Indoor Herb Garden for Beginners: 5 Easy Herbs to Grow

Having fresh herbs within reach transforms everyday cooking. And you don't need a garden to make it happen: with a little light, the right container and a few simple habits, an indoor herb garden can keep producing all year round. Here's how to set one up, step by step, plus the five easiest herbs to start with.

Step 1: find the right spot

Herbs love light. The ideal spot is a south- or west-facing windowsill that gets at least 5 to 6 hours of light a day. If your kitchen is dark, or during winter, a grow light can take over: aim for 12 to 14 hours of light a day.

Keep your herbs away from radiators, which dry out both soil and leaves, and from cold draughts near a window that's often open.

Step 2: soil or hydroponics?

You have two options:

• Growing in pots, the classic, budget-friendly route. Choose pots at least 12 cm across with drainage holes, filled with a light, free-draining compost. A self-watering planter makes life much easier for thirsty herbs like mint.
• A hydroponic indoor herb garden, with no soil at all. The roots sit in nutrient-rich water and the built-in light takes care of the rest. Our LED indoor herb garden holds six pods and handles the lighting automatically, which makes it the easiest way to get started.

Step 3: sow seeds or buy plants?

Buying young plants from a garden centre gets you harvesting sooner. Sowing takes a few weeks of patience, but it's cheaper and far more rewarding. For your seeds, a seed starter tray with a humidity dome holds in the warmth and moisture they need to germinate. Open the vent, then gradually remove the dome once the first true leaves appear.

The 5 easiest herbs to grow indoors

1. Basil

The star of any indoor herb garden. Basil loves warmth (above 18 °C), plenty of light and soil that's moist but never soggy. Regularly pinch out the tips just above a pair of leaves and it will branch out and grow bushier.

2. Mint

Incredibly vigorous, mint practically grows itself, as long as it never runs short of water. Give it a pot of its own, as its roots quickly take over. It's happy with moderate light.

3. Chives

Tough and undemanding, chives grow back after every cut. Snip the stems 2 cm above the soil rather than pulling them out one by one.

4. Parsley

Slow to germinate (allow two to three weeks), parsley becomes very productive once it gets going. It prefers bright light without scorching sun, and soil that stays slightly moist.

5. Coriander (cilantro)

Coriander tends to bolt quickly in warm weather. Sow a little every three to four weeks for a steady supply, and keep it somewhere bright but cool.

Step 4: water and feed, but don't overdo it

• Water when the top centimetre of soil feels dry to the touch.
• Empty any water left standing in saucers after 15 minutes.
• In a hydroponic garden, top up the water as soon as the level drops and add liquid nutrients at the dose shown on the bottle.
• In pots, a liquid herb feed every three to four weeks in spring and summer is plenty.

Step 5: harvest at the right time

Start harvesting once a plant reaches 15 to 20 cm, cutting no more than a third of the leaves at a time: regular picking encourages new growth. Use clean scissors so you don't crush the stems. When a plant outgrows its pot, move it into a bigger one: the repotting trowel in our compact gardening tool kit lets you do it neatly, even over the kitchen sink.

The bottom line

Start small: two or three herbs, a bright spot or a grow light, and regular watering. After a few weeks, you'll know which ones you reach for most in the kitchen, and you can expand your indoor herb garden with confidence.