Winter Windowsill Gardening

The beauty of plants in your home all year

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Just because it is getting chilly outside doesn’t mean you have to relinquish the happiness that gardening brings.

While your outdoor garden lays dormant, a winter garden on your sunny windowsill is sure to bring smiles.

Winter windowsill gardening is a great hobby for the whole family to enjoy.

You can grow vegetables and herbs or use your imagination planning a thematic garden. Herbs and vegetables are the practical choice but what fun it would be creating a unique garden project.

If you choose to grow vegetables you may require an additional light source. The grey days of winter fall short with sunshine. Setting your window box in a southern or eastern location helps.

If you are growing edible plants in your windowsill garden they are a fantastic choice. Vegetables and herbs can live with less humidity and do well with some shade.

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Some great vegetable choices are radish, hot pepper, bell pepper, cherry tomato, spinach, onion and carrot.

Containers with drainage holes are best and it is wise to spread a thin layer of potting soil on the bottom. Dry air and drafts are not good for these plants so keep away from air vents.

Unless you have a stash of bees in your home you will have to hand pollinate your plants. Use a small paintbrush and gently spread pollen from one plant to another.

Great herbs for your windowsill garden include chives, rosemary, basil, oregano, parsley, tarragon and cilantro. They taste and smell delicious. A southern exposure is ideal and a grow light may help.

If your home is dry, mist plants on a regular basis with a weak mixture of dish soap and water sprayed to take care of unwanted pests.

With a little love, care, and attention, you will have a beautiful winter windowsill garden.

Enjoy!

Janice Tovey 2023