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Since 2019 I’ve been growing an indoor herb garden right here in New Jersey. Trust me, there’s nothing like the joy of snipping fresh herbs for your meals.
Whether you are a professional gardener or new to urban gardening, growing herbs indoors is a wonderful way to add a touch of nature inside & enhance your cooking.
Did you know? According to the National Gardening Association, more than 2 in 5 households in the US are now growing food at home. And herbs are the top choice!
They smell great & are super easy to grow. Let’s dive into 15 herbs that can flourish indoors, no matter how small your space!
Why Start an Indoor Herb Garden?
Before I list my favorite herbs, let’s look at why starting an indoor herb garden is a great idea:
- Fresh herbs whenever you want, every day of the year!
- Save some cash on pricey store-bought herbs.
- Help clean the air in your home.
- Enjoy the relaxing benefits of gardening.
- Bring some green into your living space.
Now, onto my top 15 easy indoor herbs!
1. Basil
Basil, oh basil! It’s the star of Italian cooking. I’ve had Sweet Basil in my garden since day one. It’s perfect for making homemade pesto and Caprese salads!
- Light: Basil loves sunlight, at least 6 hours per day.
- Water: Keep the soil moist but not soaked.
- Usage: Awesome for Italian food, Thai dishes, & even drinks!
2. Mint
Mint is like that fun friend who’s always got energy! It grows quickly which is great if you forget to water it sometimes.
- Light: Likes partial sun but can handle some shade too.
- Water: Keep it moist but don’t drown it!
- Usage: Perfect in teas, cocktails, and savory dishes. Try mint in homemade lemonade, it’s refreshing!
3. Chives
Chives are small heroes in the herb world! Super easy to grow & they add a nice onion taste without being too strong.
- Light: Full sun works best but can handle partial shade.
- Water: Moist soil that drains well is best.
- Usage: Sprinkle on baked potatoes or eggs for extra flavor.
4. Parsley
Don’t just leave parsley on the side of your plate! This herb has great flavor & is nutritious too.
- Light: Needs bright, indirect light.
- Water: Keep that soil consistently moist.
- Usage: Toss it into tabbouleh or use as a garnish.
5. Cilantro/Coriander
It’s essential in many cuisines plus you get both leaves and seeds together!
- Light: Partial shade or full sun works well.
- Water: Make sure it drains well; water when the top inch feels dry.
- Usage: A must for salsas and guacamole.
6. Thyme
Thyme might be tiny but boy does it pack flavor!
- Light: It loves full sun.
- Water: Let it dry out between watering.
- Usage: Great with meats and soups.
7. Rosemary
Rosemary reminds me of a Christmas tree with its lovely aroma!
- Light: Full sun is required, 6-8 hours daily helps!
- Water: Let it dry out slightly between waterings.
- Usage: Excellent with roasted foods like potatoes or lamb.
8. Oregano
You can’t have pizza night without oregano!
- Light: Needs full sun too.
- Water: Keep the soil well-drained; water when dry up top.
- Usage: Essential for Italian & Greek meals.
9. Sage
Sage holds a special place in my heart & garden! Its soft leaves pack intense flavor!
- Light: Full sun is best for sage.
- Water: Requires well-drained soil; let dry out before rewatering.
- Usage: Perfect for poultry and even cocktails!
10. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm adds a sunny touch to your garden with its bright scent!
- Light: Thrives in partial shade or full sun – it’s flexible!
- Water: Keep moist but not too much water!
- Usage: Works wonderfully in teas and desserts.
11. Chervil
Chervil isn’t super popular but chefs love it for its light flavor!
- Light: Prefers partial shade to thrive!
- Water: Moist soil is key here – keep it consistent!
- Usage: Tasty in egg dishes and salads.
12. Dill
If you’re into pickling or Scandinavian food, dill is a must-have!
- Light: Loves full sun for growth!
- Water: Keep it evenly moist all the time.
- Usage: Fantastic for pickles & fish dishes!
13. Tarragon
Tarragon brings a unique taste, it’s slightly sweet and perfect for French cooking!
- Light: Likes partial shade to full sun mix.
- Water: Well-drained soil; only water when dry on top!
- Usage: Great paired with chicken or mixed into sauces.
14. Marjoram
Marjoram may be mistaken for oregano, but it’s sweeter with milder flavor!
- Light: Full sunlight is preferred here as well!
- Water: Ensure good drainage, let it dry out slightly between waterings!
- Usage: Fab with Mediterranean meals and grilled veggies!
15. Lemongrass
The last one up is lemongrass, brings a taste of Southeast Asia inside your home garden!
- Light: Full sunlight is needed every day as well!
- Water: Soil should stay consistently moist!
- Usage: Key ingredient for Thai recipes and nice in drinks!
I started with just basil, mint, & rosemary, simple stuff really! Now my collection has grown quite a bit over time while learning about care, lighting needs & quality soil along the way!
Harvesting fresh herbs to add them to my meals is just SO rewarding!
Setting Up Your Indoor Herb Garden
So we’ve got our favorite herbs covered, now how do you set up an indoor herb garden? Here goes:
- Containers: Pick pots that drain well; I like terra cotta pots because they let the soil breathe nicely. Clay & ceramic pots also work great!
- Soil: Use potting mix made for herbs, a good choice could be Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Soil which I’ve found success with before!
- Fertilizer: Feed them every 4-6 weeks using balanced fertilizer; Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food is awesome!
- Light: Most herbs want about 6 hours of sunshine every day so if there’s not enough natural light around consider getting grow lights too since they really help plants grow better!
- Humidity: Lots of herbs enjoy higher humidity levels, try grouping plants close together or use pebble trays filled with water under them if possible!
- Pruning: Don’t forget regular pruning helps them grow bushier, using those herbs often promotes even better growth!
Where to Get Indoor Herbs
Buying quality herbs is an important first step. If you prefer shopping in person, here are good options close by; local nurseries often provide expert advice while letting check out healthy plants hands-on.
plus Home Depot or Lowe’s carry everything needed for starter items…want unique organic varieties? Visit local farmers’ markets, which usually feature locally grown stuff unavailable too sometimes!
But if online shopping seems easier from home then, websites like Burpee’s known quality seeds plus live plant source materials are necessary to get things going smoothly whatever preference suits best come harvest time!.
The Growers Exchange specializes in particular niches offering excellent selections handy nearby town. Amazon boasts an impressive variety making finding particular items simple…with these options available, it soon becomes possible to build lush flourishing indoor herb gardens worth showing off!.
Remember, you’ll need patience adding experimenting when starting your indoor herb oasis!. Don’t be sad if things go wrong now again, even pros mess up regularly!
So… Ready to dive head first into creating an amazing indoor herb garden? Once fresh-grown spices start playing a part in meal prep, the dried ones will seem boring.
