How to Grow Herbs Indoors (Year-Round)

Fresh herbs a few steps from the stove are one of the great everyday luxuries of cooking — and one of the easiest things to grow indoors, all year. The two things that make or break an indoor herb garden are light and watering. Get those right and you'll have basil in February.

Light: the one thing herbs really need

Most culinary herbs want at least 6 hours of bright light a day. A south- or west-facing windowsill is ideal. If your brightest window is dim — or it's deep winter — a small, inexpensive LED grow light makes a huge difference, and it's the difference between leggy, struggling herbs and lush ones. Rotate pots every few days so plants grow evenly instead of leaning toward the glass.

The easiest herbs to start with

• Mint — nearly unkillable (keep it in its own pot; it's a bully).
• Chives — tough, fast, and they regrow after every snip.
• Basil — loves warmth and bright light; pinch often to keep it bushy.
• Parsley — slow to start but steady and forgiving.
• Green onions — regrow from store-bought root ends in water or soil.

Cilantro and dill are doable but bolt (go to seed) quickly, so sow a little every few weeks.

Pots, soil, and watering

• Pots: at least 6 inches deep with drainage holes. One herb per pot grows best (they compete in shared pots).
• Soil: a light potting mix, never dense garden dirt.
• Water: when the top inch is dry — herbs hate soggy roots far more than the occasional dry spell. Empty the saucer so pots never sit in water.

Harvest often (it's good for them)

Regular snipping makes herbs bushier and more productive. Cut basil just above a pair of leaves and it branches into two. Take no more than about a third of the plant at once and it'll keep up with you for months. Pinch off any flower buds to keep the leaves tender and the plant producing.

Pair herbs with microgreens

If you like the idea of fresh greens on the windowsill, herbs and microgreens make a perfect indoor pair — herbs for the long haul, microgreens for a fast cut-and-come-again harvest every week or two. Together they cover most of what you reach for while cooking. Ready to go bigger? See how to start a vegetable garden.

Frequently asked questions

Can you really grow herbs indoors year-round?

Yes — with enough light. A bright south-facing window or a small grow light keeps most culinary herbs going through winter.

Why do my indoor herbs get tall and leggy?

Not enough light. Move them to a brighter window or add a grow light, and pinch them back to encourage bushier growth.

Which herb is easiest to grow indoors?

Mint and chives are the most forgiving. Basil is easy too, as long as it gets warmth and bright light.