What you need know to start and raise herbs successfully indoors:

1. Choose your container. Starting herbs in containers are the best way to control germination conditions, especially for hard to start or expensive herbs. You can use just about anything for containers. Cut down milk cartons and yogurt containers work great, just make sure to put a drainage hole in the bottom. 
2. Get your soil. The soil you use in the container should be loose and free of weeds and pests. Equal parts peat moss, perlite and garden loam work the best. 
3. Fill your container. Place soil into your container until it is about half full. Then using your hands firm down the soil. Fill the container the rest of the way and repeat the process. 
4. Mark off rows in the container. The rows should be about 1" apart. Use a pencil to create the rows by pressing about 1/4" into the soil.
5. Plant the seeds. Gently tap the seed packet so that the seeds fall evenly into the row. Cover the row with soil and gently firm down.
6. Water. Place the container into a sink or tub of water and wait. The water will be drawn up through the hole in the bottom of the container. This helps to prevent overwatering. Take the container out of water when the soil is damp.
7. Label. Make sure to label the container so you can tell which herbs were planted in it. 
8. Cover and place in a sunny location. Cover the container with damp newspaper to help retain mositure and place in a bright sunny location or under a grow light until germination begins. 
9. After germination. When seedling appear, remove newspaper and move container to cooler location about 15-20 degrees celcius. Make sure to turn the container daily so the plants recieve lights equally on all sides. 
10. Transplanting. When the seedlings have two sets of leaves, the herbs can be transplanted into bigger and seperate containers. The soil should be slightly richer and about two parts garden loam, one part perlite and one part peat moss. Carefully dig the seedlings out with a pencil to not damage their roots and plant at the same level they were before. 
11. Water. Using a watering can, water the transplants carefully as to not knock them over. 
12. Place in sunny location. Once the transplants start growing again, they can be placed in a sunny location again. Herbs require 4-5 hours of sunlight a day.
13. Spring. When temperatures are warm and there is no more risk of frost, herbs may be planted in the garden.

If starting your own herbs is not for you, Country Gardens offers a wide variety of herbs that are ready to transp;ant into the garden.

If you have any questions regarding growing or transplanting herbs, please feel free to contact us at carmen@country-gardens.ca.