Growing herbs in pots: a windowsill herb garden

Fresh basil, mint or rosemary within reach is both tasty and pretty. Many herbs are easy to grow on a windowsill or balcony even without a garden. Here is which herbs to choose for the home, what conditions they need and how to water and harvest them so the plants stay bushy.

Potted plants for the home are in our potted plants section.

View full-size photo

Which herbs to grow indoors

View full-size photo

Conditions

• Light — at least 4–6 hours of sun a day; in winter herbs stretch without a grow light.
• Pot — always with a drainage hole; plant mint on its own, as it spreads fast.
• Soil — light and free-draining; add sand or perlite for rosemary and thyme.
• Temperature — most herbs are happy at 18–24 °C; basil hates cold and draughts.

View full-size photo

Watering

• Mediterranean herbs — rosemary, thyme, oregano — like the soil to dry out between waterings. More on rosemary in "Rosemary in a pot".
• Basil, parsley and mint prefer evenly moist soil without waterlogging.

View full-size photo

Getting started: seeds or ready-grown plants

• From seed — cheap and fun: basil, dill, parsley and coriander germinate in 1–3 weeks.
• From the supermarket — potted herbs are usually far too crowded. Split the clump into 3–4 parts and repot them so the plants last longer.
• From cuttings — mint, basil and rosemary root easily in water.

View full-size photo

How to harvest

Cut the tips of the shoots rather than picking individual lower leaves, so the plant branches out. Remove flower stalks from basil and mint — after flowering the leaves turn tough and lose their aroma. Never cut more than a third of the plant at once.

View full-size photo

For spices obtained from plants, see "Spices and herbs".

FAQ

Which herbs are easiest to grow on a windowsill?

Chives, parsley, mint and basil.

Why is my potted basil wilting?

Usually because of cold, draughts, too little light or overcrowding.

Do herbs need extra light in winter?

Yes, in short days herbs stretch and lose their aroma without a grow light.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

About the author →