This how-to grow herbs indoors advice will ensure you get the best from your herbs for the longest harvesting period you can and help to keep your herbs looking fresh and thriving indoors. Growing herbs inside is both great if you have little or no space outside but also if you want to be able to harvest herbs as and when you are cooking without heading out into the garden every time, having some growing on the kitchen windowsill can be very convenient. 

Which herbs to grow indoors

We would always recommend that you choose the herbs you are most likely to use first. If you love chives on a salad start growing chives, or if you love to top your pizza with basil, start growing it so you can use it as much as you like. Then consider which will grow inside. There are very many herbs available that will grow indoors, however, there are a few that may not grow so well but it is still possible. They include sage, rosemary and thyme. Those that will grow really well inside are:

• parsley,
• coriander,
• mint,
• oregano,
• chervil.

Just give any herb a try and see how it grows. 

Care tips for growing herbs indoors

The key to growing herbs indoors is to know what each herb prefers in order to thrive. Most will do well on a sunny kitchen windowsill and some will need more water than others. Basil for example only needs to be watered when the soil is dry and the leaves have slightly started to wilt - that's the sign it's time. Others such as rosemary will need less water. All, however, will need well-drained soil and good air circulation. Don’t forget to use the herbs. Harvesting them will help new growth and more herbs to harvest. 

Use your own grown herbs

One of the best things about growing herbs is to benefit from all of the nutrition and flavour they give. From rosemary on a roast dinner to coriander on a curry, oregano in a bolognese and mint made into a cup of herbal tea. The options are endless and you can just snip some off each time you need to.

How to propagate herbs

Herbs are generally very easy to propagate. Rosemary can be propagated by cuttings and basil and mint can be propagated by simply snipping some stems and popping them in water. It’s great to see the roots growing and when they are strong enough plant them up for more herb plants. Others such as coriander or even chamomile can be allowed to go to seed and you can collect the seeds to sow all over again. 

We have a large range of herbs at Little Groves in Beaminster, who specialise in growing herbs, and at Groves in Bridport. Our friendly plants-team will be happy to advise you.