An indoor herb garden is a delightful and practical solution for having fresh, flavorful herbs at your fingertips. Having a collection of aromatic herbs on hand, whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook, can elevate your culinary creations. This guide will go over the best herbs for indoor growing to ensure a plentiful harvest for your own indoor herb garden.
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Credit: CARSON DOWNING |
Are you trying to find a way to grow a little greenery in the midst of the long, dark winters? Start an indoor herb garden.
Even if you don't have any outdoor space, would you still like to grow some vegetables and enjoy the satisfaction of picking something fresh for supper? Start an indoor herb garden.
Not quite ready to dedicate yourself to a full kitchen garden, but interested in giving plantings a go? Start an indoor herb garden.
5 Easy Steps to Get Your Indoor Herb Garden Started
1. Check that your pots have adequate drainage holes. Herbs despite having their roots submerged in water.
2. To keep soil from running out of your pot and making a mess every time you water, use a weed barrier cloth or something similar.
3. Use a soil mixture that drains well and contains compost to provide nutrients.
4. Allow enough space for your plants to spread out and grow to their full potential.
5. Cross your fingers. If you don't succeed the first time, keep trying!
Pick the Right Plants
Most herbs can be grown indoors, but those that do well include no-fuss varieties such as basil, chives, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and thyme.
Herbs can be started from seed or cuttings, which are branches cut at the node of an existing plant and soaked in water until new roots sprout. However, starting your indoor garden with seedlings from a garden shop may be much easier and faster.
Select a Container with Drainage
While there are dozens of herb pots available for purchase, you can plant herbs in almost any container as long as it has some type of drainage. The pots also require something to protect the surface beneath them, such as a saucer or round plastic protector, which can be purchased at garden centers.
You can use any size container as long as the plant fits, but keep in mind that the smaller the vessel, the sooner you'll need to report. If you're using nontraditional planters like Mason jars, make sure to put a layer of pebbles in the bottom to catch excess moisture and keep your potting soil from becoming saturated.
Choose the Sunniest Spot
Growth may be slow in the winter when there isn't much natural light. During those months, consider investing in a grow light or LED light while you wait for spring to arrive.
Water—But Not Too Much
You'd be surprised how little water it takes to keep a small herb alive. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to ensure that your plant grows. It is sufficient to use a small watering can or a drizzle under the sink. Reduce the watering if the leaves begin to wilt or turn yellow.
Harvest a Little at a Time
Pick a few sprigs with kitchen shears or pinch off leaves with your fingers. Plus, regular budget cuts promote new growth. Avoid removing more than a quarter of the plant at a time, as this will cause the plant distress and may even kill it.
Transplant When Ready
Herb plants indoors are temporary. The good news and bad news is that, with proper care, your herbs will eventually fill their containers and require additional room. It's time to transplant if roots are emerging from the drainage holes, the plant appears to be at a standstill, or it begins to lean over.
Perennial herbs, like lavender and mint, can be started indoors and transplanted into the ground once the risk of frost has passed in most climates. You can move annual herbs outside until the end of the growing season. You can move the pots inside or outside as the cold weather approaches, but make sure to take cuttings before the first frost so you can begin the process of growing an indoor herb garden all over again.
You can move annuals and perennials into larger pots inside your house at any time; just make sure they are near a source of light.
The Best Herbs to Plant Indoors
The Mint Family: A Bounty of Flavor and Fragrance:
Herbs from the mint family, such as basil, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, summer savory, winter savory, and various mint varieties, are among the best choices.
Basil:
Basil, a popular ingredient in many kitchens, adds a sweet and slightly peppery flavor to dishes. Basil, with its vibrant green leaves and compact growth, is an excellent choice for your indoor herb garden.
Lavender:
Lavender, known for its calming scent, is not only a culinary delight but also adds a touch of elegance to your indoor space. Its aromatic blooms can be used to enhance both sweet and savory dishes.
Lemon Balm:
As the name suggests, lemon balm has a refreshing lemony flavor. This herb is well-known for its calming properties, which make it an excellent addition to teas or desserts.
Marjoram:
A versatile herb with a mild, oregano-like flavor, marjoram complements a wide range of dishes. Because of its compact growth, it is ideal for indoor containers.
Oregano:
While oregano is a classic in Mediterranean cuisine, it also grows well indoors. Its robust flavor complements pizzas, pasta sauces, and other dishes.
Rosemary:
Rosemary, with its distinct pine-like aroma, adds depth to roasted meats and vegetables. Its needle-like leaves and woody stems make it a visually appealing addition to your indoor garden.
Sage:
The earthy flavor of sage is common in many savory dishes. Its hardiness and compact growth make it an excellent choice for indoor cultivation.
Thyme:
Thyme is a versatile herb with a subtle, earthy flavor that goes well with a variety of dishes. It is ideal for indoor gardens due to its low maintenance and compact growth.
Savory Summer:
This herb has a peppery flavor and goes well with soups, stews, and bean dishes. Because of its small size, it is ideal for use in indoor containers.
Savory Winter:
Winter savory, like its summer counterpart, adds a savory and peppery note to dishes. It thrives indoors, providing fresh flavor all year.
Mint:
Mint is a beloved herb that has found its way into gardens, kitchens, and teacups all over the world due to its invigorating aroma and versatile uses. This perennial herb with cooling properties belongs to the Lamiaceae family and includes a number of species, each with its own flavor profile and characteristics.
5 Tips for How to Grow an Indoor Herb Garden
Once your herbs are established, follow these guidelines to keep them happy and healthy:
Light
Herbs thrive in full sun when grown outdoors in the garden. Put your herbs by the brightest window possible if you're growing them indoors. The ideal window is one that faces south or southwest and receives direct sunlight. If natural light is insufficient for your herbs, you can add an LED grow light ($10, Walmart) to provide them with 12–14 hours of light overall. Even though your herbs might appear a little lanky without a grow light, their vibrant leaves will still enhance the flavors and colors of salads and cooked foods.
Test Garden Tip: To ensure that every side of potted indoor herbs receives equal sunlight, rotate the plant in a quarter-circle motion once a week. This will promote more balanced development.
Hydrating
Herbs can be friends or enemies of water. Water is clearly necessary for plants to grow, but too much of it rots the roots. Put your finger into the soil up to your first knuckle to determine when to water your indoor herbs that are potted. Watering is necessary if the soil feels dry. Hold off for a day or two and check again if it feels moist.
Humidity
A kitchen sink window sill provides a little additional humidity, which is beneficial in the winter when the air in a heated home becomes extremely dry. Another way to increase humidity is to set pots on a waterproof tray filled with pebbles and let the pots drip into the tray when you water the plants. Humidity near the plant will rise as a result of water evaporating from the tray. Making use of a nearby humidifier is an additional option.
TemperatureSimilar to humans, herbs prefer temperatures between 65 and 75˚F. Make sure your herb plants' leaves stay away from the windows if you want your indoor herb garden to flourish during the chilly winter months. Basil is particularly sensitive to cold temperatures, but most herbs don't care if it gets as low as 50 degrees during the night in your home. Store basil in an area that stays at or near 70˚F.
Fertilizer
Herbs grown indoors require a little boost from fertilizer because they cannot get their nutrients from garden soil and rainfall. Choose between a liquid fish emulsion ($11, The Home Depot) and a balanced, all-purpose plant food ($27, Walmart). Only when the herbs are actively growing should you apply the plant food every other week at half the recommended rate. Giving your plants too little fertilizer is preferable to too much.
It's Time to Grow Your Own Indoor Herbs
Starting your own small herb garden is an excellent way to get started with kitchen gardening. Fill it with herbs you grow from seed or healthy plants you buy at the store. Herb gardens can be grown in any small space, including the windowsill of a high-rise apartment.
Herbs take up little space and are simple to grow and harvest. Cut some leaves and return in a few days for more. Once you've gotten the hang of caring for something so simple, you'll want to try your hand at more and more—and maybe even make some more indoor herb planters for friends and family to inspire them to develop their own green thumbs, too.
FAQs:
Q: Can I grow herbs indoors year-round?
A: Yes, many herbs, especially those from the mint family, can thrive indoors throughout the year with proper care and attention to light and water requirements.
Q: What is the best location for an indoor herb garden?
A: Choose a sunny windowsill that receives indirect sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. Herbs from the mint family, along with woody herbs like sage and thyme, flourish in such conditions.
Q: How often should I water my indoor herbs?
A: The frequency of watering depends on the specific herb and environmental factors. Generally, herbs prefer slightly moist soil, so water when the top inch of the soil feels dry.
Q: Can I use any type of pot for indoor herb gardening?
A: Herbs with shallow roots do well in pots that are at least six inches deep. Choose containers with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging and use well-draining soil to promote healthy root growth.
Q: What are the best practices for harvesting herbs from an indoor garden?
A: Harvest herbs regularly by snipping the top leaves, which encourages bushier growth. Avoid taking more than one-third of the plant at a time, and harvest in the morning when the essential oils are most concentrated.