11 Best Herbs to Grow Indoors for Fresh Flavors Year-Round
There’s nothing like growing your own kitchen herbs at home; it makes cooking much easier and less expensive!
Doing so means you don’t have to worry about driving to the grocery store whenever a recipe calls for fresh herbs.
Growing basil indoors means you can enjoy it year-round. How would you like to enjoy fresh basil in December?!? I love it.
Below are 11 delicious and beautiful culinary herbs you can grow inside your home year-round.
Fortunately, herbs are among the easiest plants to grow and care for, making them accessible even for beginners! Just follow a few care and harvesting guidelines, and you’ll be ready to go.
Just follow a few care and harvesting guidelines and you’ll be good to go.
Let’s explore these wonderful herbs for your indoor garden!
1. Basil
If there’s just one herb you grow, let it be basil! It’s a great starting plant for beginners because it’s prolific and low-maintenance.
It can actually thrive indoors with the right lighting and can even grow in water.
Basil loves warmth and bright light. For best results, place it near a sunny window or under LED lights.
Water when the soil feels dry to the touch.
Be sure to pinch off the flower buds to prevent the plant from flowering and producing seeds; this will encourage the plant to keep producing its flavorful leaves.
Sweet basil is the most common variety, with a classic Italian flavor.
Thai basil offers a hint of licorice, while lemon basil has a citrusy aroma.
To encourage bushy growth, be sure to harvest the leaves regularly.
One of the best uses for basil is in pasta salads and dishes, green salads, sandwiches, and of course, pizzas.
If you have some to spare, try freezing or drying your basil leaves for future use!
2. Mint
Here’s another super-easy herb to grow.
It grows so easily, in fact, that it requires its own pot; otherwise, it will spread profusely and take nutrients from neighboring herbs. Do yourself a favor and always provide mint plants with their own pot!
Keep the soil moist – I’ve found that mint doesn’t take kindly to soil that dries out. Its leaves quickly shrivel up when left to
Peppermint and spearmint are the most popular and available options.
When harvesting sprigs, pinch back the stems as needed to promote fuller growth. As with basil, harvesting is the secret key to full and lush mint plants.
Mint herbs are used in salads, cocktails, mocktails, and soothing teas. They can also be creatively used in meat dishes. As a tasty garnish, add them to lemonade and fruit juices!
3. Parsley
So many delicious recipes call for fresh parsley, so growing this herb in your kitchen will prove worthwhile.
Use it to complement other herbs and add depth to dishes like tabbouleh salad, chimichurri sauce, and an array of vegetable soups and Italian dishes.
Parsley thrives in cool temperatures and moderate light.
Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry and to harvest, cut the outer leaves first.
4. Chives
Chives are incredibly useful in the kitchen. They add a milk burst of onion flavor to dishes and enhance the presentation with their slender shape and vibrant green color!
Chives do need bright light to thrive and prefer moist soil.
Water regularly and cut the tops of the plant, leaving enough of it so it continues growing upward.
You can add them to omelets, soups, sandwiches, and salads, or use them to make flavored butter or sour cream!
5. Cilantro
Cilantro does so well indoors because it prefers cool temperatures. It does not thrive outdoors in the summer—it’s simply too hot for it!
Cilantro can grow profusely in the right conditions. Just commit to harvesting regularly and water it when the soil feels dry.
An interesting fact: the leaves of this plant are known as cilantro, while the seeds are referred to as coriander and also sold in jars in the herb section of the grocery store!
Use cilantro in salsas and guacamole and as a flavorful topping for tacos, nachos, omelets, and soups.
Growing cilantro indoors will prove invaluable if you regularly cook Mexican, Indian, or Southeast Asian dishes.
6. Rosemary
Who wouldn’t want rosemary in their indoor herb garden? Aside from being beautiful and drought-tolerant, rosemary brings depth and flavor to various cuisines and recipes.
Use it in soups and meat dishes, and try adding it to oils and bottles of vinegar for a burst of flavor!
Rosemary needs bright light and prefers its soil to go dry between waterings. Prune it to maintain its shape and beauty, using the outer sprigs in your cooking.
This woody herb has needle-like leaves with a wonderful, piney aroma.
Rosemary is sold in upright and trailing varieties, growing well indoors in containers.
7. Oregano
Oregano thrives in bright light and well-draining soil. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Pinch back growing tips to encourage fuller growth.
Greek oregano has a strong, spicy flavor. Italian oregano is milder and sweeter. Both varieties are easy to grow indoors.
Use oregano in tomato-based sauces, pizza, and Greek dishes. It pairs well with grilled meats and vegetables.
8. Thyme
Thyme is indispensable in the kitchen.
Like basil, this herb prefers full sun and well-draining soil. Between waterings, you can allow the soil to dry slightly.
Trim regularly to prevent woody growth – this is key to keeping it healthy for a very long time.
English thyme is the most common type, with small, fragrant leaves. The plant is beautiful and definitely worth keeping, especially for its aesthetic appeal!
Lemon thyme offers a citrusy twist. Both types are drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.
Thyme is a key ingredient in bouquet garni and herbes de Provence blends, and it can be added to roasted meats, soups, and stews.
9. Dill
I LOVE the taste of dill in salads, it’s such a fresh taste!
Dill, like cilantro and parsley, grows best in cool temperatures with moderate light.
This herb prefers soil that stays consistently moist so be mindful not to let the soil go dry for long periods of time.
Harvest from the outside in, snipping the outer leaves first while leaving the inner plant intact.
Dill goes perfectly in fish and salmon recipes, potato salads, and yogurt sauce.
10. Sage
Sage is a wonderful herb to grow in the kitchen to flavor things like butter, cocktails, and meat dishes.
This wonderful herb needs bright light and soil that’s never soggy.
Like other plants on this list, water when the top inch of soil feels to dry to the touch; it’s rather drought-tolerant once established.
To encourage new growth, harvest regularly.
Common sage, which is widely available, has soft, gray-green leaves with a strong, earthy flavor.
11. Tarragon
Tarragon isn’t as common but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have it’s place in the kitchen!
This culinary hern prefers moderate light and cool temperatures. Water when the top of the soil feels dry, and trim regularly to promote bushiness.
French tarragon has the best flavor, with a subtle anise taste. Russian tarragon is more low-maintenance but less flavorful.
Tarragon is used in béarnaise sauce, chicken dishes, and egg recipes. It also adds a unique flavor to vinaigrettes and herb butter. Give it a try!
Creative Ideas for Displaying Your Herbs
Your indoor herb garden can be simple and unassuming, but you can also get creative with it! It can look modern and sleek or vintage and rustic! You get to decide. Herbs are low-maintenance and can thrive in different types of planters.
Here are a few ideas for how to display your kitchen herb plants indoors:
- Plant them all in the same color and size pot and place near your kitchen window
- Place them on floating shelves near a sunny window
- Plant them in unconventional planters like mason jars and coffee mugs
- Use tiered plants for different heights to add visual interest
- Hang them in macrame planters
- Use wooden boxes or crates
- Use vintage planting mediums
I hope these planting ideas help inspire you to get creative with your kitchen herbs!
Cooking and Preserving Your Harvest
Growing herbs indoors provides you with fresh flavors year-round. Please make the most of your herb garden by utilizing these plants in your cooking and preserving them for future use.
Drying and Storing Herbs for Later Use
Dry the leaves to preserve your herb harvest. Hang small bundles of herbs upside down in a warm, dry area away from direct sunlight. Once crisp, store the dried herbs in airtight containers.
Use a food dehydrator or oven on its lowest setting for quicker results. Spread herb leaves on trays and dry until crisp. Crumble the dried leaves and store them in labeled jars.
Freeze fresh herbs in ice cube trays with water or oil. Pop these cubes into soups or sauces for a burst of flavor. You can also chop herbs finely and freeze them in small portions for easy use.
Consider making herb-infused vinegar or salts as unique gifts or for your own pantry. These preserving methods help you enjoy your indoor herb garden’s bounty.
Good luck with your indoor herb garden and happy gardening!