Best Herbs to Grow Indoors: A Beginner’s Guide to Fresh Flavor All Year Round
Imagine snipping fresh basil or mint straight from your kitchen windowsill as you prepare dinner. Growing herbs indoors isn’t just practical — it’s surprisingly simple, rewarding, and space-efficient. Whether you’re a home chef, tea enthusiast, or someone who just loves greenery, keeping a few herb plants inside is one of the easiest ways to start gardening.
But not all herbs are equally suited for indoor growth. In this guide, you’ll discover the best herbs to grow indoors — ones that thrive in pots, adapt to lower light, and offer steady harvests with just a bit of care.
Why Grow Herbs Indoors?
- Year-round access to fresh flavor
- Saves money compared to store-bought bundles
- Adds greenery and a pleasant aroma to your space
- Requires minimal space and tools
- Easy to manage, even for total beginners
What Makes an Herb Suitable for Indoor Growth?
Not every herb is happy sitting on a windowsill. The best indoor herbs share these traits:
- Compact growth
- Tolerance for indirect light
- Frequent regrowth after cutting
- Shallow root systems
- Low maintenance needs
Now, let’s explore which herbs check all these boxes — and how to grow them properly indoors.
1. Basil – The Kitchen Favorite
Why it’s great indoors: Basil grows quickly, has a bold aroma, and is ideal for pasta, salads, and pesto.
Tips for growing:
- Needs 6+ hours of sunlight (south-facing window is ideal)
- Keep soil slightly moist but not soggy
- Pinch off flower buds to encourage leaf growth
- Harvest from the top to keep it bushy
Varieties to try: Genovese, Thai basil, Lemon basil
2. Mint – Refreshing and Resilient
Why it’s great indoors: Mint grows aggressively and thrives in containers. It’s perfect for tea, mojitos, desserts, and garnishes.
Tips for growing:
- Prefers partial sunlight and moist soil
- Grows best when pruned regularly
- Keep it in its own pot (it can crowd out other herbs)
- Don’t let it dry out — it prefers steady moisture
Varieties to try: Spearmint, Peppermint, Chocolate mint
3. Parsley – Versatile and Nutrient-Rich
Why it’s great indoors: Parsley adds brightness to countless dishes and contains valuable vitamins.
Tips for growing:
- Prefers bright, indirect light
- Grows a bit slower than basil or mint
- Water when the top inch of soil dries out
- Harvest outer stems first for continued growth
Varieties to try: Curly leaf, Flat-leaf (Italian parsley)
4. Chives – Mild Onion Flavor with Style
Why it’s great indoors: Chives are compact, quick-growing, and perfect for eggs, potatoes, and soups.
Tips for growing:
- Needs about 4–6 hours of sun daily
- Tolerates lower light better than most herbs
- Keep soil moist and trim regularly to encourage new shoots
- Edible purple flowers appear in spring (cut them off if you want more leaf growth)
Bonus tip: Use scissors to trim chives about 1 inch from the soil.
5. Thyme – Low-Maintenance and Aromatic
Why it’s great indoors: Thyme’s earthy flavor works well in stews, meats, and roasted vegetables.
Tips for growing:
- Prefers full sunlight (ideally 6+ hours)
- Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings
- Prune lightly but often to avoid woodiness
- Does well in smaller pots with good drainage
Varieties to try: English thyme, Lemon thyme, Creeping thyme
6. Oregano – Bold, Mediterranean Flavor
Why it’s great indoors: Oregano is hardy, flavorful, and used in everything from pizza sauces to marinades.
Tips for growing:
- Needs bright light — supplement with a grow light if needed
- Don’t overwater — likes drier soil between waterings
- Pinch off flower buds to extend leaf growth
- Harvest often to keep it compact
Best for: Greek and Italian cooking
7. Rosemary – Woody, Fragrant, and Long-Living
Why it’s great indoors: Rosemary adds depth to savory dishes and is both decorative and functional.
Tips for growing:
- Needs plenty of sunlight (6–8 hours a day)
- Let the top of the soil dry before watering
- Avoid humid rooms — rosemary prefers drier air
- Trim frequently to prevent leggy growth
Pro tip: Place near a sunny window and rotate the pot weekly for even light.
8. Cilantro (Coriander) – Fast but Finicky
Why it’s great indoors: Cilantro is delicious but tends to bolt (go to seed) quickly. Still, it’s worth it for fans of Mexican and South Asian cuisine.
Tips for growing:
- Needs cooler temps and indirect light
- Keep the soil evenly moist
- Harvest frequently to delay flowering
- Grow in short cycles — it’s best to re-seed every few weeks
Bonus: How to Set Up Your Indoor Herb Garden
Light:
- Place herbs near a south or west-facing window
- If natural light is limited, use LED grow lights for 10–14 hours a day
Containers:
- Use pots with drainage holes
- Herb roots are shallow, so a 4–6 inch pot usually works
Soil:
- Use a light, well-draining potting mix
- Avoid dense garden soil, which can cause root rot
Watering:
- Check soil moisture by touching it — water only when it feels dry an inch deep
- Use a saucer to catch excess water, but don’t let herbs sit in it
Humidity & Airflow:
- Most herbs prefer good airflow and moderate humidity
- Don’t overcrowd your windowsill — give each plant space
Final Thoughts
Growing herbs indoors is one of the easiest ways to bring freshness, flavor, and a bit of nature into your home. With the right herbs, even a small apartment or window shelf can become a thriving mini garden.
Start with 2–3 herbs that you use the most in your cooking, and observe how they respond to your space and routine. As you gain confidence, you can expand your indoor herb collection — and enjoy garden-fresh meals every day, rain or shine.
Your indoor garden begins with a single pot. Pick one herb, place it near the light, and let it grow.