You’ve probably read or heard that the best soil for herbs indoors is clay. If you have, then you know that it’s a bit of a chore to go out and purchase several bags of this and mix it in just right. Clay can hold some moisture, but it’s so heavy that it tends to make herb gardening a tad more labor-intensive than it needs to be. After all, we want the best soil for herb gardening, not compacting it into a ball and burying it in the bottom of a pail.

So how can you tell if your soil is good enough for herb gardening? Well, the first thing you should do is to consider where you’re going to be planting. Clay is typically the best choice for an indoor garden, as long as it isn’t exposed to too much sunlight, otherwise the clay could get too wet and start to mold. If you decide to plant herbs indoors, you can either go with a clay soil mix or try a pre-composted version. For planting outdoors, you can choose a variety of other options.

So, how can you tell which soil is best for growing herbs indoors? One way is to get an indoor garden and plant a handful of standard herbs (see above) and see what they grow like. If they don’t do well, you’ll have a pretty good indication that the soil is working improperly. Then, you’ll know exactly what you need to adjust your soil to grow your herbs in.

Another thing you can do to determine what soil would be best is to take a clove of garlic and crush it. Scoop out the juice and add it to a bag of soil. Once you’ve mixed the herb/garlic juice with the soil, you can place it inside and let it sit for a few days. Check to see if it’s growing well; if not, you’ll want to add some more water and make the soil a bit drier.

So, how can you tell which soil would be best to grow herbs in? Well, the best soil for growing herbs in is one that has lots of air circulation. Clay soils tend to be less aerated than other types of soil, so it’s important to make sure you let the herb seeds stay in the soil for at least a week before planting them. You may also need to add compost to help the soil retain moisture better.

Your herb garden will probably require fertilizer, depending on the type of herb you are growing. If you want to give your herbs a helping hand in controlling weeds, you could consider taking an organic weed killer and mixing it into your soil. Other herbs such as dill, parsley, sage, chives and marjoram benefit from pre-emergent herb sprays. And, finally, mint will only grow really well in cool weather so make sure to plant it after the last frost.

If your soil isn’t quite ready yet, you can do a couple of things to speed things up. Purchase a commercial potting soil and break it up finely in a food processor. Now, add in some medium-grade fish emulsion, a teaspoon of lime sand and a quarter cup of sea salt. Mix it together completely, let it sit for about an hour, and then run a garden hose over it to rinse out the mixture. Repeat this process until your soil is perfectly moist and you’re ready to start growing. It’s best to buy a small amount first and keep a close eye on the soil, checking it frequently for moisture.

The best soil for indoor herb gardens is one that is rich in nutrients but also offers some protection against pests and fungus. To do this, you’ll need to make a cast in the soil by breaking up the soil and adding water. Then, add medium grade fish emulsion, a quarter cup of rock salt and some organic matter. Then, just cover the entire cast in a loose gravel and water well, and your herbs will be growing beautifully indoors!