Indoor Gardening?

[Stephanie Brim]

Just click here.

To me the thing is interesting, particularly for growing herbs. The kitchen here in my grandmother's house doesn't get enough natural light for a window box. I'm pondering grabbing one up as a Christmas gift for myself.

[deltadoc]

Try here:

www.klimagro.com

I have the Majestic and the Classic. They're great!

Control temperature, humidity (built in humidity wand and meter), adjust lighting timing (18 hours/day keeps most plants from seeding or flowering), built in fan for air circulation, sliding safety glass side walls and tops. Very well built, and I've had mine for almost 5 years and wouldn't be without them.

doc

[mudbug]

If money is not object, then go for it. But not many people want to spend $150 on this type of growing kit, much less $600 - $1600 for anything like the klimagro.

There are other methods like building your own setup which can be far less expensive.

What herbs are you wanting to grow exactly? Many are perennial and come back every year. In general, herbs like it hot, bright, and aside from a little water in well drained soil, they like to be left alone outside which is the best place to grow them.

[Stephanie Brim]

It's hard to get fresh herbs around here and since Iowa has an extremely seasonal climate, growing outside year round is out of the question. I'm mainly concerned about growing a few things: basil, thyme, sage, cilantro, rosemary, tarragon, and dill. The herb packet has most of those, but not all of them. Hrm.

[mudbug]

basil, thyme, sage, cilantro, rosemary, tarragon, and dill. The herb packet has most of those, but not all of t

My USDA hardiness zone is only one warmer than your own so I have all four seasons as well.

If you went with outside:
The thyme, rosemary, and sage will grow all year round. Yes, even the rosemary if you get a hardy one from someone who has been growing theirs outside.

The basil, tarragon, and dill and all annual and last only during the warm season unless you bring them in. But they can remain outside even in cool fall temps if they are protected from wind by a row cover or say on the west or south side of the house.

Cilantro you can grow starting early spring thru fall but it might slow in hot weather. The key is succession planting every two weeks. Dill requires succession planting as well, every 4-6 weeks.

But if you have the extra cash, go for your original plan. You can always plant some plants in your indoor garden and some outdoors and then compare the results for yourself.