Unwins Kitchen Garden Herb Kit

Four delicious herbs perfect to grow on your windowsill for easy picking.

The kit comprises: 1 packet each of basil, chives, coriander, oregano, a wooden trough, 4 growing pots, coir compost and instructions.

Tender annual herbs can be sown year-round for growing on the kitchen windowsill. Sow your favourites this week, and you’ll have a range of flavours ready for use with all your dishes. Sow batches every few weeks and you’ll have a constant supply for continued use in the kitchen.

One of the easiest ways to get started with windowsill herbs is to treat yourself to a complete growing kit.

The Herb Kitchen Garden has all you need to get growing. As well as one packet each of basil, chives, coriander and parsley, you get four plastic pots, compost and a decorative wooden trough to turn it into a real feature on the kitchen windowsill.

If you want to try different herbs, choose your varieties and grow them in small pots. You don’t want the added steps and mess of having to prick out and pot on your herbs, so choose a general compost with a good nutrient level, such as Gro-Sure All Purpose Compost.

Growing Instructions

Prepare the coir compost
Place the coir compost discs in a shallow tray of warm water and leave for approximately 10 minutes. The discs will expand as they absorb the water. If the compost still feels dry, add a little more water. Once fully expanded, gently break up the compost.

Fill the pots
Fill each pot with the prepared coir compost until it is almost full. Lightly firm the compost using the base of another pot.

Sow the seeds
Sow 10–20 seeds of each variety evenly across the surface of the compost. Cover lightly with approximately ½ cm of compost.

Create a humid environment
Place the pots inside the wooden trough and cover with a clear, sealed plastic bag or cling film to retain moisture and humidity. You should not need to water again until after germination.

Place in a warm, bright position
Position the trough on a warm, well-lit surface, such as a windowsill. Check regularly to make sure the compost remains moist, but avoid overwatering.

Wait for germination
Once seedlings begin to appear, remove the plastic covering. Keep the seedlings in a warm environment at approximately 15–20°C and continue to keep the compost moist.

Germination should take approximately two weeks.

How to Harvest

Once the plants have developed 5–6 leaves, you can begin harvesting. Pick or snip off leaves as required.

Allow the plants to continue growing from the main stem. With regular harvesting, this will provide you with a continuous supply of fresh herbs.

Store any unused seeds in a cool, dry place for future sowing.