How to Plant an Indoor Kitchen Herb Garden

Choosing and Growing the Right Plants for Year-Round Harvesting

Amy Jeanroy

Updated on 11/23/22

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

windowsill herb garden — The Spruce / Cori Sears

In This Article

When to Plant an Indoor Herb Garden
Before Getting Started
Indoor Herb Garden Tips
Instructions
Frequently Asked Questions

Project Overview

Working Time: 30 mins - 1 hr
Total Time: 30 mins - 1 hr

Skill Level: Intermediate
Estimated Cost: $30 to $100

In colder climates, fall is the time when many gardeners begin harvesting and preserving their outdoor herbs to keep through the winter. But most dried herbs are not nearly as delicious as fresh herbs, so why not consider planting pots of your favorite herbs to grow indoors during the cold months? Fresh herbs improve even the best chef's cooking, and it's easier than you think to have all the flavor of an herb garden right on your windowsill.

Most herbs are rather well suited to the slightly cooler indoor temperatures common in winter. The challenge will be providing them with enough light and keeping the humidity levels optimal. If you meet their needs, though, you'll have a never-ending supply of fresh herbs.

When to Plant an Indoor Herb Garden

It's quite easy to make an herb garden for your kitchen by rooting cuttings from your outdoor plants starting in fall, as the weather cools. If you choose to sow your indoor herb garden from purchased seeds, most people begin a few weeks before the expected first frost of the season. With most herbs, you can begin snipping them for harvest within just a few weeks, so there's no reason to plant too far in advance.

Before Getting Started

There is considerable disagreement over what herbs are best suited for planting indoors. Some misinformation is spread by sellers of prepackaged herb gardens, who would like you to believe that just about any herb can be grown in their kits. But the reality is that not all herbs are well suited for growing indoors. Those with a woody, bushy growth, such as standard rosemary, are simply too big and ungainly to be well suited for indoors. However, there are many kitchen herb garden ideas for plants that reliably grow well indoors. Herbs like chives, oregano, thyme, dill, mint, basil, coriander, sage, and creeping savory all grow well in the kitchen. These varieties are easy enough to grow that they are often recommended for indoor growing as school science projects.

Each herb has unique growing needs, however, so make sure to do a little research to make sure you have the light, humidity, and air circulation conditions the plant requires. And there's no point in devoting a lot of space to herbs you aren't likely to use very much—just because you can grow a plant doesn't mean you should. Instead, reserve your window space to grow ample quantities of the herbs that you use most often in cooking.

Indoor Herb Garden Tips

Planting and growing a successful indoor herb garden is easy for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. The following growing tips can help your herb garden produce a great harvest year-round:

Maintain elevated humidity levels using a mister or humidifier.
Allow herbs to receive at least 6 hours of full sun near a south-facing window, or opt for a plant grow light that runs for 14 to 16 hours per day.
Ensure temperatures stay between 55 and 70 degrees.
Fertilize regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer high in nitrogen for healthy leaf growth.
Prune new growth on young plants weekly to encourage a fuller mature plant.
Rotate herbs periodically when grown in windows to let each part of the plant receive sunlight.
Trim back flowering sections before they bloom for healthier leaves.
Water the herbs once the soil feels dry to the touch.

Equipment / Tools

Garden trowel
Scissors
Plant grow lights (as needed)

Materials

Potting soil
Planting pots
Pot trays
Herb seedlings (as desired)

How to Plant an Indoor Kitchen Herb Garden

Overhead shot of materials needed to plant an indoor herb garden — The Spruce / Steven Merkel

Choose a Location

An indoor herb garden will thrive if you can give it a sunny location (or comparable artificial light), and conditions that are coolish with slightly elevated humidity and good air circulation.

The best location will offer at least six hours of sun in a west- or south-facing window. If using a kitchen herb garden with a grow light, herbs need 14 to 16 hours a day under fluorescent bulbs placed about 6 to 12 inches above the plant. Because artificial lights lack the intensity of natural sunlight, the plants will require longer exposure to receive adequate light energy.

The 10 Best Grow Lights of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Tip

Some people like to plant doubles of each herb pot—one set to keep growing under artificial lights in a spare bedroom or other space, the other set of pots in the kitchen for active harvesting. By rotating the sets between locations every couple of weeks, you can keep vibrant, healthy herbs ready in your kitchen at all times.

Ideal temperatures for herbs are 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, with nighttime temps no lower than 55 to 60 degrees. Don't put your herb pots near radiators or heat ducts, as they can quickly overheat and dry out. Herbs grow best in a location where there is good air circulation, but not harsh drafts.

The Spruce / Steven Merkel
Choose and Prepare Pots

Growing any herb in a container garden means taking special care to choose and prepare the proper pot. Herbs are fast-growing and can fill a pot with roots in less than one growing season, so it's best to choose good, large containers that are deep enough to accommodate the root growth. Choose pots that can drain well. When roots begin emerging through the drainage holes, it will be time to repot the herbs.

A standard commercial potting soil works well for most herbs. Herbs with a more tropical heritage (such as thyme and oregano) often prefer a more porous mixture, such as a blend of cactus potting mix and standard potting mix. Fill the herb garden planter with potting mix to about 1/2 inch of the top. This will allow for some settling and leave room for watering.

The Spruce / Steven Merkel
Plant the Herbs

Plant your herb seeds, or transplant your herb plants, and water thoroughly. Allow draining until the pot no longer drips, then place on the windowsill or under grow lights with a tray underneath to catch any dripping water.

If the indoor air is especially dry—which is often the case in regions with cold winters—set the herb pots on trays of stones. Fill the trays with water, but keep the level below the drainage holes on the pots.

The Spruce / Steven Merkel
Tend Your Garden

Most herbs need regular water, but the soil should be allowed to dry out just slightly before watering again. Like most potted plants, indoor herbs require a bit more feeding than they would if planted in the outdoor garden. Give your indoor herb garden a dose of water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks or so. Keep the fertilizer fairly well diluted, as too much food will compromise the taste of the herbs. Turn the pots regularly to provide even sunlight and keep them growing evenly.

Observe your herb garden closely. All plants take on a different appearance when they are under stress and need water. Know how your plants look when they are healthy, and you will notice issues before they become larger problems.

The Spruce / Steven Merkel
Harvest as Needed

With most herbs, you can begin snipping them for harvest when they are just a few inches tall. Pruning back the herbs often means a larger, longer harvest. Try to cut the new growth back at least once a week, even if you are not using the herbs in recipes. Long stems that are about to set flower buds should be trimmed off as they appear.

The Spruce / Steven Merkel
Move Your Herb Garden Outdoors

Though not mandatory, many people like to move their potted herbs to an outdoor location on the patio or deck when the weather warms in the spring. They almost always enjoy the boost of sun they receive from a few months outdoors.

Some herbs can last for years rotating between outdoor and indoor growing locations, but with others, you will likely need to remove the plants as stems get woody and thick, replacing them with new seeds or seedlings. The organic material in potting mix (usually peat moss) breaks down after a while, which will require adding more potting mix or repotting the plants entirely.

The Spruce / Steven Merkel

FAQ

What kitchen herbs can be planted together?

Companion planting for different herbs based on their watering needs—like planting lavender with thyme or planting basil with chives—is best to keep both plants healthy. Avoid companion planting with catnip, lemon balm, and mint, which spread quickly and can overtake the other plants in your indoor herb garden.
What time of year should you plant herbs?

Herbs grown in indoor gardens can be planted at any time of the year. Many gardeners prefer to grow herbs outside during the summer growing season, then move the plants to an indoor garden before the first frost of fall.
Do herbs come back every year?

Perennial herbs are the best choice for gardeners that want their plants to return every year. Popular herbs like oregano, parsley, sage, fennel, chives, lavender, thyme, and mint are all perennial varieties.