Indoor herb gardening can be an enjoyable hobby that requires minimal space or expertise. Most varieties thrive when grown in sunlight-filled windowsills with plenty of sun.

Starting out, many people begin with simple food crops like herbs and microgreens in a basic windowsill planter. Other plants, like tomatoes, require additional lighting systems.

Light

Herbs make excellent houseplants if you have limited outdoor space or simply wish to enhance the flavor of your kitchen. Their shallow roots allow them to thrive in pots or planters on windowsills.

Make sure your planter, pot or container features drainage holes at the bottom to avoid root rot. Also use premium indoor potting mix instead of outdoor soil. Herbs need at least six hours of sunlight each day for healthy growth and flavorful results – ideally from south-facing windows if possible; alternatively indoor herb lights that mimic natural lighting may work.

Search for signs that your herbs aren’t receiving enough light, such as stunted growth and stems that appear bleached or scorched; leaves that wilt midday even though soil moisture levels remain healthy; or midday leaves wilting even though soil remains wet. If these issues exist, try adding additional light with a full spectrum grow light.

Most herbs, including basil, prefer temperatures of 70 degrees during the day and 55–60 at night, along with moderate humidity levels. To determine if your herbs require watering, poke your finger into their soil – if dry spots exist then water accordingly, but beware overwatering as most (with mint being an exception) don’t do well in overly moist environments.

Soil

Grow herbs for an exciting way to add new tastes and aromas into the home. Even with limited space, planting a kitchen herb garden and using its leaves in meals throughout the year is easy with herbs being an accessible way to start indoor gardening.

Herbs require well-draining soil that drains quickly, yet doesn’t need a large dose of fertilizers; an excellent potting mix that drains well will suffice; any fertilizers applied should only be done so once or twice each season for best results.

Assuming your soil has sufficient moisture and is moist enough for growth, the optimal location for growing herbs is in a south-facing window that receives direct sunlight throughout the day. West-facing windows may be suitable, though west windows won’t give as much direct light. When monitoring light exposure to your herbs, look out for signs they’re getting enough light – such as midday wilting despite moist soil, stems that appear bleached or scorched, and new growth appearing stunted when compared with older growth.

If your herbs don’t receive enough sunlight, grow lights can supplement their needs by supplementing natural lighting with artificial illumination. Be sure to find one with a timer or remote control so you can schedule regular lighting cycles.

Water

Most herbs need as much direct sunlight indoors as they receive outdoors, and providing this essential supply is key. An easy way of doing so is placing them near a south or west window that receives unblocked light during the day (or using grow lights). Without enough light, herbs may become leggy and spindly with smaller leaves and less aromatic fragrance.

When planting in pots, always select ones with excellent drainage in order to avoid overwatering and subsequent rot. Plastic planters that feature lightweight designs with well-thought out drain holes or terracotta/clay pots that allow excess water to quickly escape can be effective choices; otherwise add coarse paver sand to your soil mix in a terracotta pot to assist drainage and avoid overwatering.

Herbs thrive in light, easy-to-work soil. To achieve the best results, fill containers with equal parts topsoil, compost and sand and work the mixture until loose and crumbly. Add light fertilizer – but be careful not to overfertilize!

Make the most of sunny windowsills by growing herbs in a mason jar with a dark lid for optimal success in sunny windowsill environments. Just ensure to leave it on while adding a piece of paper at the base to keep root zone darkness and prevent algal growth.

Temperature

Herbs thrive best in warm, sunny environments with ample air circulation; to maximize success, protect them from drafts.

An ideal location for most herbs is a south-facing window receiving 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily, but if your windowsill doesn’t receive this much light, use grow lights as a supplement – these mimic sunlight for easy growing of herbs with less southern exposure.

To water herb plants properly, you’ll need a large enough container to contain all the soil. Next, water the soil until it becomes damp but not soggy – most herbs don’t tolerate having soggy feet which could quickly lead to waterlogging issues.

Some herbs require more water than others; please refer to your seed packet, label information or the Farmer’s Almanac for specific guidance. Basil and mint need daily irrigation while other may only require weekly.

Herbs found in grocery stores require moisture in the soil in order to remain healthy and productive, with individual plants depending on your weather and climate conditions for their daily water requirements. If your area has limited rain fall, misting plants daily or placing them on gravel trays with evaporating water provides much-needed humidity for their wellbeing.