Fresh basil on your pasta. Mint in your tea. Cilantro on your tacos. Growing herbs indoors puts fresh flavour at arm's reach - and it's easier than you think.
This guide covers everything you need to start your indoor herb garden, from choosing the right herbs to keeping them alive (the part most people struggle with).
Best Herbs for Indoor Growing
Not all herbs thrive indoors. Start with these forgiving varieties:
Basil Easy
The most popular indoor herb. Loves warmth and consistent moisture. Pinch the tops regularly to prevent flowering and encourage bushy growth. One plant provides enough for weekly cooking.
Mint Easy
Nearly impossible to kill. Grows aggressively - keep it in its own container or it will take over. Perfect for teas, cocktails, and desserts.
Chives Easy
Low maintenance and comes back after cutting. Adds mild onion flavour to eggs, potatoes, and salads. Can tolerate lower light than most herbs.
Parsley Easy
Both flat-leaf and curly varieties grow well indoors. Slow to start but productive once established. Handles cooler temperatures.
Cilantro Medium
Trickier - bolts quickly in warm conditions. Keep it cool and harvest frequently. Plant new seeds every 2-3 weeks for continuous supply.
What You Need to Get Started
- Containers with drainage - Herbs hate sitting in water. Use pots with drainage holes or self-watering planters that prevent overwatering.
- Quality potting mix - Use fresh, well-draining potting soil. Garden soil is too dense for containers.
- Adequate light - Most herbs need 6+ hours of light. A south-facing window works, or supplement with a grow light.
- Seeds or seedlings - Beginners should start with seedlings from a garden centre. Seeds take longer but cost less.
The Biggest Mistake: Watering
Most indoor herbs die from watering problems - usually overwatering.
The symptoms of overwatering (yellow leaves, wilting, root rot) often look like underwatering, so people water more and make it worse.
The challenge is consistency. Herbs do poorly with feast-or-famine watering - drowning one day, parched the next. This is why self-watering systems work so well for herbs: they provide steady moisture without the guesswork.
Light Requirements
Insufficient light is the second most common killer of indoor herbs.
Ideal: 6-8 hours of direct sunlight (south-facing window)
Minimum: 4 hours of direct sunlight (east or west window)
Not enough: North-facing windows or rooms with small windows
If your space lacks natural light, a simple LED grow light for 10-12 hours daily will keep most herbs happy.
Harvesting Tips
Regular harvesting actually helps your herbs grow better:
- Harvest from the top - Cut stems just above a leaf pair. This encourages branching.
- Never take more than 1/3 - Leave enough foliage for the plant to recover.
- Pinch flowers immediately - Once herbs flower, leaves become bitter. Pinch off flower buds as soon as you see them.
- Harvest in the morning - Essential oils are strongest before the heat of the day.
Common Problems and Solutions
Leggy, stretched growth
Not enough light. Move closer to a window or add a grow light.
Yellow leaves
Usually overwatering. Let the soil dry out and reduce watering frequency.
Brown leaf tips
Low humidity or salt buildup. Mist occasionally and flush the soil with water monthly.
Pests (aphids, fungus gnats)
Isolate affected plants. Spray with diluted dish soap or neem oil. Let soil dry between waterings to discourage gnats.
Make Indoor Herb Growing Easier
Garden Stack is a self-watering planter designed for herbs and greens. Fill the reservoir, and your plants get consistent moisture for weeks - no guessing, no overwatering.
See Garden Stack