Tips & Tricks

How to Grow Your Own Herbs & Vegetables

Rooted seed packets, cow pots, and orgainc potting mix
We know growing your own herbs and vegetables can seem intimidating, but it’s actually really easy and makes for a great family (or quarantine) activity. We're covering direct-sow gardening in this post—AKA the stick ‘em in dirt and watch 'em grow method.

 

We recommend growing these outdoors if you can (fire escape, backyard, whatever you got), but you can also do this indoors. If indoors, make sure you have enough direct sunlight (at least 6-8 hours) or get full-spectrum grow lights to grow them into seedlings.

💡Sidebar: You need full-spectrum lights indoors because herbs and vegetables need all wavelengths of visible light to grow. Common "purple" grow lights only supply red and blue wavelengths. While okay for non-edible houseplants (these colors encourage root, stalk, and foliage growth), this is insufficient for edible plants. For example, if basil is grown without orange wavelengths of light, you’ll end up with a tasteless weed, and that’s no fun. Basil needs "orange" light to create the essential oils that provide its unique taste and smell.

Follow these simple steps to get growing:

  1. Fill your biodegradable pots with soil, leaving 1½" to 2” of space at the top.
  2. Place seeds on top of the soil, evenly distributing them inside the pot.
  3. Label them in a waterproof way—maybe it’s color-coordinated sticks, taped over Post-it notes...get creative!
  4. Top off each pot with about ½" to 1" more of soil.
  5. Water them.
  6. Look at memes. Drink water. Make TikTok content. Repeat.
  7. Check in daily to make sure soil stays slightly moist and never dries out.
    ⚠️Soil should not be consistently wet ⚠️

Pro-tips:

  • Watch out for big swings in weather. Your seedlings will be fragile when they’re first starting out. If there are heavy rainstorms or heatwaves, it’s best to protect them by bringing them inside.
  • You can start seeds in a lot of the containers you have lying around as long as they’re at least 2" to 3" deep and have drainage holes. Whatever’s lying around the house—empty cans, yogurt cups, milk cartons, paper cups—remember to upcycle!
  • 🚨HAVE FUN AND BE PRESENT! NATURE IS LIT!! 🚨
  • Have questions? Email us at hello@heyrooted.com for help.
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