I love growing my own herbs, and not just because they smell lovely! They don’t require a ton of space {hence the indoor growing thing!}, they are perfect for beginners because they are typically so forgiving, and they have all sorts of culinary and medicinal users. Best of all, besides a little sun {say on an indoor window ledge} and water, you basically have to do nothing for them to thrive. Sounds like my kind of plant.
While I typically like to plant them in a container herb garden during my growing season, I’ve learned there are so many herbs that thrive indoors all year long {even during the winter months!}. So why not have fresh herbs right at your fingertip all year long? Here are 9 herbs that make for a perfect kitchen garden and thrive when grown indoors {or out!}:
Basil: This is an herb garden must-have in my book. I use basil more than any other herb I grow. Homemade pesto anyone? Yum!
Parsley: Fresh parsley is so abundant in the stores that I kind of feel silly growing it. But the reason I do is because there are so many dishes that call for it and I love substituting fresh parsley in recipes during the off season when I normally would have had to use dried.
Rosemary: I like to grow rosemary from seed. It’s a super forgiving plant, so even if you grow it from seed and it’s thriving indoors and then you decide to transplant it outside and are pretty sure you’ve completely killed it, it’ll spring back to life and start thriving again. Not that I would know that from experience or anything! Ha! I’ve even made rosemary jelly.
Sage: I think the texture of sage is so fun; nice and fuzzy like lambs ear! In my opinion, sage is a complete must for Thanksgiving stuffing and you can call me odd, but Thanksgiving dinner is pretty much the sole reason I grow it!
Thyme: I’m not sure what the going rate for a container of thyme is these days, but I have a feeling a packet of seeds is a whole lot less. While I normally dehydrate it to use later this winter in soups and savory dishes, it can easily be grown all year long indoors!
Cilantro: From what I’ve been told, there are two camps: those who love cilantro and those who think it tastes like soap {which I guess has something to do with your genes and science}. Since I’m in the cilantro lovers club and like to use it in all sorts of dishes and salsas, growing my own just makes sense!
Dill: What’s better than making your own homemade pickles? Growing the dill to make your own homemade pickles. Fresh dill is so yummy and really complements a lot of savory dishes well.
Mint: I have learned to plant mint only in pots because it spreads like a weed. So growing it indoors is easy peasy, but beware that it’ll produce like crazy, probably more than any other herb you grow!
Oregano: Like mint, you pretty much can’t kill oregano. It thrives anywhere {including the windowsill in your kitchen garden!}! And grows like crazy. Perfect for that homemade spaghetti sauce!
Have you ever planted an indoor herb garden? What types of herbs are your favorite to grow?
~Mavis
Deborah says
I just bought a small rosemary plant and a lemon balm (I think) plant. I put it in my East window during the day and leave it on the kitchen counter at night. I love fresh herbs. Now to get hubby to put me a shelf up for more. LOL
Katie says
What do you do with all of the herbs you grow? How often do you harvest? I can’t imagine using up all of that without some going to waste. I’ve never grown my own food, and one reason is because I’m not sure I can use up all of it 🙂
Crystal says
You can pick it and dry the herbs, and use as you would any other dried herb. Or just not pick it, and let it grow. Or compost extras when trimming. You can also give fresh dried herbs to people as gifts.
Bec B. says
Mavis, would love to see a picture of your indoor herbs. Do you have them in individual pots or planted together? We don’t have a ton of space near our windows so I’m trying to picture how to make that happen.
Mavis Butterfield says
I planted a few in my old Harney’s Tea tins. I’ll try and post a picture on Sunday.
Peg says
Dill is another that should be planted in a pot. My mom planted some because she loves the smell, and it completely took over the area. And the red onion marmalade looks wonderful!
Rebecca in MD says
You have inspired me to plant an indoor herb garden for this winter.
I grow most of the herbs you mentioned in the summer outside, and dry them to use all winter. But after reading your post, I think I’ll try growing some fresh herbs this winter.
jennifer says
I haven’t tried too hard to grow herbs indoors except when starting seeds or taking cuttings. There is always the struggle with no enough light, though. Maybe i’ll try again. I’m wondering about growing dill indoors? My dill plants were several feet tall grown outdoors.
cat says
I’ve so far managed to kill the oregano and mint inside the house. Trying to get off spider mites. The rosemary has lived though.
Jennifer Meyer says
Spidermites are the devil, I feel your pain! Been there, done that, they win every time. Let me know if you find something that works without killing the plants.
Les Ryan says
Diatomaceous earth , great for fleas on your dog and kills ants, roaches, anything with an exsoskelliton
Carolyn says
Can the herbs you discussed be grown under grow lights alone? I don’t have enough sunlight to grow them in a window.
Barbara Gantt says
Im in New England and grow my herbs under grow lights. The days are too short to keep them growing and healthy. Mint may die back but will grow back in the Spring if you keep watering it. Not soaking but occasional watering.
Peg says
I look forward to your picture/s of your indoor herb garden! I want to see the size of the containers and how close you have them together. Thanks
Katherine says
Parsley grows year round here in the Atlanta area. I grow some in my herb garden for my use and I grow a big patch of parsley and dill in the butterfly garden because the Swallowtail butterflies use both of these herbs as host plants. Rosemary and sage both do well here year round outside here also.
Marybeth says
I brought my pots in the house when it started getting cold out. I have parsley, sage and thyme growing still. I use the parsley almost every day. Saves me so much by growing them myself.
Emily says
What is your secret to rosemary success? Mine always starts to get brown leaves and die when I bring it in for the winter.