小林’s Kitchen: Herbs in a Shanghai Apartment
小林 grows 5 herbs on her kitchen windowsill in Shanghai. Here’s her setup, her challenges, and what she’s learned.
小林 lives in a 60-square-meter apartment. Her kitchen window faces east.
Her Setup
- 5 pots (8-inch, with drainage)
- Potting mix
- Spray bottle
- Small fan
What She Grows
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Chives
- Mint
Her Challenges
- East window. Only 4 hours of light. Basil struggles.
- Shanghai humidity. Mold on soil surface.
- Cilantro bolts. Even indoors.
What She Learned
- Bottom water. No mold since.
- Fan helps. Airflow prevents mildew.
- Cilantro is hard. Even indoors.
- Chives are the easiest.
Her Advice
“Start with chives and mint. They’re almost impossible to kill. Add basil when you’re ready for a challenge.”