As indoor farming experts, we can help you keep your home garden alive and thriving all year round – just like we do inside our hydroponic greenhouses.
Choose Your Herbs
We try not to be biased, but at Gotham Greens, we love basil. For this piece, we’ll focus on basil-growing tips that apply to most herbs. However, don’t let us hold you back! Other great herbs for indoor gardens include thyme, cilantro, parsley, sage and more. Seeds are available at your local garden center, along with all the necessary items to get started.
Locate Your Growing Space
For basil, choose the warmest window ledge in your home that receives full sun for up to 6 hours a day. Be sure to rotate your plant once a week to give extra TLC to the shaded leaves. Basil thrives at 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (when growing), so it’s important to choose a space in your home can get close to that temperature. The warmer and brighter, the better!
Avoid Cold Air Drafts
In the winter, windowsills can seep cold air. Make sure your window is properly insulated, and if not, consider an indoor insulation film (this will cut down your heating bill, too!) For best results, also avoid spaces near a fan, air conditioning vent, or door that will create a cooler draft of air.
Water Mindfully
Watering seems to be the step that stunts most at-home growers (no pun intended). It’s simple — water your basil plant when the surface soil is dry, about once or twice a week. Be sure to water the plant at its base and not on the leaves. Overwatering can be as much of a problem as underwatering, so make sure to select a pot with holes in the bottom for effective draining!
After Harvest, Keep It Growing
Once the plant is about four to five inches tall, you can begin to harvest! Start by snipping a stem just above the point where two large leaves meet, and make sure to pick the leaves regularly to encourage growth. Harvest only up to 2/3 of the plant so that it can continue producing fresh basil.
Too timid to try this at home? Grab a container of freshly harvested Gotham Greens Basil at your local grocery store. Shop now!
