How to Start an Indoor Herb Garden

Herbs can bring a burst of flavor to almost any dish, but buying them at the store can be quite pricey. Dried herbs, while useful, lack the intense flavor of their fresh counterparts. Starting an indoor herb garden is a fantastic way to enjoy fresh produce even without outdoor gardening space, or to continue harvesting during the colder months.

Indoor herbs not only provide a steady supply of delicious ingredients but also fill your home with lovely fragrances and vibrant colors. As Janice Cox, author and education chair for The Herb Society of America, says, "Plants make us happy." She adds, "Having a scented geranium, lavender, or rosemary in your home not only smells wonderful, but these plants can also boost our mental well-being. Growing fresh herbs indoors is an easy way to improve your living space while keeping yourself healthy and joyful."

Here’s how to cultivate an indoor herb garden that yields fresh herbs and enhances your living space all year round.

Indoor Herb Garden Maintenance

With the right containers and some tender care, many herbs flourish indoors. As with any houseplant, it's essential to create the perfect environment for them. "Understand the plant's light and humidity needs, and also learn how to trim the leaves," advises Peggy Ricco, chair of the Potomac Unit of the Herb Society of America. "Light is the main obstacle; indoor light is far weaker than outdoor light. While shade-tolerant herbs like mint and chives can thrive by a window, sun-loving plants such as basil, dill, savory, oregano, sage, or thyme will need additional lighting."

Different herbs have varying growth needs. Some require more moisture, while others prefer less. Some do well in cooler temperatures, while most thrive in warmth. To promote optimal growth, match each herb to your home’s specific conditions and give them tailored containers and care.

Light

Most herbs require at least six hours of sunlight daily. A south-facing window or another bright spot works best for most plants. When extra lighting is necessary, "I recommend a light stand that is both decorative and functional—a piece of furniture that can be placed in the kitchen or living room to display the herbs," suggests Ricco. She particularly recommends the Oslo Grow Lights line from Gardener's Supply Company. "[They are] sleek, modern furniture pieces for any plant, featuring LED lights that attach magnetically," she adds.

Water

Herbs have different water requirements. Woody herbs like oregano, sage, rosemary, and thyme prefer drier soil, while basil, cilantro, mint, and parsley thrive in more moisture. "People often overwater their plants, especially when they see them every day indoors," says Cox. Water your herbs when the surface of the soil feels dry, and avoid letting pots sit in standing water. "Using a tray of pebbles to catch excess water helps," says Cox. "It also increases humidity, which plants will appreciate as the water evaporates."

Fertilizer

Fertilize your herbs once a week during the summer using a general-purpose water-soluble fertilizer diluted to one-quarter of the recommended strength. Herbs grow slower in winter and do not need fertilizing. Generally, it's best to use fertilizer sparingly, as overfeeding can diminish the flavor of your herbs. Always water your plants well before applying fertilizer.

Harvesting

Trimming herbs for cooking not only provides fresh ingredients but also encourages the plants to keep growing. Most herbs can be harvested once they've established and reached at least six inches in height. "For some herbs, you can simply snip off a few leaves at a time," explains Ricco. "Some herbs can handle a heavy trim and bounce back, while others require a deep cut to promote a fuller, bushier plant." To maintain the health and productivity of your herbs, never remove more than one-third of the plant in one session.

What Herbs to Grow Indoors

Many of the most popular culinary herbs are well-suited to indoor gardening, such as basil, chives, dill, parsley, and cilantro. Other excellent choices for indoor gardening include sweet marjoram and chervil. Additionally, you can grow a variety of perennial herbs indoors, including sweet bay trees, rosemary, and thyme.

When choosing which herbs to grow, think about the meals you enjoy preparing and which herbs complement those dishes. "It's also important to consider how you plan to use your herbs," says Cox. "Are you growing them for your indoor plant collection? As a convenient ingredient for cooking, or for making your own body care or craft products?" These considerations will help guide your selection of plants.

Also, make sure to assess the conditions in your home. If your space tends to be on the cooler side, consider growing cold-tolerant herbs like chervil, chives, mint, oregano, parsley, sage, and thyme. While most herbs thrive with bright light, chervil, chives, parsley, and mint-family plants, such as lemon balm, can handle lower light conditions.

How to Begin an Indoor Herb Garden

"To grow herbs indoors, I suggest either buying the plant—especially annuals like basil or dill—or taking cuttings from existing plants, typically perennials from your garden, like thyme, oregano, or sage," advises Ricco. Local garden centers or even grocery stores usually offer a selection of popular herbs. Simply pot them in containers, and you're all set to grow.

You can also start many herbs from seeds, particularly annual varieties like basil, parsley, cilantro, chervil, and dill. However, growing herbs from seed requires more time before you can start harvesting. Some seeds, such as parsley, lavender, thyme, and rosemary, take longer to germinate, which increases the risk of disease. Herb seedlings also need careful moisture management and additional lighting to provide 12 to 14 hours of bright light each day. If you're up for the challenge, herbs like basil, chives, and dill are some of the easiest to start from seed.

If you have an outdoor garden, you can start many herbs from divisions or cuttings of established plants. You can also ask a friend for cuttings from their garden. Plants that root easily from cuttings include basil, lemon balm, mint, rosemary, sage, and sweet bay. Dividing a clump of chives is an excellent way to begin an indoor pot. Herbs like lemon balm, mint, oregano, sweet marjoram, and thyme can also be divided and brought indoors. When bringing plants or cuttings from the garden, isolate them from other houseplants for a few weeks to ensure they're free from pests.

Choosing Containers and Potting Soil

"The same types of containers that work for your plants outside also work well inside," says Cox. "Just make sure they have good drainage." A 6-inch or 12-inch container is sufficient for most herbs. You can opt for larger containers as perennial herbs grow. It's time to repot when you notice roots pushing through the drainage holes.

Start with a clean, sterilized container to prevent pests and fill it with a well-draining potting mix, leaving about half an inch of space from the top to allow for watering. Since each herb has specific needs, it's best to plant them individually or only group those with similar care requirements.

Many commercial potting mixes are designed for herb cultivation. Herbs need a well-draining mix to ensure healthy root growth. Look for a potting mix that holds moisture while still allowing excess water to drain freely. This balance is crucial for healthy plants. For Mediterranean and woody herbs that prefer drier, sandier soils, you can blend equal parts of potting mix with sand or pea gravel, or use a cactus potting mix.

More Tips for Success

"Herbs enjoy being used, so don't hesitate to snip and harvest from your plants," says Cox. "This helps keep them healthy and thriving. I also like to rotate my plants every few weeks since they tend to lean toward the light." If you're growing herbs for culinary purposes, be sure to remove any flowers. When herbs start to bloom, the flavor of the leaves often changes and can become bitter.

Indoor herbs have more uses than just for cooking. "For instance, rosemary thrives indoors, and its scent can help with memory," says Cox. "A pot of rosemary on your desk might assist in recalling names or numbers while working from home."