From fresh basil to fresh mint from the farmers’ market, herbs add flavor and freshness to so many recipes. However, buying those little plastic packages or potted plants at your grocery store, especially when you just need a sprig here and there, can be expensive and result in lots of wilting, leftover herbs. To prevent your herbs from dying right before your eyes, we’ll walk you through our top tips—green thumb not required.
What Kind Of Light Do Indoor Herbs Need?
Herbs need bright light, and the more you can provide, the better they’ll grow. Growing herbs outdoors is generally easy, since they love to bask in full sun, which is considered 6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day.
Taking care of indoor herb plants can be a bigger challenge since they need the right amount of light to thrive. That means you’ll need to grow them on a sunny east, west or south-facing window sill. North-facing windows don’t provide enough light, especially in winter in cold climates.
So what happens if you don’t place your herbs in the right type of light? Herbs that don’t get sufficient light become spindly and produce fewer volatile oils, which is what gives them their aroma and flavor. If you don’t have good natural light, use an inexpensive LED grow light for a minimum of 12 hours per day.
Should I Repot Grocery Store Herbs?
Those plastic 4-inch pots don’t provide much room for root growth, and they dry out fast; they’re also not very attractive. So, size up to a pretty 6-inch pot to give your plants room to grow.
Fill the new pot with an all-purpose potting soil, ease the herb out of its old container, and plant it at the same level in the new pot. Backfill with soil and tamp down the soil surface. Make sure the container has a hole in the bottom for drainage with a saucer beneath to catch overflow.
How To Harvest Indoor Herbs
The great thing about growing herbs indoors is that the more you pinch, the more they’ll produce. If your plant develops flower buds, pinch them off to encourage more leaf production and branching. Don’t be shy about snipping off pieces, but harvest only what you need. Be sure to take cuttings evenly around the plant so that it stays full and healthy. Pro tip: use a pair of garden snips or shears are so you don’t accidentally tear the plant out of the soil by hand.
Ahead, we’re sharing tips for caring for different varieties of popular herbs.
Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)
From pasta dinners to salads, basil has a number of culinary applications in the kitchen. Care for it properly and you’ll be rewarded with delicious dishes.
Light: Give basil as much light as possible, preferably in a south, east, or west-facing window. But because basil doesn’t like temperatures below 50 degrees, don’t let it sit near a drafty window in winter. Alternatively, you can use a grow light for 12+ hours per day year-round.
Water: Basil should be kept in slightly moist soil. Test the soil by poking it with your finger. If soil sticks, it’s probably wet enough; wait another day or two before giving it another drink. If you overwater, basil is vulnerable to fungal diseases and root rot.
Best uses: Basil is a must-have for creating a classic Caprese salad or homemade pesto.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officianalis)
When grown indoors, rosemary is prone to drying out quickly, so use a humidifier or group it with other plants to boost its humidity levels. Contrary to popular belief, misting plants doesn’t raise humidity levels.
Light: Rosemary needs as much light as possible, so place it in a south, west, or east-facing window, or use a grow light for at a minimum of 12 hours per day.
Water: Let rosemary dry out slightly—but not completely—in between waterings.
Best uses: Think beyond of roasted potatoes and seared steak. Use rosemary in our jalapeño cornbread or in this grapefruit-rosemary mocktail spritz.
Oregano (Origanum Vulgare)
Oregano is one of the least fussy herbs you can grow indoors. That said, it tends to have a slightly trailing habit, so make sure to pot it so that it has room to spread.
Light: Give oregano 6 or more hours of direct light on a sunny windowsill, or use a grow light for 12 hours+ per day.
Water: This herb is more tolerant of dry conditions, so allow oregano to dry out slightly in between waterings. When the soil surface feels dry, add a slow, steady stream of water until it begins to run out the bottom of the pot.
Best uses: Add fresh oregano to pizza sauce or take your carnitas to the next level.
Parsley (Petroselinum Spp.)
There are two common types of parsley: Curly parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and Italian or flat-leaf parsley (Petroselinum neapolitanum), the latter of which has a stronger, sweeter flavor. That said, the care is the same.
Light: Like all other herbs on our list, parsley needs bright light in a sunny window. Or use a grow light for 12 or more hours per day.
Water: Water this plant when the top inch of soil feels dry. Although parsley likes to stay damp, it does not tolerate soggy soils.
Best uses: Try fresh parsley on our best garlic bread or jazz up grilled meats with chimichurri sauce (which also calls for oregano).
Have even more herbs you’d like to know the care for? Let us know what you’re growing in the comments below.
