a special offer. It is even better if you have a 110V supply as the US versions are cheaper esp if you pick your rate swap time carefully