People who love to cook from scratch, and who have recently replaced a traditional kitchen window with a bay replacement window, may be thinking about growing an herb garden on the interior ledge to have fresh herbs all year-round. Even if you don’t have a garden window over the sink, this Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro blog post provides tips on what to plant, how to take care of the herbs and when to harvest.
Herbs require four to six hours of sunlight each day to thrive. An east-facing window that enjoys full sunlight from mid-morning to late afternoon is perfect. However, if your replacement window is blocked by surrounding exterior structures or landscaping, you can supplement natural light with a full-spectrum light hung from the curtain rod or mounted on the ceiling.
West-facing windows with full-sun exposure also provide ample light. South-facing windows tend to support a wider variety of herbs and the heat generated is less intense, so you don’t have to position the pots further from the glass as you do with west-facing windows.
It’s possible to grow a nice selection of herbs on the north side of your home, but it takes more work and dedication to keep the temperature consistent. No matter which direction your herb garden faces, remember to move the pots away from the glass as cold weather gives way to spring, or you may have crispy leaves and pots that dry out too fast.
Tip: Be careful not to nail or screw a light fixture directly to your Fibrex window frame or attach anything to the glass with strong adhesives, as this could void all or part of your 20/2/10 warranty.
Most herbs grow best in well-drained soil. It is also recommended you spend some time learning which varieties prefer a light watering schedule, and how companion planting will keep pests away.
If you’re planning to start with plants, you may want to learn more about growing succulents and herbs together. This is one way to add some visual interest to your garden and keep the garden looking fuller as you use your herbs for cooking.
When using seeds, use this recipe to create a balanced soil for container growing.
Tip: Compost and perlite provide a lighter texture, which helps water retention without blocking air circulation.
Plant seeds according to package directions and transplant to larger containers when the herb is four to six inches tall. Apply a slow release fertilizer once every 30 to 60 days.
Depending on how much space you want to dedicate to your new replacement window ledge garden, you might grow:
Herbs prefer damp, not soggy soil. Water when the dirt feels dry three to four inches below the surface. Harvest individual leaves or stems as the plant grows, being careful not to clip the first two leaves that appear on your plant.
One thing that will kill your herbs quickly is cold air coming in through damaged or inefficient windows. If this article has inspired you to grow a winter herb garden indoors, but your aging windows have leaks, we invite you to fill in the short form on this page or call 866-609-5033 to learn more about modern, Energy Star replacement windows to make every room in your home more comfortable.
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