13 Herbs You Can Grow in Your Kitchen

An indoor herb garden is a fantastic way to have fresh herbs within reach, especially when growing plants year-round outdoors isn’t a possibility.

Most herbs are easy to grow indoors; a sunny windowsill, well-draining soil, and the right herbs are all you need for a successful indoor herb garden. You don’t need a ton of space, and a few plants can supply you with herbs throughout the year.

Choosing herbs that grow indoors all year round is a brilliant idea; however, you can easily propagate most herbs. An indoor herb garden is easy enough to start, even for novice gardeners, and doesn’t require much maintenance. Let’s get some herbs going into your kitchen with this helpful guide.

Rosemary

Rosemary is by far one of my favorite herbs. It’s excellent in most dishes and is also used in a number of cosmetics. The fragrant perennial is often grown outdoors because it can grow to be pretty big, but it still does fine indoors, too.

Rosemary loves plenty of sun. Place it in a sunny spot and plant it in well-draining soil. Remember to prune the plant occasionally to promote the growth of new leaves.

Mint

Mint is a great indoor herb garden plant because it’s manageable and requires little maintenance. It tolerates partial shade but grows best in sunny areas and requires at least six hours of direct sunlight. Place it on a windowsill and rotate the plant often to ensure it gets even sunlight.

Overwatering causes root rot. Ensure that the container has draining holes, and use a well-draining potting mix. Remove the flowers and harvest often to get bushier growth.

Basil

Basil is a culinary herb superstar. Whether used in a pesto or on a sandwich, it’s full of flavor. Most basil varieties will grow indoors but require at least six hours of sunlight daily. They’ll also do well under artificial lighting.

Keep the soil moist but never soggy; water when the soil begins to dry out. Basil thrives in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil or potting mix. It is easily propagated by planting stem cuttings directly in soil or rooting them in water.

Thyme

Thyme is an excellent addition to many dishes and can easily be grown indoors. Growing herbs indoors has many advantages: they’re within reach and can be planted year-round. Thyme is drought-resistant and only requires watering when the soil dries out.

It’s a sun-loving plant, so place it on a bright windowsill or use fluorescent grow lights. Plant it in dry, well-draining soil, and you’re set. Watch out for bugs, though, as thyme is susceptible to pests and disease.

Parsley

Parsley adapts well indoors and is easy to grow. You can start from seed; however, it’s important to note that parsley seeds are slow-growing. To help speed up germination, soak seeds overnight before planting. Sow the seeds directly into the container where you want them to grow them to avoid disturbing the roots when transplanting.

Parsley grows in sun or partial shade, so it’s perfect for a sunny windowsill. It also grows well in moist, loamy soil. Water when the topsoil dries out.

Oregano

Oregano can be started from seed, propagated, or transplanted as seedlings. It’s easy to grow and care for, provided certain conditions are met. It requires lots of sunlight, about six hours daily. However, you can supplement this with a grow light when natural light isn’t possible.

It will grow well in a high-quality, well-draining potting mix to avoid root rot. Once established, it is drought-resistant and doesn’t require constant watering. Remember to rotate the plant regularly for even growth.

Sage

While sage can grow indoors, it’s best to choose the varieties best suited for that type of growth, such as garden and golden sage. It requires six hours of sunlight to grow well, so place it on the windowsill with the most sunlight. It’s a great addition to your indoor herb garden and can be grown from seed, seedlings, or cuttings.

Sage loves well-drained, moist soil. Water it only when the soil begins to dry out to avoid wetting the leaves. It can be prone to mildew, so remember to check the leaves regularly.

Chives

Growing chives in the kitchen requires patience, but getting started is pretty easy. They can either be planted from seed or seedlings, and grocery store-bought plants with bulbs still attached can also be planted. Chives require about six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily; however, artificial lighting is a great alternative to natural light.

When grown in containers, chives thrive in a well-drained, moist potting mix. With the proper amount of water and light, they can grow year-round, giving you a constant supply.

Cilantro

Cilantro is an easy, fast-growing plant that’s flavorful and is used in numerous dishes and sauces. When grown indoors, it needs about six or more hours of bright indirect light or a few hours of direct sunlight. It’s an excellent windowsill garden plant.

It has a short lifespan and flowers early, which changes its taste. Prune your plant to promote new growth and keep it thriving. Plant it in an airy, fast-draining potting mix; good drainage is essential for cilantro’s growth.

Lemongrass

I have a steady supply of lemongrass in my garden that I add to my fish dishes and soups all the time. While it thrives outdoors, it’s easy to grow and maintain indoors. It has a fibrous root system and requires a lot of room to grow, so selecting a large container is ideal.

Lemongrass needs adequate bright light to grow healthy. Lack of light hinders growth and turns the leaves yellow. It grows best in rich, loamy soil that’s well-draining. Water before the soil dries out, but avoid overwatering it.

Bay Leaf

Bay Leaf is a fantastic candidate for your new indoor herb garden. It is an excellent addition to stews, soups, and sauces. While it’s usually grown outdoors, bay leaf can also grow indoors as well. Like most herbs grown indoors, it needs lots of indirect bright light.

Keep the soil moist but not sodden, and avoid overwatering. Allow the topsoil to dry out before watering it. Check the leaves regularly for signs of disease.

Chervil

Chervil, also known as French parsley, is often compared to parsley in taste. Like parsley, it forms a taproot and hence requires a deep container. Chervil is easy to grow and care for. Plant it from seed directly into the container you’ll grow it in.

When grown indoors, your plant requires six hours of indirect sunlight. Deep water it and ensure that the container it is in has draining holes. Remember to prune frequently at the top of the plant; this promotes new growth.

Dill

Dill is fast-growing and needs space; overcrowding often hinders its growth. This versatile herb forms a taproot and requires a container that accommodates this. An ideal container is about 12″ deep and at least 6-8″ in diameter. Dill is sun-loving and requires at least six hours of sunlight daily, but supplemental lighting works just as well without natural light.

A nutrient-rich, high-potting mix is a good option for dill. Coconut Coir, the fiber extracted from the husk of a coconut, also works great. Water your plant when the topsoil dries out to keep it healthy.