Summer is glorious — long days, backyard barbecues, and that warm golden light. But for your herb garden? It can be downright brutal. When temperatures push past 90°F (32°C), your beloved basil, cilantro, and parsley can go from lush to limp in a matter of days. If you've ever walked out to your balcony or garden bed only to find a pot full of wilted, scorched, and sorry-looking herbs, you're definitely not alone. The good news is that learning how to protect herbs from extreme summer heat doesn't require a greenhouse or a horticulture degree. With a handful of practical strategies, you can keep your herbs healthy, productive, and flavourful even when the thermometer climbs. Let's dig in. Know Which Herbs Struggle Most in the Heat Not all herbs respond to heat the same way. Understanding which ones are most vulnerable gives you a head start. Heat-sensitive herbs that need extra protection include: • Cilantro (coriander)...
You had such good intentions. You picked up a little pot of basil from the supermarket, set it on your kitchen windowsill, watered it faithfully — and within two weeks it was a droopy, yellow mess. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Understanding why your herbs keep dying indoors is one of the most common gardening frustrations — and the good news is that it almost always comes down to a handful of very fixable mistakes. Whether you’re trying to keep basil alive, grow mint on your counter, or build a full kitchen herb garden, this guide will help you figure out exactly what’s going wrong and how to turn things around. 1. The Light Problem: Your Windowsill Isn’t Enough This is the number one reason herbs die indoors. Most herbs — basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano — are Mediterranean plants that evolved under blazing sun. They need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. A north-facing windowsill or a spot a few feet back from the window? That’s just not going to cut it. What...