Growing Plants in a Dorm

I just got back from a farmer's market at Wesleyan, where I bought about a pound of goat cheese (yum) and a little basil plant for $3. It is now sitting on my window sill soaking up the cloudy Connecticut sky. Now, I know it is impossible for me to keep my own goats and make my own goat cheese, but the farmers market got me thinking about what kinds of plants I could grow in my room or out on the porch as the weather starts to turn a bit nicer.

It turns out that basil is one of the best plants to grow in these kind of limited conditions. It can be quite happy in a warm, sunny spot with moist soil and a little room to grow. The best way to harvest the basil leaves is to pinch them off from the base. However, remember not to pinch to much off at one time.



It turns out that growing a wide variety of herbs, even in the middle of winter, is definitely doable. The trick is to find a spot in your dorm that gets a lot of sunlight (at least 4 hours and preferably more) every day. You also need soil that has good drainage - and a pot that can drain as well. Most of the websites advised buying the soil from a nursery if you are a beginner (like me) - but most recommend a mix containing peat, sand, perlite, or vermiculite. Most of the websites I consulted advise trying rosemary, chives, mint and sage, although there are additional possibilities as well. For more information, check out:

http://ezinearticles.com/?10-Herbs-You-Can-Grow-in-Containers&id=389833