Granite State Gardening · University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension

Indoor Herb Gardens Over Winter, Old Seeds, Safe Ice Removal and Borage

·1 hr 18 min·5 clips

Nate Bernitz reveals how to grow fresh herbs indoors year-round with proven tips for success.

This episode of Granite State Gardening focuses on establishing and maintaining indoor herb gardens during the winter months. Host Nate Bernitz and horticulturist Emma Erler provide practical guidance for year-round cultivation. The discussion centers on selecting suitable herbs and optimizing their indoor environment for success. Emma Erler begins by categorizing herbs by their growth habits: perennial, annual, and biennial. She reports good personal success with bringing annual and tender perennial herbs indoors. Erler further distinguishes between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs, emphasizing a preference for culinary varieties for convenient kitchen use. The hosts explain that herbs requiring a dormant period, like some perennials, are generally poor candidates for indoor growing. A key topic is providing adequate light, with a south-facing window cited as the ideal minimum requirement for most herbs. The conversation covers proper watering techniques, stressing the importance of allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings to prevent root rot. Listeners are advised to use containers with sufficient drainage holes to avoid waterlogged soil. The episode also touches on the subject of using old seeds, offering methods to test their viability before planting. An interesting insight is that not all perennial herbs adapt well to indoor conditions if they require a winter dormancy period. The hosts suggest that gardeners manage expectations, as indoor herbs often grow less vigorously than their outdoor summer counterparts. Erler's personal approach prioritizes growing herbs for immediate culinary use rather than for medicinal purposes indoors. The tone is educational and conversational, with the hosts sharing expertise in a friendly, accessible manner. The style is practical and solution-oriented, aimed at empowering home gardeners. This episode is ideal for home gardeners in colder climates seeking to extend their herb harvest into the winter. Listeners primarily interested in large-scale food production or ornamental gardening might find the scope too narrow.

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