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Want to grow herbs and tomatoes from inside this winter in NE

post #1 of 4
9/14/07 at 9:35am
Thread Starter 
Hi,

I would like to grow herbs (oregeno, basil, thyme, parsley, garlic, bay, and mint) indoors this winter. I live in NY (40 minutes above Albany and 20 minutes before Adirondack park) with windows facing in all directions.

I have read many things about herbs, but none that explicitly state how to start a garden. I have no idea what I need - even down to what pot to get. I would like to go the organic route, so I need to know what to do to keep with those standards.

I only have access to windowsills, however, if I were able to grow tomatoes in the winter, I can get it set up at a friend's house that has light from the west (I believe) -- it's a sliding glass door.

Is this possible to do in the winter? How do I go about it? When do I start using the herbs/tomatoes? How do I care for it? Where do I buy whatever I need to buy to start the plant?

Sorry, I am completely clueless.

Thanks!
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post #2 of 4
10/25/07 at 5:53am
herbs, oh yeah, all the way.

Tomatoes, you're probably better to forget it indoors in the NE. Or if you try it you will need full sun from all directions (including above like a greenhouse), and/or especially adapted greenhouse varieties. And you still won't get amazing results IMO. They are hot growers, outside in FULL sun in the summer is generally the way to go.

If you live in a house and not an apartment, you might want to check out the book Four Season Harvest by Elliott Coleman. He is in zone 5 Maine, and eats all year with various techniques. All organic. It's a good book in general about growing food.
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post #3 of 4
10/25/07 at 7:02am
In general I agree with Stir It Up.

If you want to grow tomatoes indoors, you'll have to set up a special growing area, using horticultural lights (which they now handle like a prescription, because of the pot growers) and other special techniques. Not worth the bother, IMO.

Using natural light, best bet are south-facing windows. But you might have to supplement with a flourescent fixture as well. A 2-bulb shop light will serve your needs.

Of the herbs you ticked off, bay will not grow well indoors. It's a herbacious shrub. But it's probably hardy where you live, so, once you have it started it should do ok.

Re: garlic. Do you want to grow green garlic (i.e., "scallions" that are garlic leaves rather than onions) or actually grow garlic bulbs. The former can be done indoors. The latter cannot.

This is the wrong time to buy started plants or plugs. In the spring you can get them from many sources. To start herbs now requires seed. I would check out Horizen Herbs as having one of the best selections.

BTW, you can also grow lettuces and greens indoors over the winter. Just another way to supplement your diet with fresh-grown produce. With a little practice, other "baby" veggies can be grown indoors as well.

And, fwiw, I second the motion on Eliot Coleman's book.
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post #4 of 4
10/25/07 at 11:32am
Thanks KYH.

BTW, I had a nine foot tall bay leaf "tree" that's been going for about 7 years (started from a small plant), in a tall South window. I just gave it away (after pruning and filling two mason jars with leaves) and started a smaller one. I love the flavor of fresh bay leaf. Bay is difficult to germinate from seed though it is possible (you need fresh seeds amongst other things), it's easiest to begin with a started plant, it is difficult to propogate cuttings too. Bay leaf plants can be hard to find, so if you see one grab it. I got mine at Richters Herbs - Medicinal, Culinary, Aromatic - Plants & Seeds (their herb seeds have free shipping to the U.S.). IMO Bay will not be winter hardy where you are, you'd have to keep it indoors, preferably in a South window.

Another nice herb that grows well indoors is rosemary. Richters has these nice trailing varieties that can look sort of like a hanging plant.

abc, many herbs will sort of branch where you cut them and get bushier. That is a nice thing in indoor herbs. (your oregano, basil, thyme and mint will all do that, so will rosemary) We grow herbs mostly outside, then bring in some for the winter, put them back out in spring. Basil we just always seed. As for your question about what pot to get, they like a bigger pot than most people think, especially parsley which has a carrot-like root. I think it was KYH that suggested a strawberry pot which is a nice option.
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