Summer is over, but the taste of fresh herbs doesn’t have to end.

You can keep your herb garden going indoors with these tips from Calvin Finch, a horticulture educator with the Texas A&M University System extension:

¢ Cut a clump of an outdoor herb plant to plant indoors, making sure to get as many roots as you can. Or take a stem cutting by snipping a 6-inch section of stem and removing the lower leaves before planting.

Chives, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme can be propagated using these methods. Some plants, including basil and dill, grow best from seeds.

¢ Select a durable container with adequate drainage. For most herbs, midsize containers are large enough to ensure the root area stays moist and is unrestricted.

¢ Line the base of the container with newspaper to prevent soil loss.

¢ Fill the pot with a commercial soilless mixture or soil potting mixture. Local soil alone won’t contain the right balance of nutrients.

¢ Place the container where it will get at least five hours of direct sun daily. A south- or west-facing window is best. If good window light isn’t available, substitute fluorescent lighting.

¢ When you plant, mix controlled-release fertilizer granules into the soil mix. Then, to maintain the nutrient supply, use a soluble liquid fertilizer with every other watering.

Be sure to learn about the nutrient needs of your particular herbs because requirements vary among plants.

¢ Don’t overwater. Poke your finger about one-third of the way into the pot to see whether the soil is dry.