How to Grow Herbs Indoors

Nothing beats fresh herbs to improve your cooking. Growing herbs indoors is a fantastic way to have fresh flavor on hand for your meals and add beautiful greenery to your home. With the right growing conditions, it's possible to enjoy most herbs indoors, even in the middle of winter. You can create your own potted herb garden by starting with seeds, buying young starter plants from Bonnie Plants, or transplanting herbs from your outdoor garden.

Which Herbs to Grow Indoors

The great news is that most herbs can thrive indoors as long as they have the right conditions. They don't mind staying indoors with you, but they will need plenty of light. Some favorite herbs to grow indoors include:

• Basil 
• Dill
• Mint
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Rosemary 
• Sage
• Thyme

Where to Grow Herbs Indoors

Indoor grown herbs need as much sun as they can get, so place them in your sunniest spot, which is preferably a south-facing window. East or west-facing windows can also work for herbs that tolerate some shade, but north-facing windows won't provide enough light. You can also supplement natural light with a grow lamp, which should shine on your herbs for 12 to 14 hours a day. You can find grow lamps online or at your local garden center.

Plant Your Herbs in Quality Soil

Your herbs will need plenty of nutrients, moisture, and oxygen at the root level. You should always use a quality potting mix designed for indoor plants, like Miracle-Gro Organic™ Indoor Potting Mix, which allows for proper drainage and airflow so your herbs can flourish. This organic mix is also lightweight enough to support the delicate roots of seedlings, making it great for starting seeds.

If you are growing from seed, look for newer varieties that are dense and compact, as they tend to grow better in containers. Most herb seeds are planted less than 1 inch deep. In many cases, you can simply sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil and cover them loosely. Always check the seed packet for specific information on how deep to plant the seeds. Here’s a basic guide to starting herbs from seed:

1. Begin with a small container or cell tray and fill it with Miracle-Gro Organic™ Indoor Potting Mix.
2. Sprinkle the seeds on top of the mix and cover them loosely, but double-check your seed packet for specific depth instructions.
3. Cover your container with a plastic bag or dome and place it in a warm spot away from direct sunlight until the seeds germinate.
4. Once your seeds begin to sprout, take off the plastic cover and move the container to a sunny location.

For more on seed starting, check out this guide.

Watering and Feeding Your Indoor Herbs

Herbs often need less water than you might think, but they do require consistent watering. In addition to water, plants also need nutrition to perform their best. Here are some tips to nurture your herbs:

• Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. This is a good general rule, but always check the plant tag or seed packet for specific instructions.
• Apply water around the base of the plant and try to keep the leaves dry.
• Water thoroughly until you see water coming out of the pot's drainage hole.
• Avoid overwatering, and do not let the roots sit in excess water.
• To ensure your plants produce plenty of new leaves for your culinary dishes, feed them with Miracle-Gro Organic™ Plant Food, following the directions on the label.

Harvesting and Enjoying Your Herbs

Frequent, light pruning not only provides you with fresh herbs for your cooking but also helps keep your plants compact and encourages new growth. To make the most of your harvest, tailor your technique to the way the herb grows.

• Mounding Herbs: For herbs that grow in a clump, like parsley and chives, it is best to snip the outer leaves from the base. This method allows the center of the plant to continue developing new leaves.
• Upright Herbs: With herbs that grow tall, such as basil, mint, and oregano, you should trim the tips of the branches. Pinching the top sets of leaves will encourage the plant to become fuller and more branched, leading to a more abundant harvest.

Harvesting often also helps extend the growing period of your herbs. Keep an eye out for flowers. While most herb flowers are edible, the flavor of the leaves can sometimes become bitter after flowers form. Since many herbs stop growing new leaves once they flower, you should pinch off the flowers just below the bud as soon as you see them.

Bringing Outdoor Herbs Inside for the Winter 

If you want to keep harvesting your outdoor-grown herbs longer, you can bring them indoors for the winter. Several weeks before the first fall frost, you will need to pot up herbs that are growing in the ground or in raised beds.

Here are the steps to bring your outdoor herbs inside:

1. Choose Your Healthiest Plants: Only the sturdiest and healthiest herbs should be transplanted. Select containers with drainage holes that can accommodate the root balls and provide some extra space for growth.
2. Inspect for Pests: Before bringing plants indoors, inspect them thoroughly for any signs of insects. It’s also a good idea to gently spray them with a garden hose to knock off any potential hitchhikers.
3. Dig and Pot: Use a hand trowel to carefully dig up the herb, keeping as many roots intact as possible. Place the plant in a container that's about one-third full of Miracle-Gro Organic™ Indoor Potting Mix. Fill in around the root ball with more potting mix as needed and water thoroughly.
4. Acclimate to Lower Light: Plants can go into shock if moved directly from a bright, sunny spot to a darker indoor location. Help them adjust by gradually acclimating them to lower light. Place the newly potted plants in a location that gets partial sun for two weeks, then move them to deeper shade for another week or two before bringing them inside.

DIY Project: Build a Window Platform for Your Herbs

If you want to level up your indoor herb garden, try this quick DIY project. A window platform gives your plants a dedicated space with plenty of sunshine and keeps them right on hand for cooking.

Materials Needed:

• Wood board (real wood, not fiberboard)
• Brackets and screws
• Tools: stud finder, tape measure, pencil, drill, saw, and level
• Paint or stain and a brush

Directions:

1. Use a stud finder to locate the studs on each side of the window.
2. Measure down from the top of the window to where you want the platform and mark the spot with a pencil on both sides.
3. Attach the brackets at your marks, making sure they are secured to the studs.
4. Measure the distance between the brackets. Cut your board to that length, adding 3 to 4 inches so the board extends slightly past the brackets.
5. Place the board on the brackets and use a level to ensure it isn’t slanted.
6. Remove the board to paint or stain it. Once it's dry, place it back on the brackets and attach it with screws.
7. Arrange your potted herbs on your new platform and enjoy! Remember to turn them from time to time so all sides get sun.

With so many great herbs to try, you're sure to enjoy growing your own indoor herb garden.