Here’s a step-by-step guide to planting a kitchen herb garden
Planting an indoor herb garden is a rewarding way to have fresh herbs year-round, right at your fingertips. Here’s a simple guide to get you started.
Choose the Herbs
Choose easy-to-grow herbs like basil, parsley, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano,and chives. Mint should have it's own pot. What's most important is to choose herbs that you enjoy the taste of and will use in your cooking. Avoid herbs that need a lot of space like dill or fennel.
Select a Container
Use pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot. You can use individual pots for each herb or one long planter box. Have a plan for a tray or trays to catch water that may drip through the holes in the bottom of the pot(s). Trays are important as water catchments because they provide a convenient way to water indoor plants from the bottom to reduce risk of getting fungus gnats (tiny little pesky flies that are attracted to moist soils and decaying matter). Fungus gnats' larvae can feed on plant roots, so you want to avoid these. Here's an article about these gnats with details on how to avoid and how to eliminate them.
Soil Requirements
Fill your container with well-draining indoor potting mix (soil formulated for herbs and vegetables works great). Indoor potting mix helps water drain well and allows roots to breathe and grow. Stay away from 'gardening soil' unless you add a good dose of perlite to to lighten it up considerably.
Plant the Seeds/Seedlings/Plants
Sunlight Needs
Place the container(s) in a spot that will get at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Harvest and Prune Regularly
Pinch or snip leaves to encourage bushy growth (don’t cut more than 1/3 of the plant at once). How you trim your plants matters, as some herbs like stems clipped in order to grow nice and bushy, and others prefer just the leaves be snipped. Follow these herb specific tips for pruning to keep your herb plants at their healthiest:
Basil — Pinch off flower buds and trim regularly to keep it leafy. Check out this article on how to prune basil for lush growth.
Mint — Cut back to about 1/3 of its height regularly.
Rosemary & Thyme — Trim the soft tips; avoid woody stems unless reshaping.
Parsley & Cilantro — Cut the outer stems first (oldest growth), letting the inner leaves mature.
Oregano & Sage — Prune lightly to keep them bushy, but avoid over-pruning.
Tips for Growing an Indoor Herb Garden (courtesy The Spruce)
Choose the Herbs
Choose easy-to-grow herbs like basil, parsley, mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano,and chives. Mint should have it's own pot. What's most important is to choose herbs that you enjoy the taste of and will use in your cooking. Avoid herbs that need a lot of space like dill or fennel.
Select a Container
Use pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot. You can use individual pots for each herb or one long planter box. Have a plan for a tray or trays to catch water that may drip through the holes in the bottom of the pot(s). Trays are important as water catchments because they provide a convenient way to water indoor plants from the bottom to reduce risk of getting fungus gnats (tiny little pesky flies that are attracted to moist soils and decaying matter). Fungus gnats' larvae can feed on plant roots, so you want to avoid these. Here's an article about these gnats with details on how to avoid and how to eliminate them.
Soil Requirements
Fill your container with well-draining indoor potting mix (soil formulated for herbs and vegetables works great). Indoor potting mix helps water drain well and allows roots to breathe and grow. Stay away from 'gardening soil' unless you add a good dose of perlite to to lighten it up considerably.
Plant the Seeds/Seedlings/Plants
- If using seeds: Follow the packet instructions for spacing and depth.
- If using seedlings/plants: Gently remove plants from the container and plant them at the same depth they were growing. Water gently and keep the soil evenly moist (not soggy). Check soil moisture daily until plants are established (two to three weeks). A moisture meter is indispensable for this.
Sunlight Needs
Place the container(s) in a spot that will get at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Harvest and Prune Regularly
Pinch or snip leaves to encourage bushy growth (don’t cut more than 1/3 of the plant at once). How you trim your plants matters, as some herbs like stems clipped in order to grow nice and bushy, and others prefer just the leaves be snipped. Follow these herb specific tips for pruning to keep your herb plants at their healthiest:
Basil — Pinch off flower buds and trim regularly to keep it leafy. Check out this article on how to prune basil for lush growth.
Mint — Cut back to about 1/3 of its height regularly.
Rosemary & Thyme — Trim the soft tips; avoid woody stems unless reshaping.
Parsley & Cilantro — Cut the outer stems first (oldest growth), letting the inner leaves mature.
Oregano & Sage — Prune lightly to keep them bushy, but avoid over-pruning.
Tips for Growing an Indoor Herb Garden (courtesy The Spruce)
- Allow herbs to receive at least six hours of full sun near a south-facing window, or opt for a plant grow light that runs 14 to 16 hours daily and is preferably on a timed light setup.
- Research which herbs have the same needs before you plant them together. For example, sage prefers soil more dry than parsley.
- Fertilize herbs regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer high in nitrogen for healthy leaf growth.
- Ensure temperatures stay between 65 to 70 degrees during the day and 55 to 60 degrees at night.
- Avoid putting herb pots near drafts, radiators, heat ducts, or air conditioners which will dry them out.
- Rotate herbs periodically when grown in windows to let each part of the plant receive sunlight.
- Trim back flowering sections before they bloom or set flowers for healthier plants. You don't want flowers on your plants (called 'bolting') because it can significantly reduce the flavor and quality.
- Prune new growth on young plants weekly to encourage a fuller mature plant.
Article: Is it better to grow herbs in pots or in the ground?