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An indoor herb garden is a natural way to bring your favorite flavors and aromas to your home with minimal costs. Creating the best conditions to bring herbs to life can be hard work – like any garden. But, with the right tools, knowledge, and a little sunshine, you can brighten your home with an indoor herb garden.
Gardening provides various health benefits, including an increase in serotonin and a boost in air quality. When you factor in the nutritional benefits – and the flavors – fresh herbs can bring to any meal, it’s easy to see the benefits of growing some of your garden indoors.
But can you even grow herbs indoors in the first place? In most circumstances, indoor herbs can thrive if you provide them with the right conditions. For example, some herbs want dry soil and heat, while others need cooler conditions with more moisture.
Providing sunlight is also essential. Most gardens will have better results when they have access to four to six hours of sunshine. When you don’t have the right lighting conditions for herbs, AI-powered gardening systems can make controlling your herbs’ growing conditions effortless.
Your garden’s needs will depend significantly on the specific variety of herbs you’d like to produce indoors. Air temperature, humidity levels, light exposure, water, and providing nutrients to the soil will all play a role in growing herbs indoors.
Herbs and plants use photosynthesis to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into food. The energy brought by sunlight is key to enabling this process to feed the plants so they can grow successfully.
Sunnier South-facing windows should provide enough light for any indoor herb for homes in the Northern hemisphere. However, windows that face other directions or skylights can work just as well, so long as the plants receive between four and six hours of light. And to make up for poor natural conditions, indoor gardeners can also use artificial lights.
Knowing the correct amount of watering needed to help herbs flourish can be more challenging inside your home or apartment. For every plant you under-water, you can easily over-water another. So it’s key to research which herbs like dry soil between waterings versus those that prefer constant moisture and damp soil.
Humidity plays a crucial role in keeping your herbs happy. Humidity is especially relevant depending on where you live. It adds moisture to the air, which holds heat and (inevitably) raises the temperature.
To raise the humidity of your garden, you can mist plants weekly. Or, to keep the roots dry while providing moisture to the air, rest your garden on a rock bed with water. Tech-driven systems can be put on digital timers or set to detect drying conditions automatically.
For most herbs, you’ll find them happiest between 65 and 70 degrees, with a slight dip in temperature at night of ten degrees.
Too high of temperatures can dry soil and leave plants withering, while low temperatures can cause soil and plants to freeze and die.
If temperatures drop even further at night, many herbs may tolerate the discomfort as long as they can warm up during the day.
If you grow herbs indoors year-round, there are two routes to gardening from which to choose. You can start from scratch with a DIY garden – or choose a grow kit to jumpstart the process.
Seeing herbs and plants grow in water can be exciting and intriguing compared to traditional soil methods. Although herbs can grow in soil, only a select few can grow well in water. Hydroponic gardening is a smart way to grow herbs indoors quickly and effectively.
Indoor perennial plants live up to two years, provided that you trim their leaves so they can reach full bloom. These plants, such as thyme, sage, basil, lemon balm, or mint, can be grown hydroponically.
In many ways, gardening is a labor of love – and especially the case when starting from scratch with seeds or pods. Getting the conditions just right to succeed from scratch can be rewarding despite the challenges.
Using plants or cuttings [trimmings] to start your garden can put you a few steps ahead of the process. Of course, you will still have to monitor the conditions closely to ensure a healthy environment, but it is a little less risky.
If you choose to have herbs to grow at home, you can makeshift your garden or purchase a garden kit. However, starting your own can be more work since you still need to buy pots, soil, food, and seeds to create your garden. Additionally, expect to dedicate some serious time to learning what type of environment each herb needs to grow.
An indoor garden kit can take much of the guesswork out of the process. You can quickly choose herbs and then have all the tools and seeds necessary to grow your garden mailed to you with guidance from people who make home gardens their passion.
There is a wide selection of herbs to choose from when starting your garden. The best indoor herbs to grow typically take about a month or two to sprout, another few weeks to flourish, and then can last for one to two months once you begin harvesting.
Each herb will need slightly different approaches to harvesting depending on how well it propagates and the space it needs to grow. Fortunately, there are a lot of good herbs to grow indoors that offer health benefits and tons of flavor. Here’s what to know about the best culinary herbs for growing in your home – and why.
Basil grows quickly and efficiently when frequently harvested. The sweet and savory flavor of basil makes it a great addition to any indoor garden. Top it on pizzas, add it to sauces, or mix up a fresh Caprese salad to add brightness to your dish.
Sage is a slow-grower but easy-to-maintain herb that tends to grow long. Sage can be used as a natural preservative for meat and also makes a tasty rub for meats. In addition, it’s a good seasoning for roasted vegetables, especially root vegetables. It can also be used as a garnish for soups or sauces and infused in a tea.
Most commonly used in Italian cooking, oregano’s sweet and slightly spicy aroma with a peppery bite can add subtle complexity to your dish, particularly sauces and marinades. Beyond cooking, you can use oregano in many medical applications. For example, the oil can be a topical antiseptic to soothe sore throats and help ward off common colds.
Rosemary has a piney, aromatic flavor and fragrance similar to tea and charred wood. It is best used to season savory foods or meats or as an herbal tea. Blend your homegrown rosemary with oregano and thyme as the foundation for a simple herbal seasoning. To make the most use of this herb, wait until the branches are at least eight inches long before harvesting – and allow ¾ of the branches to continue to grow.
Thyme has a mild, earthy flavor and is loaded with vitamins and minerals. It packs a punch in soups, steams, meat, and vegetables and pairs well with other Mediterranean herbs like oregano. Trimming your thyme often will encourage renewed growth and a more rounded shape, but be sure to leave at least five inches of remains to continue growth.
You can grow chive indoors for a great source of vitamins and antioxidants. The mild onion-like flavor of chives pairs well with seafood. It is an excellent garnish for cream soups, eggs, potatoes, or macaroni salad. If the plant goes to flower, you can also use them in salads.
The slightly sweet and peppery flavor of mint with the cooling effect that lingers on the tongue makes mint one of the most loved herbs in anyone’s garden. Though growing requires a bit more patience, mint can be a refreshing addition for salads, beverages, or simply as a garnish for chewing.
Italian parsley is most frequently dried and used in combination with some other great indoor home garden herbs: rosemary, thyme, and oregano. Harvest parsley leaves as soon as the plant produces enough to leave some behind and continue growth.
One of the best-smelling herbs to grow indoors is lemon balm which offers the bright, citrusy, and acidic flavor of lemons but with a subtle touch of mint. Fresh lemon balm can be muddled into cocktails and beverages or paired with salads, fish, or poultry. In addition, you can use the herb dried in teas, soups, or for medicinal purposes.
Red Sorrel has a bright, lemony flavor but can be rare to find outside farmer’s markets due to its short shelf life after harvest. As with most dark leafy greens, arugula is high in various nutrients. One cup of sorrel provides over 100% of your daily recommended Vitamin A and C, with high levels of calcium, potassium, and iron to provide additional benefits. However, red sorrel does tend to bolt quickly. As such, try to keep it around room temperature for best results.
Dill’s bright flavor mixes parsley, celery, and anise. Not just for pickles, dill can liven up a salad and pair well with salmon or zucchini. However, dill can be fragile, so it is best to use it as soon as you harvest it.
Cilantro has a fresh, citrusy flavor and is very common in South American and Asian cuisine. From the same family as celery and carrots, cilantro has high carotenoid (antioxidant) levels, which protect the cell from free radicals. It is a good source of Vitamin A.
A variety of Sweet Basil, Thai Basil is commonly found in Southeast Asia and boasts a slightly spicy anise flavor. Because of the intense flavor, it is sometimes called Anise Basil or Licorice Basil. Thai Basil is ubiquitous in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine and is often used in Pho, pad thai, and curry.
Chervil flavor is like a cross between tarragon and parsley, with subtle hints of licorice or anise. As a springtime herb, chervil (French Parsley) pairs with trout, salmon, baby green salads, young asparagus, and baby green beans and carrots. Chervil is a versatile herb that can make everyday staples, such as eggs or potatoes, more flavorful and exciting.
Stevia is most commonly known as a sugar substitute. However, it is also believed to be an antioxidant and has anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypertensive, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Stevia can be harvested for individual leaves or large amounts when the branches are at least 8 inches long. You may choose to use it as a sweetener, be know that a little goes a long way; it is said to be 200-300 times sweeter than sugar.
Having fresh herbs on hand is fun to bring flavor to your kitchen. The added benefit of aromatic herbs from the garden can liven your space and help you feel rejuvenated and refreshed. Three varieties below are some of the best-smelling herbs to grow indoors.
Finding herbs that you can grow together indoors is dependent on them sharing similar needs in their environment, from water and temperature to their lifecycle. It’s also important to consider that some plants are considered invasive, such as some types of mint. As a result, they can overgrow quickly and take over your garden.
Wide varieties of herbs and spices are staples in any kitchen. However, there will always be some better suited for your unique palate than others. For example, people with a genetic disposition to taste soap when eating cilantro probably don’t want to spend time growing it in their kitchen garden. Start with your most loved cuisines to decide what herbs to grow in your kitchen garden.
Spices are the seeds or fruit of any plant, so it might seem unlikely that you could fill your spice rack from your garden, but some options make this possible. Easy-to-grow herbs at home are only better when you can pair them with the fresh spices you’ve produced. Here are a few indoor spices to try growing, too.
Once you know what herbs you’d like to grow indoors, you can start your garden. Aside from ensuring the herbs get the right amount of water, a few other quick tips can take you from bulb to bloom.
You’ll want to have relatively good-sized pots with some drainage on the bottom for your herbs. Too small, and you’ll be repotting sooner than anticipated. You will also want a tray under the pot to catch any water the roots don’t absorb. Drainage is key to preventing mold and other problems.
Most herbs have specific needs when it comes to harvesting. There will be optimal times based on the flowers in bloom, the length of branches, or to keep the herb growing evenly and round. Most often, this means harvesting a little at a time will help your herbs to continue to grow happy and healthy.
Even if space is more limited, you can still give your herbs space apart to grow and breathe. If they’re too close, they can grow together densely, affecting the amount of each herb’s light and moisture. If you keep them apart but find them growing closer, it’s time to harvest.
Starting an indoor herb garden will bring fresh aromas and ingredients into your home. The setup of any garden requires a lot of knowledge of techniques, the best herbs, plants for your environment, and the funds to gather all the necessary supplies and seeds.
With the Gardyn Home Kits, we deliver everything you need to your doorstep. Then, with easy-to-follow instructions, you can get your herb garden flourishing quickly. The time and money spent on trips to the store and grocery store produce you can’t use fast enough can be a concern of the past when you have your own homegrown farm-to-table produce.
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