How To Successfully Grow Herbs Indoors No Matter The Season

Ready to Learn How to Grow Herbs Indoors?

Growing an indoor herb garden is a dream for those of us who love to cook. What chef doesn’t want a variety of herbs at their fingertips to flavour the delicious treats they’re cooking up in the kitchen?

The right herbs can make even the blandest of foods taste amazing. Luckily you can grow your herb garden all year-round – with some varieties even thriving in cooler climates. In this blog, I’m going to take a closer look at how to grow herbs indoors.

You can grow herbs indoors successfully by using well-draining module trays or pots to grow your seeds and filling them with seed-starting mix or potting soil. If you are growing herbs in winter, you will need to use grow lights to ensure your seeds successfully germinate.

Remember to always check the instructions on how best to grow your chosen seeds. Some seeds – such as chives, will need a darker environment to germinate, but most will need ongoing access to a light source.

Growing herbs indoors is actually quite easy in comparison to other plants. Naturally, some grow faster than others and are more straightforward to maintain, but on average, it doesn’t take too long to master the basics. Luckily you’re in the right place to do that!

Table of Contents

How do You Start to Grow Herbs Indoors?

To get started growing herbs indoors you will need the following:

• A selection of well-draining module trays or pots
• Seed-starting mix or potting soil
• The right selection of seeds for your purposes
• A south or east-facing windowsill for your herbs to access light – although there are some seeds that don’t need direct sunlight
• Artificial lighting such as LED grow lights for growing seeds indoors in darker weather
• A tiny watering can and/or plant mister
• Liquid plant fertiliser to feed your plants nutrients as they grow.

The first step is to fill your module trays and/or small pots with your seed-starting mix or potting soil. Sow your seeds following the instructions on the seed packets. Most seeds should be sowed thinly because they need light to start growing.

Next, place your seeds on a windowsill where they have access to at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day. If it is winter, you can use LED grow lights to help your plants make it through the darker days.

If you are looking for a simple way to grow seeds all at once, you could use a Seed Starter Tray. The one I’ve linked to helped me to grow my seeds really quickly indoors when I was getting started.

The vents help with warmth and humidity, so seeds can get access to the temperature they need whatever the time of year and the air circulation can easily be controlled.

Which Herbs Grow the Fastest Indoors?

While most herbs can be grown indoors, there are a few that do really well inside, growing quickly and easily on your windowsill without too much fuss.

When you grow your indoor herb garden, you will need to choose a variety of seeds that complement each other. It is also important to consider what meals you enjoy eating.

For example, if you enjoy tomato salads, basil is a natural herb to grow. If you enjoy soothing teas, mint is an obvious choice. Take some time to consider what you like to cook and tailor your herbs to your preference.

Here’s a look at some of the fastest and easiest herbs to grow inside if you’re in a rush and can’t wait around too long for your herbs to germinate!

Sage

Sage is one of the quickest herbs to grow and can survive difficult conditions. No matter the weather or temperature, sage seems to stay strong.

Plant sage in pots or trays in well-draining soil and ensure it has access to sunlight – although sage doesn’t need direct light to flourish. You should see sprouts shooting between ten to 21 days after planting.

Harvest sage once it has several true leaves (not generic seed leaves) and has reached a few inches in height.

Mint

Mint seeds need ten days to two weeks to grow along with access to sufficient sunlight. Mint is one of my favourite herbs to grow as I love mint tea to relax before bed and it can also help with digestion. Mint is best harvested first thing in the morning because the oils are more prominent.

Chives

During the process of germination, chives need darkness rather than light to properly develop. In fact, exposing the seeds to light can even ruin their chances of growing.

However, once germination has taken place, you can take the covering off the chives and place them on a sunny windowsill and harvest your seeds not long after.

Basil

Basil seeds can germinate in as little as three to five days as long as the temperature is right. Add several seeds per tray module and use a water mister to keep the soil moist. Once the seeds have germinated, your basil will need around six hours a day of sunlight.

Coriander

Coriander has a lovely aromatic flavour and is perfect to add to curries and sauces. Coriander germinates within two to three weeks and needs a moderate sunlight source to survive although can still do well in partial shade. You will need a decent-sized pot for coriander so there is room for root growth.

As with other seeds, once you have found a home for your coriander, it is best not to move it around. This can confuse your seeds and slow down germination or even cause the seeds to die.

Oregano

Oregano adds a ton of flavour to foods such as pastas and pizza so if you are a fan of Italian food, you will definitely want to include this versatile herb in your indoor herb garden.

Oregano is generally easy to grow and can tolerate shade, but you will still want to ensure some access to sun. You should see growth within just a few days and full germination within just over a week.

When can I Start my Indoor Herb Garden?

You can start your indoor herb garden at any time of year. Springtime may seem a natural season to plant seeds so they get more sun in summer once mature, but if you keep the temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, your herbs can flourish indoors no matter the season.

For some people there will be no other option but to to start their herb garden inside. A lot of apartments don’t have outdoor space – and if they do, the area may be filled up with other plants.

Many people even prefer to grow herbs indoors during the colder seasons as planting outside can be difficult in lower temperatures.

Where is the Best Place for an Indoor Herb Garden?

Most herbs prefer to have access to a regular source of light. The best option is to find a south-facing windowsill where the light is brightest.

In winter, you may need to set your herb garden up in an area where your seeds can access artificial light as natural sunlight won’t be enough.

If you are growing a lot of herbs, it may be hard to fit them all on the windowsill, so your herb garden will take a bit of planning.

As discussed, you need to be careful not to stress out your seeds by moving them around. With a bit of forward planning, you can give your seeds the best opportunity to grow in the space you have available.

Can you Transplant Herb Seedlings to Bigger Pots?

You may be surprised at just how big herbs like basil and mint can get – in which case, transplanting your seeds is definitely a good move.

You can transplant herb seedlings to bigger pots once they have developed a few true leaves. It isn’t always necessary to transplant your seedlings, but if you do they will have more space to grow and access to the nutrients they need to fully develop.

Once you have done this, you can move them outdoors or keep them indoors on your windowsill or in another sunny spot.

How to Care for Your Herbs Indoors

To care for your herb garden, you will need to regularly water your seeds and add liquid plant food to keep them nourished.

Just be careful not to overwater and make sure your containers drain sufficiently. You will also need to make sure the temperature and humidity levels are just right. As mentioned above, the Seed Starter Kit can help with this.

How to Grow Herbs Indoors: Final Thoughts

Growing an indoor herb garden is a brilliant chance to get started in your journey towards self-reliance. It is relatively easy to grow herbs indoors with a little bit of practice.

And once your indoor herb garden is thriving you can move on to more complicated vegetables to develop your self sufficiency skills!

What herbs are you going to include in your indoor herb garden?