The First Seedlings of 2015
I have my first seedlings for the 2015 gardening year. Well, they’re technically not official seedlings since they won’t be planted outside, but they’ll provide food for the table nonetheless. I finally got around to starting a big planter of cilantro. Way back in the fall I started this planted with cilantro seed outside, but the blue jays found it and ate all my seeds before they germinated. I never got around to replanting until now.
In a month or so this will help reduce our grocery bill. Each week I buy a bunch of cilantro and fresh herbs aren’t cheap! Luckily I have pots of a wide variety of herbs in the house already so cilantro is the only kind I have had to buy this winter. It is my favorite fresh herb so I always have to have it on hand for cooking. There’s nothing quite like fresh homegrown cilantro or parsley when the snow is covering the garden outside!
Do you grow herbs indoors in the winter? Which is your favorite fresh herb?
Filed under Around the House | Comments (9)
I would love to try growing herbs inside. Do you use grow lights or just keep them near a sunny window. I tried starting seeds indoors the last 2 years & I use a heat mat I don’t have lights. Afraid they would get leggy.
to Patricia's comment
I have the same Q as Patricia… Are you using grow lights or a heat pad? I don’t have either but would love to start herbs from seed right now.
to Katie's comment
No grow light or heating pads. Cilantro will do OK even if it’s leggy from lack of light. I put the planters in front of bright windows and they do quite fine.
to Susy's comment
Rosemary and basil are my favs!!!!
to Laura @ Raise Your Garden's comment
I don’t have enough light inside to grow herbs in winter, but cilantro will overwinter in the garden here in central NC.
to bonnie knox's comment
I love cilantro. I have some growing now as it seems to tolerate temps down into the 20s, but my chickens tend to eat it all before i can get any.
to Sarah Kincheloe's comment
Susy, all the best laid plans seem always go awry. By now I was hoping to have some lettuce and other greens up and growing in give gallon basement buckets under grow lights for fresh salads in February but alas that has not happened. It seems that I have a reputation to be able to fix all bad situations. So between my mother in law, daughter, and the neighbor down the street, my January has just crazy busy. Mostly health related stuff but none are mine …. well …. except for the nasty viral thing that put me down last week. I’m hoping things will loosen up for the seed starting in February. I am mostly ready for that to happen.
Have a great Cilantro growing day.
to Nebraska Dave's comment
I would love to grow basil in the house through the winter. I never seem to get enough basil.
to Deairdre Miller's comment
When I lived in an apartment, I tried (and failed) to grow herbs inside year round. Now I’m in my house for the second winter….the only herbs that managed to grow outside this year were basil and chamomile. I should give up some prime window real estate to herbs…maybe next winter!
to mandie's comment