Herbs range in their difficulty in growing from one to another, but nearly all of them can be grown well on a sunny window sill. If you have a warm window that faces the south you can grow nearly anything on it, from flowering herbs to the basic culinary ones that we all love to use fresh.

Setting a few pots on a window sill will always net you a supply of fresh herbs if they have plenty of sun, sufficient water, and a little attention

Most often I use pots on the sill that have no drainage holes in them, or I am careful to use plates beneath them. For those with no drainage a few inches of small gravel will keep them up and out of the water, providing some good drainage for the plants.

Normally we begin our herbs on the sill from seed. When they are about two inches tall they need thinned to keep them healthy and growing well. Push in a plant food spike such as Jobs that will give them the nutrients they need to grow well.

Using slender and taller pots seems to work well for us, and the plants get adequate drainage and room for the roots. If they begin to yellow chances are they are getting too much light and heat. Keep them back from the glass that can cause them to burn in the summer time. In the same way that a magnifying glass will cause burns when in the sun, regular glass will magnify the rays and burn the plants behind it. Select a window that is not in full sun all day long to prevent that mishap from taking place.

Gardening on a small scale can be fun. Your window sill can be used to help you grow not only herbs, but also the miniature tomato plants such as small climbing cherry tomatoes.

We’ve had some great success also with growing miniature roses and used an inside window box under one window to grow lovely small vegetables and flower bulbs. These included miniature irises and daffodils.