Growing herbs indoors.
Herbs are one of the most rewarding plants to grow. But you don’t need a big garden to reap the tasty benefits. All you need is a sunny window or two and a little bit of time.
Best herbs to grow indoors.
With a little TLC, most herbs can be grown inside. Start with popular herbs like coriander, chives, mint and thyme. Some herbs, including rosemary, basil and oregano, can get a bit bigger if you don’t keep pruning/harvesting so you may need to plant them in your garden or put them in bigger pots outside if they get too big.
How to plant your indoor herbs.
Most herbs come as seedlings in small 100mm or 125mm pots. Plant the seedlings in their own pot using a premium potting mix and place a saucer underneath or use a self-watering pot. Alternatively, leave the seedling in its original container and sit it inside a cachepot (a decorative planter).
There’s a wide range of attractive indoor pots to choose from. A larger pot will give the herbs more room to grow, so you can enjoy a larger and longer harvest. The ideal pot size is between 150mm and 200mm, however, if indoor space is limited, keep your herbs in the small pot and replace them more often. You’ll still find this to be better value and more rewarding than buying fresh-cut herbs from the supermarket, and they’ll last longer.
Where to grow your herbs indoors.
Herbs need lots of sunlight, so find a position in a light space by a window for optimal growth.
Plants naturally grow towards the sunlight, so turn them around occasionally to ensure even growth.
Wherever you place your herbs indoors, be sure to take them outside from time to time for some direct sunlight.
Add just the right amount of water.
Take care not to over-water your herbs. Water the potting mix (not the plant’s leaves), adding just enough water to keep it moist.
Most herbs don’t like sitting in water, so pay attention to drainage. Remove the saucer or cachepot to allow free drainage after watering and return it once water has stopped running from the bottom.
Feed your herbs.
Feeding your indoor herbs is important for best results. A premium potting mix will have enough slow-release fertiliser to last a couple of months. To boost growth and vitality, supplement this with a fortnightly dose of liquid fertiliser.
Harvest leaves regularly.
Trim herb leaves regularly to encourage thicker, more compact growth – the same as you would if you were growing them outside. If your herbs look stretched and leggy, cut them back reasonably hard, feed them and take them outside until they recover.
With a little TLC, most herbs can be grown inside. Start with popular herbs like coriander, chives, mint and thyme. Some herbs, including rosemary, basil and oregano, can get a bit bigger if you don’t keep pruning/harvesting so you may need to plant them in your garden or put them in bigger pots outside if they get too big.
How to plant your indoor herbs.
Most herbs come as seedlings in small 100mm or 125mm pots. Plant the seedlings in their own pot using a premium potting mix and place a saucer underneath or use a self-watering pot. Alternatively, leave the seedling in its original container and sit it inside a cachepot (a decorative planter).
There’s a wide range of attractive indoor pots to choose from. A larger pot will give the herbs more room to grow, so you can enjoy a larger and longer harvest. The ideal pot size is between 150mm and 200mm, however, if indoor space is limited, keep your herbs in the small pot and replace them more often. You’ll still find this to be better value and more rewarding than buying fresh-cut herbs from the supermarket, and they’ll last longer.
Where to grow your herbs indoors.
Herbs need lots of sunlight, so find a position in a light space by a window for optimal growth.
Plants naturally grow towards the sunlight, so turn them around occasionally to ensure even growth.
Wherever you place your herbs indoors, be sure to take them outside from time to time for some direct sunlight.
Add just the right amount of water.
Take care not to over-water your herbs. Water the potting mix (not the plant’s leaves), adding just enough water to keep it moist.
Most herbs don’t like sitting in water, so pay attention to drainage. Remove the saucer or cachepot to allow free drainage after watering and return it once water has stopped running from the bottom.
Feed your herbs.
Feeding your indoor herbs is important for best results. A premium potting mix will have enough slow-release fertiliser to last a couple of months. To boost growth and vitality, supplement this with a fortnightly dose of liquid fertiliser.
Harvest leaves regularly.
Trim herb leaves regularly to encourage thicker, more compact growth – the same as you would if you were growing them outside. If your herbs look stretched and leggy, cut them back reasonably hard, feed them and take them outside until they recover.
10 Herbs You Can Grow Indoors Year-Round
Add that just-picked taste to your meals — even when snow is drifting up against the kitchen window — by growing herbs indoors all year long. You won't even need special any special equipment as long as you give them plenty of water and sunshine. Those that need maximum sun should be put in south-facing windows in the Northern Hemisphere or north-facing windows in the Southern Hemisphere.
Add that just-picked taste to your meals — even when snow is drifting up against the kitchen window — by growing herbs indoors all year long. You won't even need special any special equipment as long as you give them plenty of water and sunshine. Those that need maximum sun should be put in south-facing windows in the Northern Hemisphere or north-facing windows in the Southern Hemisphere.
BASIL
Start basil from seeds and place the pots in a south-facing window in the USA or Europe or a north-facing window in the Southern Hemisphere; it likes lots of sun and warmth. |
BAY
It's a perennial that does best using the container gardening method. Place the pot in an east- or west-facing window, but be sure it does not get crowded. Bay needs air circulation to remain healthy. |
CHERVAL
Start chervil seeds in late summer. This herb, also called French parsley, grows well in low light but needs temperatures between 65°-70°F (18°-21°C) to thrive. |
CHIVES
At the end of growing season, dig up a clump of chives from your garden and replant it in a pot. Leave the pot outside until the leaves die back. In early winter, move the pot to your coolest indoor spot (like your basement) for a few days. Then place it in your brightest window. |
OREGANO
Your best bet is to start with a tip that has been cut from an outdoor oregano plant. Once you've then planted that tip in a pot, place it in a maximum sun window. |
PARSLEY
You can start parsley from seeds or dig up a clump from your garden at the end of the season. Parsley likes full sun, but will grow slowly in an east- or west-facing window. |
ROSEMARY
Start with a cutting of rosemary and keep it in a moist soilless mix until it roots. It grows best in a south-facing window. Expect your kitchen to smell fresh throughout the cooler seasons thanks to the pungent scent of this herb — it acts like a natural air freshener! |
SAGE
Take a tip that was cut from an outdoor plant to start an indoor sage plant. It tolerates dry, indoor air well, but it needs the strong sun from a maximum sun window. |
TARRAGON
A dormant period in late fall or early winter is essential for tarragon to grow indoors. Pot a mature plant from your outdoor garden and leave it outside until the leaves die back. Bring it to your coolest indoor spot for a few days, then place it in a maximum sun window for as much sun as possible. Feed well with a liquid fertilizer. |
THYME
You can start thyme indoors by either rooting a soft tip that was cut from an outdoor plant or digging up and repotting the entire thing. Thyme likes full sun but will grow in an east- or west-facing window. |
