Winter harvest

Have you ever cooked with fresh grown herbs? The scent of sweet basil, plucked from its stalk by hand, lingers on your fingertips long after the leaves are fragrantly simmering. If you think those moments are confined to the days of summer, think again. Indoor herb gardens capture the succulent essence, all winter long.

"We have found that most herbs may be grown indoors," says Bob Miller, owner of the Weslyn Herb Farm in New Jersey. "We offer about 50 selections during our fall season (over 120 varieties for the spring and summer). While annuals are sometimes more difficult than perennials, it's always worth the extra effort for fresh basil, coriander, or dill right on your windowsill."

How do you get started? Head for your nearby lawn and garden center.

"A lot of people are getting seeds and supplies right now," says Northwest Seed & Pet assistant manager Jim King. The store also carries the soil, fertilizers, planters and other supplies you'll need to garden indoors. The key to success in Spokane, King says, is supplementary light.

The "herb pets" you see on TV are a sham, in a way, King says, "because there just isn't that much light in Spokane this time of year. Plants will sprout but they'll be spindly. They won't even be able to support their own weight as they grow."

An alternative light source will efficiently solve that problem.

"Add a double grow light set," King says. "We sell a double shop light with the bulbs for $19.99 that provide the best light spectrum for starting seeds."

Place the grow-lights 6 inches from sprouting seeds, moving it further away from the plants as they grow.

"You can mount the light and move the plants down," King says. "Or you can suspend the light source from a chain and move it up."

Another option at Northwest Seed & Pet is a free rolling grow cart. "For about $69, it comes with all the trays and racks. Each tray has a light with adjustable fixtures, so you can put it as close or as far up as you want it," says King. The cart essentially grows with your plants.

What herbs should you plant?

"Our biggest perennial sellers for indoors are rosemary, bay laurel, chives, oregano, and thyme," Miller says. "These herbs will withstand cooler nighttime temperatures (as low as 40 degrees), will continue to produce all winter, and are the most popular for recipes and many other uses. The more exotic herbs should be saved for ideal spring/summer conditions."

Once your seeds are planted, water will make or break their potential for growth. "Remember, herbs require good drainage, whether in pots or in the ground," Miller says. "And the most common mistake made by indoor growers is over-watering. Water intake indoors is reduced due to less growth, less daylight and usually less heat."

How can you tell when your infant herbs need a life-giving drink?

"The easiest way to tell if a plant needs a drink is to pick up the pot," Miller says. "If it's light, water it. If it's not, don't. You should not water your herbs just because you water everything else daily. Each plant will react differently based on location, heat, and amount of sunlight it receives."

Once growth is under way, don't forget to fertilize your indoor herb garden. "When your herb plants get their second set of leaves, start fertilizing with half a dose of Miracle Grow," King says. "We've found the normal houseplant 15-30-15 Miracle Grow is best."

If your passion for herbs grows along with your seedlings, consider signing up for classes offered by the Community Colleges of Spokane Institute for Extended Learning.

"We will offer a class called Growing and Drying Herbs," says registration spokesperson Sharon Grimmer. For a $12 fee, you can attend Jan. 31 and Feb. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Horizon Junior High School in the Spokane Valley. A second session will be offered Feb. 28 and March 1 at Mt. Spokane High School, also from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call (509) 533-3770.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

GARDENING

Growing tips

As the owner of the Weslyn Herb Farm in Jobstown, N.J., Bob Miller grows some of the finest traditional and exotic herbs in the world. He offers these tips for beginning indoor gardeners and says more windowsill secrets can be found at the Weslyn Web site: www.weslynfarm.com/tips.html.

Tips for successful indoor herbs:

* Minimum four hours sunlight daily.

* Minimum 55 degrees night temps.

* Do not overwater.

* Cut back often to maintain compact growth and for use.

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