Simpson

Home Gardening on a College Campus

written by Maggie Sampson How to Grow Your Own Herb Garden

Looking for a way to reduce stress and connect with nature?

For centuries, gardening has been a way to sustain ourselves nutritionally, and to sustain our connection to the environment.

Starting your own garden may seem a daunting task (especially on a college campus), but with the right tools, it can be a relaxing and fulfilling experience. Studies have even shown that people who have a garden find reductions in depression and anxiety and increases in quality of life and sense of community.

The first step is deciding what you want to grow. Lettuce, basil, and other microgreens are great options for a confined space and a college lifestyle. With enough water and sunlight, they flourish in small containers, and require relatively little attention. For those hesitant to maintain an edible garden, potted flowers and houseplants are a great alternative.

Every plant requires different levels of attention and resources, so when deciding what you want to grow, keep in mind your schedule and living situation. Herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro only require 4-6 hours of sunlight a day, and tend to run on the dry side, making them a perfect start to an at home garden (If DIY isn’t your style, starting with a premade growing kit is another great option). Additionally, since you are planting indoors, you can start your garden in any season!

Materials

Soil Pot: Find a size that works best for your space and your growing goals 2-4 inch diameter pots work well for starting out You can find affordable pots at most targets, walmarts, and hardware stores You can also find a greater starter set on amazon

Soil:

Seeds: For soil, it is best to find a mix specially tailored for indoor gardening You can find one specifically for herb gardens on amazon or any local plant nursery/garden shop

Typically, seeds are bought in packs, this is nice for when you want to try planting lots of different things in your garden without taking up too much space You can find seeds in most walmarts, hardware stores, and nurseries

On amazon you can find a pack specifically for an indoor herb garden

Instructions

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5. Fill your pot/container about ¾ full of soil Place seeds on top of the soil (seed amount varies—make sure to check the seed package) Place layer of soil about ½ inch thick on top of the seeds Water until soil is moist (Make sure not to overwater, soil should never be dry, but avoid standing water) Label which plants are in which pots, feel free to be creative and decorate your pots too!

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P MC5153451/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083GGG7WJ/r ef=sspa _ dk _ detail _ 1? psc=1&pd _ rd _ i=B083GGG7WJ&pd _ rd _ w=XCIO X&pf _ rd _p=887084a2-5c34-4113-a4f8b7947847c308&pd _ rd _ wg=1IZVw&pf _ rd _ r=HZ HB4EMQ7B7ZCYSBR0RE&pd _ rd _ r=c09700a11bd7-4237-a56fa5bc282be0a6&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGl maWVyPUExNlk4R0taTVZRR01TJmVuY3J5cH RlZElkPUEwMTc2MTYwRkVBQkhZTzlKSlhDJ mVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3MDYxMTkyTDIz RTUwRFRNOERJJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZG V0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvT m90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

https://www.amazon.com/GROWNEERStarters-Seedling-BiodegradableGermination/dp/B07ZYV9C4V/ref=sr _ 1 _ 14? dchild=1&keywords=Soil+Pots&qid=1632787645 &sr=8-14

https://www.amazon.com/Mixture-PlantersSpecially-BlendedPlanting/dp/B08KSFR7PZ/ref=sr _ 1 _ 8? dchild=1&keywords=Soil+for+herb+garden&qid =1632787913&sr=8-8

https://www.amazon.com/Urban-LeafVarieties-EssentialMedicinal/dp/B07N1174GY/ref=sr _ 1 _ 14? dchild=1&keywords=herb+garden+seeds+indo or&qid=1632788100&sr=8-14