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Cooking with fresh herbs not only provides aromatic variety in food, but also additional vitamins and other important micronutrients. So that you can start your own harvest early in the year, simply pull the herbs you want on your windowsill at home. In this article you will find out which types are suitable and how you can best proceed.

Prefer herbs: 21 types

Herbs add variety to cooking and conjure up different flavors in food. The spices taste best freshly picked, which is why growing them in the garden, on the balcony or even in a pot on the windowsill is definitely worthwhile. Now many popular kitchen herbs are quite sensitive to frost and are therefore only allowed to go into the garden bed late. However, you can easily grow these species from February or March and thus extend the harvest period. The following 21 herbs are particularly suitable for growing on the windowsill.

timing and procedure

In order to succeed in growing your own herbs, you should observe these tips for the procedure when sowing and caring for them:

  • Use nutrient-poor seed soil for germination.
  • Mix this with sand in a ratio of 1:2.
  • Flower or potting soil is unsuitable for this purpose.
  • Use an indoor greenhouse.
  • You can also make one yourself from a cut PET bottle.
  • Important is the high humidity, which promotes the ability to germinate.
  • Use a spray bottle to keep the substrate moist but not wet.
  • Ventilate the mini greenhouse at least once a day.
  • Don't fertilize!

It is also important to note the difference between light and dark germs. The seeds of so-called light germinators must not be covered with substrate, otherwise they will not germinate. Conversely, this applies to dark germs, which in turn have to be put into the ground. Place the culture vessel in a bright, but not directly sunny, and warm place.

pricking

Separate the seedlings as soon as the second pair of leaves has formed. Experts also call this process pricking out. This ensures that the strongest young plants have enough space to grow. Only now are they allowed to get out of the indoor greenhouse, whereby you do not take the herb plants out of their protected environment without preparation. Get used to it slowly by airing a little longer each day. As soon as the herb plants are about ten centimeters high, put them in a suitable substrate - depending on the species, rich in nutrients or lean.

Herbs to prefer: A to K

You can generally prefer the herbs listed here from February / March. The specified time for sowing is only a point of reference.

1. Basil

Botanical name: Ocimum basilicum
Location: sunny
Substrate: permeable, rich in nutrients
Light germinators / dark germinators: Light germinators, do not cover seeds with soil
Sowing: basically possible all year round, but best March / April
Germination temperature: 20 to 22 °C
Germination time: 15 to 18 days
When to plant out: end of May / beginning of June
Flowering period: June to September
Harvest time: from May
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: no, cultivate cool and frost-free in winter

Tip: Herbs that are not hardy, such as the popular basil, can be cultivated all year round in a sufficiently large plant pot. Make sure that the plants get enough water and nutrients, light and air are also important. Especially the sensitive basil does not feel particularly comfortable on the windowsill, so it is best to place the plant outside during the warm summer months - for example on the balcony or terrace.

2. Savory (annual)

Botanical name: Satureja spec.
Location: full sun
Substrate: dry, poor in nutrients, sandy
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from mid-March / outdoors from May
Germination temperature: 20 to 25 °C
Germination time: 14 to 21 days
When to plant out: from mid to late May
Flowering period: June to October
Harvest time: April to June
Annual / Perennial: annual
Hardy: no, must be sown again every year

3. Borage

Botanical name: Borago officinalis
Location: sunny
Substrate: nutritious, moist
Light germs / dark germs: Dark germs, seed depth two centimetres
Sowing: from the beginning of March
Germination temperature: 20 to 25 °C
Germination time: 8 to 14 days
When to plant out: April to June
Flowering period: May to September
Harvest time: May to October
Annual / Perennial: annual
Hardy: no, must be sown again every year

4. Dill

Botanical name: Anethum graveolens
Location: sunny
Substrate: humic, permeable, rich in nutrients
Light germs / dark germs: dark germs, sowing depth 1 centimetre
Sowing: possible all year round
Germination temperature: 18 to 24 °C
Germination time: 14 to 21 days
When to plant out: April / May
Flowering period: July to August
Harvest time: June to September
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: no, bring indoors in winter

5. Tarragon

Botanical name: Artemisia dracunculus
Location: sunny
Substrate: nutritious, moist
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from mid-April
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: 7 to 14 days
When to plant out: from April / May
Flowering period: May to June
Harvest time: before flowering
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: depending on the species

6. Chamomile, real

Botanical name: Matricaria recutita
Location: sunny to semi-shady
Substrate: rich in nutrients, loamy to sandy
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from the beginning of March
Germination temperature: 16 to 25 °C
Germination time: 15 to 20 days
When to plant out: March to May
Flowering period: May to October
Harvest time: May to October
Annual / Perennial: annual
Hardy: no, must be sown again every year

7. Chervil

Botanical name: Anthriscus cerefolium
Location: sunny to semi-shady
Substrate: humic, well drained
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from the beginning of March
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: 10 to 14 days
When to plant out: April to May
Flowering period: June to August
Harvest time: May to September
Annual / Perennial: perennial (biennial)
Hardy: yes

8. Coriander, real

Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum
Location: sunny to semi-shady
Substrate: nutritious
Light germs / dark germs: dark germs, sowing depth 1 centimetre
Sowing: from the beginning of April
Germination temperature: 10 to 25 °C
Germination time: 15 to 20 days
When to plant out: April to June
Flowering period: June to August
Harvest time: before or after flowering
Annual / Perennial: annual
Hardy: no, must be sown again every year

Tip: In contrast to real coriander, Vietnamese coriander is perennial and can also be cultivated on the windowsill.

9. Cumin, real

Jerzy Opioła, Carum carvi a1, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Botanical name: Carum carvi
Location: sunny to semi-shady
Substrate: nutritious, loamy
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from the beginning of March
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: 14 to 21 days
When to plant out: end of March to end of April
Flowering period: May to July
Harvest time: July (seeds)
Annual / Perennial: perennial (biennial)
Hardy: yes

Herbs to prefer: L - R

10. Lavender

Botanical name: Lavandula angustifolia
Location: full sun to sunny
Substrate: poor in nutrients, sandy, calcareous, dry
Light germs / dark germs: dark germs, sowing depth 0.5 centimetres
Sowing: from mid-April
Germination temperature: 20 to 25 °C
Germination time: 21 to 28 days
When to plant out: from mid-May
Flowering period: May to September
Harvest time: June to September
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: depending on the variety, winter protection makes sense

11. Marjoram

Botanical name: Origanum majorana
Location: sunny
Substrate: humic, slightly sandy, loose
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from mid-April
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: 10 to 16 days
When to plant out: May to June
Flowering period: June to September
Harvest time: before flowering
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: no, frost-free overwintering on the windowsill possible

12. Oregano

Botanical name: Origanum vulgare
Location: sunny
Substrate: poor in nutrients. dry
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from mid-April
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: 8 to 16 days
When to plant out: May
Flowering period: July to September
Harvest time: all year round
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: yes

13. Parsley

Botanical name: Petroselinum crispum
Location: sunny to semi-shady
Substrate: rich in humus, nutritious, slightly calcareous
Light germs / dark germs: dark germs, sowing depth 1 centimetre
Sowing: from the beginning of March
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: 14 to 28 days
When to plant out: October to May
Flowering period: June to August
Harvest time: all year round
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: yes

14. Peppermint

Botanical name: Mentha x piperita
Location: partially shaded
Substrate: rich in nutrients, moist, calcareous
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from the beginning of March
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: 10 to 21 days
When to plant out: March to April
Flowering period: June to September
Harvest time: May to September
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: yes

Tip: In addition to the classic peppermint, there is a whole range of different mints with interesting aromas that are definitely worth trying.

15. Rosemary

Botanical name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Location: full sun to sunny
Substrate: poor in nutrients, sandy, dry
Light germs / dark germs: dark germs, sowing depth 1 centimetre
Sowing: from the beginning of April
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: approx. 28 days
When to plant out: April to May
Flowering time: March to May
Harvest time: May to October
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: no, hibernate cool and frost-free

Herbs to prefer: S - Z

16. Sage

Botanical name: Salvia officinalis
Location: sunny
Substrate: poor in nutrients, sandy
Light germinators / dark germinators: cover very thinly with soil (sand).
Sowing: from mid-April
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: 7 to 21 days
When to plant out: May
Flowering period: May to July
Harvest time: April to September
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: no, hibernate cool and frost-free

17. Sorrel

Botanical name: Rumex acetosa
Location: sunny to semi-shady
Substrate: humic, nutritious, slightly moist
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from the beginning of March
Germination temperature: 16 to 23 °C
Germination time: 7 to 21 days
When to plant out: March to April
Flowering period: May to September
Harvest time: May to August
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: yes

18. Chives

Botanical name: Allium schoenoprasum
Location: sunny to semi-shady
Substrate: loamy to sandy
Light germs / dark germs: dark germs, sowing depth 2 centimetres
Sowing: from the beginning of April
Germination temperature: 18 to 25 °C
Germination time: 14 to 21 days
When to plant out: March to May
Flowering period: May to August
Harvest time: May to September
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: yes

19. Thyme

Botanical name: Thymus vulgaris
Location: sandy
Substrate: poor in nutrients, sandy
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from the beginning of April
Germination temperature: 16 to 22 °C
Germination time: 10 to 18 days
When to plant out: April to June
Flowering period: June to October
Harvest time: May to October
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: depending on the variety

20. Hyssop

Botanical name: Hyssopus officinalis
Location: sunny
Substrate: nutritious, calcareous
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from mid-April
Germination temperature: 8 to 25 °C
Germination time: 7 to 21 days
When to plant out: from April
Flowering period: June to September
Harvest time: June to August
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: yes

21. Lemon Balm

Botanical name: Melissa officinalis
Location: full sun to sunny
Substrate: humic, loose
Light germs / dark germs: Light germs
Sowing: from the beginning of April
Germination temperature: 20 to 30 °C
Germination time: 21 to 28 days
When to plant out: end of April to end of May
Flowering period: June to August
Harvest time: June to September
Annual / Perennial: perennial
Hardy: yes

Planting out - the right time

After preferring the herbs on the windowsill, the question arises as to how to proceed. Ideally, you should cultivate the young herbs outside, as they thrive best there. However, the right time is essential: Place the young plants outside in mild and dry weather, and bring them inside first if there is a risk of frost. Slowly acclimate them to the new location. Once they have hardened, the little plants can remain outdoors or be planted out in the garden.

Tip: You don't have to prefer these herbs, here the seeds can go straight into the bed: wild garlic, watercress, garden cress, lovage, rocket, woodruff and purslane. All of these species need frost so that the seed sprout is broken and the plants can germinate.

Vegetables can also be preferred on the windowsill.

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Vegetable garden