Best Herbs to Grow Indoors in Pots

Thyme is one of the easiest and best herbs to grow in a pot and it’s a great herb to use for a little bit of a savory flavor to your slow-cooked dishes.

You should use well-drained soil to plant your thyme in, and also it should be around 6.0 to 8.0 pH levels to get the best results.

You can fertilize it with organic matter in the early spring if you want to, but it isn’t necessary.

Of course, sunlight is mandatory and if you don’t have a garden, then keep it near a window because thyme requires a warm and sunny environment.

As far as watering is concerned, you should only water it when the soil is completely dry.

Similar to thyme, rosemary is also a popular herb used in slow-cooked dishes and even roasts and also they go well together, no wonder that the British television series Rosemary and Thyme was so popular.

Anyways, similar to thyme, rosemary needs well-drained soil with a pH level of about 6.0 or 7.0 but surprisingly rosemary has been known to grow even in poor soil so fertilization is just personal preference.

Rosemary needs at least 6 – 8 hours of sunlight a day so if you are growing it indoors, be sure that its sunlight needs are met by supplementing natural sunlight with artificial lighting.

You should water rosemary only when it’s completely dry and also you should keep the soil damp and not too moist otherwise the plant won’t perform as well.

Side note: because rosemary deters bean parasites, it’s not a bad idea to plant it next to your beans if you have a garden.

Parsley is a really common herb used in all sorts of dishes such as soups, omelets, and even grilled steak so there’s no surprise why people often grow it in their garden instead of buying it in the shop.

It is a biennial herb meaning that it only comes back after two gardening seasons meaning that in the first year it produces leaves and the second year it goes to seeds.

Unlike the previous herbs we’ve mentioned, parsley should be planted in moist, well-turned soil and you should use rich compost early in the growing season to get the best results possible.

Surprisingly, parsley doesn’t need much sunlight to grow and it’s ideal for indoor growing because it does well in both sunny and part-sun environments.

As far as watering is concerned, it’s best to keep the soil moist but parsley is also very drought-tolerant and adaptable.

Cilantro is always mixed-up with parsley and it isn’t a surprise as both herbs look so similar but are two completely different plants.

The whole herb is edible and its leaves, stems, flowers, roots and even seeds are used in Asian, Mexican and Indian cuisine.

You should use well-drained soil that has a pH between 6.5 and 7.0 and you can use natural fertilizer for fertilization.

Because cilantro tends to bolt in high temperatures it’s not a bad idea to grow it indoors as long as it has enough sunlight.

Also, you should keep the soil moist and water it frequently for the best results.

If you have no gardening experience whatsoever, then you should start with chives as they are the easiest and one of the best herbs to grow in pots.

Chives go well all sorts of soups, they are pretty much essential for a potato salad and they also go well with omelets.

Also, the entire plant is edible so I’m sure that some of you vegans out there will figure out how to make delicious dishes out of whole chives.

There are three general rules of thumb when growing chives:

1. You need well-drained soil and you should use just a little bit of organic fertilizer throughout the season.
2. Chives only need about 6 hours of sunlight so they are ideal for growing indoors near a window.
3. You need to water the soil frequently and have proper soil drainage.

Other than that, you’re pretty much set.

Mint has all kinds of uses from making tea, cocktails to even making peppermint oil which has various medical benefits and that’s why so many people prefer growing it themselves.

It is perennial and grows all year-round and can thrive in both warm and cold climates and should be planted in the spring, but it can also be planted in summer as long as you provide ample water.

You should use moist and rich soil with pH levels between 6.0 and 7.0 for best results and you can even cover the soil with mulch to keep it moist.

Mint doesn’t need that much sun, only about 5-6 hours of sunlight a day, but be sure to place it near a window if you are growing it indoors.

The only maintenance which mint requires is regular watering because it thrives in moist soil so you should keep the soil damp at all times, especially in the summertime.

Similar to mint, sage is grown for all kinds of purposes and is a great herb to have in your garden or indoors because it’s one of the few herbs that as its leaves grow larger the flavor is more intense so putting just a pinch of it will surely spice up your dish.

When it comes to planting sage, you should use well-drained, sandy and loamy soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. Also, you shouldn’t use too much fertilizer as the flavor might turn out less intense.

Sage needs lots of suns so be sure to place it near a window if you are planning to grow it indoors.

Sage is very drought-resistant and even if the leaves seem like they are wilted, just a little bit of water can spring the whole herb back to life, so you should wait for the soil to be completely dry and then water it thoroughly.

Last but not least we have lemon balm. It is commonly used in aromatherapy for reducing anxiety and stress but also for increasing appetite and reducing pain as well as in various dishes such as fruit salads and roasted chicken.

Because it’s a cousin of the mint herb, their requirements are similar, although lemon balm is more susceptible to bolting and drying out so you should keep it away from high temperatures.

You should plant it in moist and rich soil with pH levels between 6.0 and 7.0 and you can use some natural fertilizer to speed up the growing process.

The sun can be lemon balm’s best friend and also the worst enemy so you should keep it indoors near a window to prevent bolting.

Watering the lemon balm also requires some caution because you don’t want to drown it but you also want to keep the soil moist so you should implement proper water drainage to avoid any problems.