TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THIS KIT
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HOW IT WORKS
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HERB OVERVIEW
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GROWTH CHART
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NOTES
(BACK PAGE)
ABOUT THIS KIT ‘Kitchen Herb Garden’ is an indoor herb kit designed to sit on your windowsill. don’t worry if you have no windowsill! the kit can be placed anywhere in your home as long as sunlight will reach it.
This kit contains: || A guide to growing herbs (this booklet) || A guide to using herbs in cooking || 3 plastic plant pots || 6 compost discs || Basil Sweet seeds || Chives Fine-Leaved seeds || Parsley Moss Curled 2 seeds || 3 plant labels || A drip tray
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HOW IT WORKS The packaging of the kit doubles up as a growing box for your herbs. The box can be used to aid with sowing the seeds indoors until they are strong enough to be planted outside; or kept as an indoor window box to grow and display your herbs. The choice is yours.
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STEP ONE The compost discs provided are helpful for starting seeds. || Place one disc inside a plant pot || Add a little bit of luke-warm water || Leave to expand have a tray underneath the plant pot before adding water to a compost disc to avoid unwanted spillages or you can mix the compost in a different container and add them to pots after.
The compost should fill the plant pot leaving space to sow seeds on top. Any excess compost should be removed and more added if needed.
HOW IT WORKS
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STEP TWO Once the compost has expanded, choose a pack of seeds and lightly shake on top of the compost until there is a thin layer. When you have laid out your seeds you will need to cover them. Sprinkle them lightly with compost on the top, either from any access you had before or grab a handful before adding your seeds. The compost should be damp from earlier but you’ll want to hydrate it after adding more compost on top to cover the seeds. if you are growing more than one variety of herb don’t forget to label your pots!
HOW IT WORKS
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STEP THREE Place your plant pots by a window that will get lots of sun or make sure you place them somewhere warm. Don’t forget to monitor them for sprouting. use fluorescent lights if you don’t have a sunny window but must be left on for 7 hours in order for the herbs to be exposed to a sufficient amount of light.
The glass from the window will aid in germinating the seeds you have planted but you can cover the top of the plant pot with cling film to lock in the moisture necessary for the seeds to germinate. You’ll want to remove your covers as soon as your seeds have sprouted to prevent mould from attacking young seedlings. HOW IT WORKS
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OPTIONAL The box has 3 holes, enabling a plant pot to be placed within each one. This creates suitable spacing between the plant pots so the herbs can thrive and grow healthy. You do not have to use the packaging box provided to grow or space the herbs, but it might be helpful for beginners. the packaging can be kept and used as a display unit in your kitchen if you don’t want to use it during the growing stage.
HOW IT WORKS
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TOP TIPS || You can use a greenhouse to germinate the seeds (if applicable) but be sure to remove the plant pots from the packaging box first. || We highly recommend sowing the seeds indoors so they have a better chance at growing but you can grow them outside if you wish. || If you want to grow the herbs outside, see the specifications for each herb in the overview section of this booklet.
HOW IT WORKS
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BASIL SWEET
CHIVES FINE LEAVED
Ocimum basilicum
Allium schoenoprasum
Half Hardy Annual * Height approximately: 30cm (12in) Seedlings appear within 7-14 days
Hardy Perennial ** Height approximately: 20cm (8in) Seedlings appear within 14-28 days
HERB OVERVIEW This kit contains seeds to grow basil, chives, and parsley which are among the easiest herb plants to grow for beginners. We have chosen these herbs in particular because they are versatile and handy essentials to have in the kitchen for all manner of dishes.
PARSLEY MOSS CURLED 2
* half hardy annual a plant that may endure a few degrees of frost but is killed at lower temperatures
Petroselinum crispim Hardy Perennial ** Height approximately: 30cm (12in) Seedlings appear within 14-28 days
** hardy perennial a plant that lasts three seasons or more and that can withstand freezing temperatures
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INDOOR SOW AND GROWTH OPTIONS WHEN: All year round (indoor growth) March to May (outdoor growth) HOW: Place compost in pots, sow seeds thinly on top, cover lightly with compost, cover with clear glass, polythene or propagator lid. Keep at 15-20oC (60-68oF) CARE: Remove cover when seedlings appear (7-14 days) Thin plants to further pots or trays if necessary. Stand pots outside for a few days late May and avoid frost periods. (outdoor growth) Keep compost moist not damp.
OUTDOOR SOW AND GROWTH WHEN: May to June HOW: Place compost in pots, sow seeds thinly on top, cover with fine soil. Make sure compost is moist CARE: When large enough, thin to 15cm (6in) apart (move to additional pots if needed). For a continuous supply make sowings at three weekly intervals HARVEST: Pick the leaves as required from June to November
HARVEST: All year round (indoor growth) June to October (outdoor growth) indoor sow: plant the seeds indoors then you can choose to move them outside or leave inside for growth.
BASIL SWEET Basil is an annual herb plant. “Sweet basil� is the most common variety offered, though there are many other decorative and tasty basil cultivators. Common sweet basil grows large, tender, savoury leaves and is a fine choice for a first herb garden. Basil will flourish in your garden or in a pot on a sunny windowsill as long as it gets lots of warmth, water and sun. Cut individual basil leaves at any time that you think the plant can spare them.
HERB OVERVIEW
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INDOOR SOW AND GROWTH OPTIONS WHEN: All year round (indoor growth) March to May (outdoor growth) HOW: Place compost in pots, sow seeds thinly on top, cover lightly with compost, cover with clear glass, polythene or propagator lid. Keep at 15-20oC (60-68oF) CARE: Remove cover when seedlings appear (14-28 days) Thin plants to further pots or trays if necessary. Stand pots outside for a few days late May and avoid frost periods. (outdoor growth) Keep compost moist not damp.
OUTDOOR SOW AND GROWTH WHEN: March to May HOW: Place compost in pots, sow seeds thinly on top, cover with fine soil. Firm gently and keep moist. CARE: When large enough, thin to 15cm (6in) apart (move to additional pots if needed). HARVEST: Cut the leaves as required once the plants have developed, they are best cut before the flowers form.
HARVEST: All year round (indoor growth) June (outdoor growth) indoor sow: plant the seeds indoors then you can choose to move them outside or leave inside for growth.
CHIVES FINE-LEAVED ‘Fine-leaved’ chives have a delicious, mild onion flavour. They keep their slender shape and do not get course or tough with age. Fine-leaved chives are thinner and smaller than regular chives, they are a good choice for growing in containers. Regularly harvesting the tops of the leaves helps to stimulate further new young growth, which has the best flavour. Best to harvest before flowers bloom on top (purple heads).
HERB OVERVIEW
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INDOOR SOW AND GROWTH OPTIONS WHEN: All year round (indoor growth) March to April (outdoor growth) HOW: Place compost in pots, sow seeds thinly on top, cover lightly with compost, firm gently, cover with clear glass, polythene or propagator lid. Keep at 15-20oC (60-68oF) CARE: Remove cover when seedlings appear (14-28 days) Thin plants to further pots or trays if necessary. Grow on to maturity in a light airy location HARVEST: All year round (indoor growth) July to December (outdoor growth)
OUTDOOR SOW AND GROWTH WHEN: March to July HOW: Place compost in pots, sow seeds thinly on top, cover with fine soil. Firm gently and keep moist. CARE:
When large enough, thin as necessary, spacing 20cm (8in) apart Cloche protection in autumn gives longer cropping.
HARVEST: June to November
indoor sow: plant the seeds indoors then you can choose to move them outside or leave inside for growth.
PARSLEY MOSS CURLED 2 Parsley is the best known of all the garnishing herbs. Moss Curled 2 is the traditional parsley. Dark-green, tightly curled leaves. Vigorous and tasty with a multitude of uses! Parsley is an ideal herb for containers, it even likes living on the kitchen windowsill, as long as it is watered, fed and cut. Parsley likes moisture and has a longer than average germination period of three to four weeks so be patient!
HERB OVERVIEW
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BASIL
FULL SUN
CHIVES
PARSLEY
FULL SUN / PARTIAL SHADE
FULL SUN
WELL DRAINED SOIL
WELL DRAINED SOIL
WELL DRAINED SOIL
LIGHTLY EVERYDAY
EVERY OTHER DAY
LIGHTLY EVERYDAY
HERB CARE Growing herbs indoors is convenient for harvesting while you’re cooking and great for those without gardens. It also extends the season for annual herbs so you will have fresh produce all year round! Each herb requires different levels of care so take the time to read up. The chart shows the basic requirements each herb needs to grow.
HERB OVERVIEW
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NAME
SOWING DATE
NAME
SOWING DATE
NAME
SOWING DATE
GROWTH CHART Keep track of when you’ve planted your herbs by making a note on this page. It can be handy to keep a record if you are growing multiple herb types or in different growing conditions. check out the cooking guide to see when and how you should harvest your herbs
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NOTES