There is still time to start your herb garden. Herbs are attractive plants and for sure look good on our plates. They do add zest to the flavor of our food and drinks. They give you the opportunity to capture exotic flavors without leaving your own kitchen. I think a container or window sill box of herb plants is the answer. Our busy lives require things close and available with little effort. A window sill box or container of herbs nearby the kitchen could spice up your life.

Most herbs will grow indoors with some care. They need sunlight, water and ventilation. When potting herbs in containers or window boxes, incorporate a half-inch of sand two-thirds down from the edge of the container. This will help drainage and keep the soil from impacting the roots. Herbs enjoy a moist atmosphere, so stand the container in a gravel bed with water not quite covering the gravel. Turn the pots regularly to expose the whole plant to sunlight. Pinching out the growing points encourages bushing. Adding herbs regularly to your cooking recipes will encourage this effort. I am going to suggest a container of parsley, thyme, and bay. These can be grown together or in individual containers. Be sure to position the parsley and thyme in the sun and do not allow the bay to overshadow them. Bay is really a tree and can get quite large.

For the window box in full sun, I prefer plastic for window boxes because they last for years. Sit the box on a drip tray to avoid water running down the wall. For the sunny window box I suggest rosemary, sage, and thyme.

If you have a shady window, fill some containers to grow the following suggestions because you will want to control them. Peppermint, spearmint and pennyroyal are great for your shady window.

Handle leaves as little as possible because bruising or crushing the leaves releases the volatile oils thereby reducing the flavor. Try to restrict your harvest; do no more than 10% of the plant, less is better. Herbs are great addition to your culinary delights. So, grow some herbs and spice up your life.