Whether you’re looking to grow herbs indoors due to a lack of yard space or for the benefit of fresh herbs year-round, indoor herb gardening can be a rewarding experience. Many varieties can be grown indoors, but here are 10 (plus some tips and tricks) that have the best track record for growing inside. Before you begin, note that many herbs are annuals, meaning they will naturally go through a life cycle rather than continuously produce new growth.

Here at Ashcombe, we offer homegrown herb year-round, helping you restart your herb gardens or add new growth. Find them in our greenhouse!

10 Best Bets for Indoor Herb Success

BASIL (Ocimum Basilicum)

Basil is a staple for many indoor herb gardeners as it can be used for a variety of dishes, especially Italian. Grow basil in a large, deep pot. Basil is particularly susceptible to fungal diseases, so make sure you allow good air circulation and don’t crowd it. As soon as it reaches 6 inches tall, pinch it often so that it does not flower. Once it flowers, it will start to die. Note: this plant doesn’t typically do well in a mixed planter. Let it have it’s own pot (terracotta is great!) and give it unique care. Common killers include pests, soil that is too wet or too dry, or not pruning or picking leaves. Pinching it back encourages new, bushier growth. Mature height: 18-24 inches tall and wide. Light: 6-8 hours of bright light per day. Soil: Keep soil evenly moist. Requires good drainage and high-quality soil.

CHIVES (Allium schoenoprasum)

Chives are perfect homemade soups or salads with their light onion flavor. Be sure to use them liberally in dishes as this plant will benefit from a regular trim. Planting in a terracotta or clay pot is recommended to help aeration and prevent root rot. To harvest, cut about 2 inches above the base, and wait to cut new growth until it is at least 6 inches tall. Leaves may become bitter once it flowers, so prune flowers as they come up. Chives are best fresh, but may also be frozen. Mature height: 10-15 inches tall and wide. Light: Prefers 6-8 hours of bright light, but can survive with less in winter. Soil: Provide good drainage. Average water needs.

CILANTRO/CORIANDER (Coriandrum sativum)

While cilantro doesn’t last long indoors or outdoors, one of the great benefits is its edible seeds – coriander! If you don’t have the gene that makes cilantro taste like soap, it’s great for salsa, sauces, pesto, and dips, and its life can be extended by pinching it back regularly to avoid bolting or flowering. Flowers do produce seeds known as coriander, used in a wide variety of cultural cuisines. Plant in a plastic pot to retain moisture. Mature height: 1-2 feet tall, 1-1.5 feet wide (in ground). Light: 6-8 hours of bright light. Soil: Provide good drainage. Keep soil evenly moist.

MARJORAM (Origanum majorana)

Similar to oregano, marjoram is a bit sweeter with a floral flavor, perfect for soups, stews, and meat dishes. It is a delicious herb, fresh or dried. Be sure to pinch back prior to blooming. Marjoram doesn’t require much humidity, but require adequate light. Mature height: 1-2 feet tall and wide (in ground). Light: 6-8 hours of bright light, year-round. Soil: Provide good drainage. Keep soil evenly moist.

OREGANO (Origanum vulgare hirtum)

Oregano is another great herb for Italian dishes, as well as Mediterranean or Mexican. This herb does well indoors and can even be grown in containers with other herbs such as bay, marjoram, sage, and thyme, which have similar light, soil, and watering needs. Oregano does not do very well with drastic changes in temperature or the cold in general, so be sure to keep it in a warm
and sunny spot. Oregano is not fussy about humidity. Mature height: 2 feet tall, 18 inches wide (in ground). Light: 6-8 hours of bright light, more light than it would have outside, especially in winter. Soil: Provide good drainage. Average to low water. Drought-tolerant.

PARSLEY (Petroselinum crispum)

There are two types of parsley: curled (more ornamental) and flat-leaf (more flavorful). Choose your type based on your goals for the plant. Care for parsley is similar to other herbs, but you may need to mist it from time to time to boost humidity. If leaves look dry and brittle, increase humidity by planting plant over a tray of moist pebbles. Does well in a mixed container with chives, thyme, basil, or oregano, but make sure to not overcrowd plants for air circulation. Mature height: 9-12 inches tall and wide (in ground). Light: 6-8 hours of bright light, but can survive with less in winter. Soil: Provide good drainage. Keep soil evenly moist.

ROSEMARY (Rosemarinus officinalis)

Rosemary is a great addition to dips and drinks. As it grows, it can become rather large and woody, so pot it in a larger pot. Rosemary can be a bit fussy when it comes to growing indoors, like basil, especially in terms of humidity. To keep rosemary happy, place pot over or next to a tray of moist pebbles. Mature height: 2-6 feet tall, 2-4 feet wide (in ground). Light: 6-8 hours of bright light per day, year-round. Soil: Requires good drainage and high-quality soil. Err of the side of underwatering, and mist every 10 days or so.

SAGE (Salvia officinalis)

Sage is a great herb for meaty meals, especially with poultry. Special varieties such as pineapple sage can be in fruit salads or teas. When using fresh herbs, use 2-3x more than you would with dried. Harvesting also encourages more growth. Mature height: 2-2.5 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide (in ground). Light: 6-8 hours of bright light is critical. Soil: Provide good drainage. Average to low water; take care to not overwater.

SPEARMINT (Mentha spicata)

Mint is perhaps one of the easier herbs to grow indoors, but should be grown in its own container as it tends to be invasive. Though other mints can also be grown indoors, spearmint is especially great for drinks, teas, and jellies. Harvest regularly for bushier growth. Mature height: 18-36 inches tall, with narrower spread. Light: 6-8 hours of bright light, but can survive with less in winter. Soil: Provide good drainage. Keep soil evenly moist.

THYME (Thymus vulgaris)

Thyme is a great addition to your indoor garden as its flavors compliment meat well and is great fresh or dried. Unlike rosemary, thyme does not like high humidity. Thyme is drought-tolerant, so take care to not overwater it. A smaller pot is best for thyme as it doesn’t require as much space to grow. Mature height: 6-12 inches tall and wide. Light: 6-8 hours of bright light is critical. Soil: Provide good drainage. Water when soil is completely dry. Do not overwater.

Harvesting and Storing Herbs

For all of the above herbs, harvest them regularly to encourage new growth (and pinch back any signs of flowering!). Never harvest more than 1/3 of your plant. Aim to evenly harvest the top 1/3 of the plant, then let it grow some more before your next harvest. Beyond those basics, each herb may have a different preference for how you harvest it and the store it. Check out this resource for more information on the best methods to cleaning and storing fresh herbs.