Growing herbs inside

Q. I’m trying to grow some parsley indoors for the winter and just when the leaves get large enough to harvest, they curl and dry up. What can I do?

Robert from Canfield

A. Some herbs grown outdoors can be brought inside, but you are bringing in insects and disease with these plants. Thus, it is easiest to start new when raising herbs in the house during winter months.

Growing herbs inside can be successful with these tips:

Start with a new pot. Don’t use old pots (unless sterilized) to use for indoor growing. Disease pressure is much different inside than it is outside.

Use a window area that faces south or southwest for the best lighting possible. Consider supplemental light if plants are not doing well. There are lots of small grow lights available these days.

Use sterile potting mix. You can purchase this at any garden center. This will ensure you are starting without disease pressure.

Watch the temperature and drafts. Herbs would like to grow below 70‚ó¶degrees. Avoid growing near drafty doors or furnace vents.

Use “dry” growing practices. This means provide a pot with good drainage and water only when the soil is dry to the touch. If the saucer is full of water 15 minutes after you watered, you should drain the saucer to avoid over watering.

You can purchase plants at a local garden center. Be sure to follow these same tips when growing those plants.

For more tips and insight, go to http://go.osu.edu/insideherbs.

Specific to parsley, it is a member of the carrot family, so it has a taproot which must be provided enough room to grow.

Parsley is also one of those plants you should never grow in dry soil. Soil moisture is a challenge with this plant inside.

Thus, most likely it’s a combination of things causing the problem and most likely the overarching problem is the growing conditions.

To learn more about parsley, go to: http://go.osu.edu/parsley.

Eric Barrett is OSU Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Mahoning County. Call the office hot line at 330-533-5538 to submit your questions. Regular clinic hours are over for the growing season, but you can still call and submit questions. Hours vary throughout the winter season.