Having enough knowledge about the common plant names is the key in order for you to establish a good windowsill herb garden. Many botanical shops deal with seeds and full-grown plants using their common plant names, thus you need to be able to match these names with their scientific names. There are a lot of ways to do this. You can use plant encyclopedias and databases, because they can give you images of plants along with the list of all their names. If you have kept any of the seed packets when you bought your plants, you will observe that naming the scientific name goes hand in hand with the common plant name.

In most cases, a common plant name is the latin version of the name translated into english. Common plant names for herbs are the following: Cudweed, Duckweed, Dove, Ammania, Beggarticks, Annual, Buttercup, Conzya, Crimson Monkeyflower, among others. For the flowering types, we have the Amazon lily, baby’s breath, African lily, Alpine thistle, bells of Ireland, tulips, roses, gerber daisy, clover, Amaryllis, among others.

If you are living in a region where poisonous plants thrive and grow, being able to know their common plant names will be able to prevent any confusion if ever you or somebody you know (especially your loved ones) will be exposed to them. Various names for poisonous plants include yew, poison ivy, pokeweed, english ivy, poison hemlock, poison oak, belladonna, alder buckthorn, foxglove, monk’s hood and poison sumac.

If you have been poisoned by these kinds of plants, look for medical attention immediately. Remember that plants that are toxic shouldn’t be kept inside your home, unless you have taken the needed precautions to prevent any kind of injury. Also, some herbs can become poisonous if they are not used appropriately, therefore a lot of references list useful herbs such as garlic, cinnamons and chives as poisons for improper usage.

Despite this, knowing the common names of your plants alone isn’t really enough to make sure that you can keep them in your windowsill herb garden. You still have to make some research about your plants and ensure that you live in the proper climate for your plants too. Doing this will guarantee that your plant will live a long and healthy life. In order for you to get more helpful information, you can also watch programs that give herb garden tips on TV, as these can be helpful as well in taking care of your plants.

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I wish we had windows in our house that get good sunlight but we dong and that makes it hard to grow quality herbs without a grow light.

We have more seasons that we can’t grow things outside than we do growing seasons so if we want fresh herbs year around we need to grow herbs indoors.

Having your own window sill herb garden can add color and fragrance to any home. There can be many reasons why someone might prefer to grow their herb garden by their window rather than in the ground.

One of those reasons is that by having their herb garden indoors, they don’t have to deal with the elements of weather and can grow them all year long.

Personally I have found it tough to grow herbs in three feet of snow.

While you can grow almost any type of herbal plant in a windowsill herb garden, there are some that are more suited to this method than others. Oregano is a great choice because it’s not too bushy and it has that delicious aroma and taste. Basil, as well as rosemary, are two additiional herbs which will do wonderfully in your windowsill herb garden. Some herbs will repel fungus, such as the rosemary, and others simply have a wonderful aroma that can fill your home any time of the year.

Plants need water, light and a good base, usually soil to grow. A window with good light is a great advantage. In the northern hemisphere that would mean a south or south-eastern exposure. Like all plants, herbs require good and steady light sources to increase their health and quality. Herbal plants prefer at least five hours of sunlight per day. Also, remember to keep them from enduring drafts, especially during the cooler winter months.

While you can certainly start your herb garden from seedlings, purchasing the proper containers that are about 6 to 12 inches deep in which to plant them and watch them grow,  is a good way to start.And don’t forget herb garden kits! They come complete, having everything you need: the containers, plants in the form of seedlings (frequently) and complete instructions on how to nurture and grow them.

But plants are living things and can’t just be put on auto-grow. You need to know about them, such as their gestation periods, when to cut back and prune, harvest and dry, store and use. Plants can compete with each other and you need to be aware of when one is overcrowding another and will need to be cut back. You want your window sill herb garden to look as though it belongs there in the windowsill, so there is some measure of attention that they will require from you.

Be careful about the amount of water you give your herbal plants. You must always keep a proper balance between wet and dry, not flooding and not parching. They don’t like soggy roots so don’t let the soil stay damp constantly If you purchase a kit that has the plants already in bloom, don’t rush to clip the leaves. Allow them time to acclimate to their new environment. And if you live in an apartment or someplace where there just isn’t enough natural light, don’t despair, just get an artifical light source and put it on a timer. Most herbal plants will do just fine under this kind of light, but it’s a good idea to check with a nursery or the manufacturer to be certain.

A window sill herb garden is a great way to spend your free time and if you’re an avid cook, you understand that there is no substitute for having fresh spices and herbs at your disposal. Growing your own herb garden and having it right there where you can see and smell it’s wonders is a great thing, and it will reward you in many ways adding life and beauty to you and to your home.

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