Top 8 Herbs to Grow Indoors on a Windowsill
Tips to Successfully Growing Herbs Indoors for Small Spaces
Herbs to grow indoors on a windowsill include a variety of flavorful and aromatic plants that can be easily cultivated in small spaces. With the right growing conditions and care, you can enjoy fresh herbs all year round, even if you don’t have access to an outdoor garden or space.
The Top 8 Herbs to Grow Indoors on a Sunny windowsill
While all of the herbs listed in this post prefer direct sunlight, some of them can tolerate and even thrive in indirect light conditions. Mint, parsley, and cilantro are among the herbs that can grow with indirect light. However, keep in mind that while they may grow in lower light conditions, they will not be as robust or produce as much as they would in direct sunlight. If you have a particularly shady windowsill, you may need to supplement with a grow light to help your herbs thrive. See my blog post on using grow lights to grow food indoors, here!
Basil:
Basil is a popular herb pairing well with tomatoes, pastas and pizza. To grow basil indoors, you’ll want a minimum planter size of 6 inches. Place your basil on a sunny windowsill that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. (if you don’t have a windowsill that receives that much sun, see below tips for using grow lights indoors)
Chives:
Chives are a mild, onion-like herb that adds a fresh flavor to salads, eggs and soups, and is also great in a buttery herb sauce over steak… yummmy! To grow chives indoors, you’ll want to use a minimum planter size of 4 inches. Place your chive plant in a sunny windowsill that receives at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Cilantro:
Cilantro is a pungent herb with a citrusy flavor commonly used in Mexican, Thai and Indian cooking and is a delicious addition to homemade salsa! To grow cilantro indoors, you’ll need a minimum planter size of 6 inches. Place your cilantro plant in a sunny windowsill that receives at least 4-6 yours of direct sunlight each day. Tip: if you love the flavor of cilantro but are having difficulty growing cilantro, consider growing it’s flavor-cousin “culantro”! Culantro tends to be easier to grow, most especially in warmer climates. Here’s my blog on growing Culantro vs Cilantro, here.
Mint:
Mint is a refreshing herb with a bright, cool flavor that is perfect for teas, cocktails and desserts. To grow mint indoors, you’ll want to use a minimum planter size of 6 inches. Place your mint plant on a sunny windowsill that receives at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Oregano:
Oregano is a pungent, slightly bitter herb that is a staple in Italian and Meditteranean cuisine. To grow oregano indoors, you’ll need a minimum planter size of 6 inches. Place your oregano plant on a sunny windowsill that receives at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Parsley:
Parsley is a popular herb in a variety of dishes including soups, stews and sauces and often used in plating to make the presentation of a meal more attractive. To grow parsley indoors, you’ll want to use a minimum planter size of 6 inches. Place your parsley plant on a sunny windowsill that receives at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Rosemary:
Rosemary is a pungent, resinous herb that is commonly used in roasted meats, soups and stews. To grow rosemary indoors, you’ll want to use a minimum planter size of 6 inches. Place your rosemary plant on a sunny windowsill that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Thyme:
Thyme is a fragrant herb with a slightly minty, earthy flavor commonly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking. It’s a common ingredient when cooking meats, vegetables, stews and is often in soups, sauces and marinades as well. To grow thyme indoors, you’ll want to use a minimum planter size of 6 inches. Place your thyme on a sunny windowsill that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Growing From Seed vs. Buying Seedlings
All of the herbs listed in this post can be grown from seed, but some may be easier to start from seed than others. Basil, dill, and cilantro are fast-growing herbs that are relatively easy to grow from seed. However, thyme and rosemary can be slow to germinate and may require more patience and care.
If you’re new to growing herbs, it may be easier to start with seedlings or young plants rather than starting from seed. Parsley and mint are among the herbs that are typically easier to grow from seedlings, as they can be very slow to germinate from seed.
Steps for Maintaining Herbs on a Windowsill
Maintaining Healthy Herbs on your Windowsill is Easy with these Simple Tips:
- Water your herbs when the soil feels dry to the touch but not completely dry
- Fertilize your herbs every 4-6 weeks with a balanced fertilizer
- Rotate your herbs every week to ensure even growth and exposure to sunlight
- Prune your herbs regularly to encourage bushy, fuller growth
Using Grow Lights for Growing Herbs Indoors
If your Windowsill Doesn't Receive Enough Sunlight...
If your herbs are looking yellowish, growth looks stunted or otherwise don’t look very healthy, chances are they need more light. The solution is simple: use a grow light! Grow lights can be very inexpensive and there are lots of shapes and sizes to choose from. The most popular grow lights for growing herbs indoors are LED full-spectrum with a timer that can be set to 12-16 hours of light per day, or similar.
FAQ Section
Q: How often to water herbs?
Q: Best soil for potted herbs?
A: Herbs do best in well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A good potting mix should contain a blend of peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, and compost. Avoid using garden soil as it can be too heavy and may contain pests and diseases.
Q: Best grow light for herbs?
A: Full-spectrum LED grow lights that include red and blue wavelengths, that come with an auto timer with options for up to 12 or 18 hours of light per day are the best.
Q: Best smelling herbs to grow indoors
A: Herbs with the most pleasing aromas for indoor herb gardening include thyme, mint, lemon balm, basil and rosemary.
Conclusion
Growing herbs indoors on a sunny windowsill is a great way to enjoy fresh herbs year-round, even if you don’t have access to outdoor space. By choosing the right herbs, using the right soil and planter size, and following the tips in this post, you can create a thriving indoor herb garden. And if you use an all-natural fertilizer and don’t use any synthetic insect sprays, you can officially call your herb garden “organic”!