This weekend, I decided to bring a bit of the garden indoors and start a winter project that’s been on my mind for a while. With the chill in the air and the garden outside looking a bit bare, I feel the need to keep my green thumb busy. My plan involved finding my gardening shears(which I always manage to hide from myself), a few small garden pots, some soil, and a handful of my favorite herbs—rosemary, basil, lemon balm, and oregano—to start this indoor gardening project.
A Cozy Weekend Winter Herb Project
On Saturday morning, I begin with a hot cup of coffee in hand (we all know that is my favorite beverage) and a little stroll out to the garden. I am not a fan of cold weather but, it's inevitable good ol' winter is heading for us soon. I carefully snipped a few healthy stems from each herb, taking my time to find the best ones, we have already had some cold temperatures so my choices were limited.(I should have started on this project a week ago). Rosemary, with its woodsy scent sitting right at the opening of my garden path, will be first. Then moving on to basil, one of my favorite herbs, it reminding me of summer. Lemon balm and oregano which was taking over a corner of my garden was last, each having their own unique fragrance. The simple act of gathering these herbs made me feel a bit more connected to my garden, which is my ultimate form of self-care. Being in tune with nature no matter if it is just for short periods gives me a connection that boosts my mood for the day.
Back inside, I sat up my workspace right on my kitchen counter, and I laid out all my materials. My plan is to try two different ways of propagating the cuttings—a little experiment to see which method works best.
Method 1: Water Propagation
I did most of my houseplants this way, and it worked great. I took my first set of cuttings and removed the lower leaves so only the bare stems sat in the water. Each stem went into its own jar filled with water and lined up neatly on the windowsill. I made a mental note to change the water every few days to keep it fresh—who am I kidding? I put it in my planner so I wouldn’t forget! Within a week or two, I saw tiny little roots developing, and it was so satisfying!
Method 2: Growing Medium with Rooting Hormone
For the second method, I stripped the lower leaves off another set of cuttings and dipped the ends in rooting hormone—a trick I learned from a seasoned gardener a few years back. I planted them into small pots filled with moist potting soil and gently pressed the soil around each stem.
Starting from Seed: A Little Extra Fun
While I was at it, I decided to start some seeds as well. Seed starting had always been one of my favorite parts of gardening—there was something about seeing those little sprouts breaking through the soil that made me so happy. The best part was creating a succession planting schedule so that when the older plants faded out, fresh new ones were ready to take their place.
The Perks of Fresh Herbs
I’ve always found that having fresh herbs makes cooking feel more attractive. With these herbs growing throughout the winter I can't help but imagine how they will be used in many of my favorite recipes. Fresh rosemary in roasted potatoes, basil in my homemade tomato sauce, lemon balm for a calming tea, and oregano sprinkled over a warm bowl of soup. Sure, I still use dried herbs—sometimes I dry them myself or buy them when I need to—but there’s nothing quite like the punch of flavor from fresh ones. It’s true that dried herbs work best for slow-cooker recipes, where their flavors have time to develop, but fresh herbs added at the end of a dish bring everything to life.
Lemon Balm and Ginger Tea: My Winter Comfort
Have you ever tried a hot cup of lemon balm and ginger tea? It's a must-have on those cold evenings when you're ready to unwind for the evening. The lemon balm has a light, citrusy flavor that pairs perfectly with the warmth of ginger. Lemon balm is known for its calming effects and can even help with sleep, while ginger supports digestion and has anti-inflammatory benefits.
Beating the Winter Blues
Winter can feel long and dreary, especially for someone who loves being outside in the garden. But having my herbs by the window, watching them take root and grow, will make winter feel a little brighter. It’s like bringing a piece of summer inside. It gives me something to look forward to and keeps my hands busy. There’s something about nurturing plants that lifts my spirits and reminds me that spring will come again. Plus, having greenery around the house not only improves my mood but also makes my home feel more alive.
Final Thoughts
This past weekend’s project was about more than just growing herbs—it was about keeping my love for gardening alive during the colder months and finding joy in the simple things. Winter can be the hardest time for me to stay positive and uplifted, but bringing a bit of the outdoors inside helps lift my spirits as I care for these little pieces of my garden.
If you’ve been thinking about trying this, I encourage you to bring a part of your garden indoors this winter. It’s an easy way to keep your green thumb active and enjoy fresh herbs, even when the world outside feels cold and gray.
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