9 Best Herbs to Grow Indoors

Easy care herbs to grow in your kitchen

Growing herbs indoors is a great way to add flavor to your cooking and save money at the same time.

In this article I’ve listed 9 of the best herbs to grow indoors and some handy tips for creating an indoor herb garden.

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9 BEST HERBS TO GROW INDOORS

1. Basil

Basil is a popular herb, particularly in Italian cuisine. It pairs well with tomatoes and can be used in pasta sauces and pesto.

Basil loves warmth and bright light, so it will grow well indoors on a kitchen windowsill.

To ensure a steady supply of Basil, plant a new batch of seeds every few weeks.

Basil can also be propagated from a cutting placed in a glass of water.

Basil herb

2. Chives

Chives are an onion-flavored herb that is popular in egg dishes and garnishes.

The individual leaves can be snipped off with scissors or the whole plant can be cut back.

Make sure to leave at least 2 inches (5 centimetres) of growth so that the plant can regrow.

RELATED: 10 Beautiful Flowering Herbs

Chives

3. Cilantro (Coriander)

Cilantro is a popular herb used in Asian, Mexican and Indian dishes.

It can be grown indoors from seed or seedling but it doesn’t grow well from cuttings.

The best place to grow Cilantro is in a bright spot with indirect light.

Cilantro plants only live for a few months but they re-seed easily.

growing herbs indoors

4. Marjoram

Marjoram is a Mediterranean herb that is similar in taste to Oregano.

It’s usually grown as an annual when planted outdoors, but when grown indoors it can live for years.

Marjoram grows best in a sunny spot with well-drained soil and the plants can be pinched back regularly to avoid becoming too big and woody.

Marjoram herb

5. Mint

Spearmint and Peppermint are popular herbs that can be used in sauces, drinks and tea.

Mint is easy to grow indoors and it thrives in bright light.

It’s a fast growing herb and the leaves can be picked off as required.

Mint growing indoors

6. Oregano

Oregano is part of the mint family and is popular in Mexican, Italian and Middle Eastern cuisine.

The stems can be snipped off and the leaves stripped to add to sauces and soups.

Oregano will grow well indoors from seeds or cuttings and prefers similar conditions to mint.

Oregano herb

7. Parsley

Parsley comes in curly and flat-leaf varieties and can be used in tabbouleh, pesto and salads. It’s also a popular garnish.

Individual leaves can be pinched off from the base as required.

Parsley can be grown indoors from seed or from a cutting. It likes to grow in bright light.

Parsley growing indoors

8. Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the best herbs to add to lamb and chicken dishes. It also pairs well with roast potatoes.

It’s easy to grow Rosemary from a cutting placed in water until roots form.

Rosemary grows well on a windowsill in the kitchen and individual sprigs can be cut as required.

RELATED: 12 Perennial Herbs For Your Herb Garden

Rosemary herb

9. Sage

Sage is an easy herb to grow indoors from cuttings or seeds.

It has a pungent flavor and only a small amount is required, otherwise it can overpower other flavors.

Sage plants grow for years and have a pleasant taste, even after flowering. [1]

Sage doesn’t like high humidity or constantly wet soil.

Individual leaves can be picked as required.

Sage

Tips for Growing Herbs Indoors

  • Plant your herbs in pots or containers with plenty of holes in the bottom for good drainage.
  • Use an organic well-draining potting mix.
  • Grow each herb in a separate pot.
  • Place a saucer or tray underneath your pots to protect your windowsill or kitchen bench from water damage.
  • Locate your herbs on a sunny windowsill or somewhere with adequate light. Most herbs need at least six hours of light each day to grow well.
  • Rotate your plants regularly to prevent them growing towards the light and give them some time outside in full sun occasionally.

The video below has some handy tips about overcoming problems when growing herbs indoors. I think you’ll find it helpful.

Final Thoughts on Growing Herbs Indoors

Growing your own fresh herbs indoors is easy for beginner gardeners and anyone lacking a naturally green thumb.

With the right pot and a nice, sunny spot on your windowsill you’ll have plenty of herbs all year round.

I hope you’ve found this article helpful.

RELATED ARTICLES

Do you have any herbs growing indoors at your house? Let me know in the comments below.

Are you on Pinterest? I have boards dedicated to Herb Gardening and Gardening Tips that you may enjoy. You can also find me on Facebook.

Best herbs to grow indoors

Best indoor herbs to grow in your kitchen

Kelly Martin

Hi, I'm Kelly Martin, a landscape gardener and designer with over 10 years experience. I have a passion for small space gardening and I love designing and creating beautiful outdoor spaces that maximize the potential of small urban gardens. Read more

This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. Bill Sweeney

    There is nothing quite like fresh herbs in your meals. I think these herbs are perfect, as it seems we use a lot of these in the foods we prepare at home.

  2. Brianne Tursi Manz

    I love adding fresh herbs to our meals; but, as you’ve stated in your post, they can get costly and most likely go to waste, as you don’t need a lot. This is a HUGE reason why it makes sense to grow your own!

  3. Stacie

    I love this and I always use these herbs in my cooking anyway. This is great!

  4. Marcos K.

    AWESOME GUIDE!
    I love your pics of the herbs, and how you describe how to grow them indoors.
    Thanks for sharing.

  5. Ravayna

    Thank you so much for sharing this! Beautiful photos and great advice for someone who’s a beginner with growing herbs!

  6. Erin Knight

    Nice idea of growing herbs indoors. There is nothing more refreshing and healthier than having these home-grown herbs in your meals.

  7. Gervin Khan

    I love the idea of growing indoor plants. It will be less time and money if you have these herbs available in your kitchen.

  8. Emman Damian

    Basil and Mint are both of my favorites! I hope I can plant them soon as I use them a lot in the kitchen.

  9. katrina Kroeplin

    i love herbs. i have a small herb garden myself and really really want to expand it and make it larger. my goal is next year. crossing my fingers.

  10. Hilariously enough, I have every single one of these herbs growing inside :). So easy and delicious! Thanks for sharing ♡

  11. Foodie Find Home

    I love growing herbs outside, but if I’m being honest I have never had much luck with them inside. I recently purchased a greenhouse that can go inside and I think I’m going to use it after we get settled at our next duty station. Especially since the winters can be super brutal where we are moving and I love a good fresh herb. They won’t last outside.

  12. Lori A Trombley

    Great video! Very informative. I just bought 9 small herb plants from an online garden store, along with pots, and soil to transplant. I am in zone 4-5 upstate NY. This will be tricky! Thank you for the helpful tips.

  13. Yelena

    Why do herbs grown inside have a bad taste resembling the taste of soil?

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