How to Start an Indoor Herb Garden
Start An Indoor Herb Garden and enjoy the benefits, no matter your living space—whether it’s a spacious home or a cozy apartment. Growing herbs indoors means you’ll always have fresh flavors at your fingertips, while also reaping the environmental perks of having greenery inside. It’s a simple, rewarding way to bring nature into your home.
This article will expand on the benefits of growing your own herbs, reveal the best way to start an indoor herb garden and to dry your herbs plus some common herbs you can grow.
Contents
Why You Should Start an Indoor Herb Garden
Herbs are beneficial not only for making your food taste good but also for medicinal purposes. The dried herbs sold at the store are good for food but to get the best taste possible, fresh is always better. You can avoid paying the high costs of buying fresh by starting your own herb garden.
Whether for medicinal or culinary purposes, herbs have been used for centuries, even before recorded history. Many ethnic and regional cuisines still use a variety of fresh herbs and spices for a healthy dose of preventative medicine with each delicious bite.
Herbs are also quite healthy. Many people use herbs as an alternative medicinal source, especially in light of the high cost of prescription medications. Herbal remedies are thought of as alternative medicine today but just about all medicines can be traced back to plants, seeds, spices, flowers, herbs and roots.
Purchasing common and unique herbs can cost you quite a bit. Besides the cost, already cut herbs, even fresh, will only keep for about seven days, some even less. Unless you plan on using all you buy right away, there will be some waste.
Avoid the waste and the cost by growing your own herb garden. This can be done outside in a planting box or indoors by a window. You can create a balcony herb garden or use stands on a porch or patio.
An indoor herb garden can be cultivated all year round. Inside the home, your plants are at less risk for pests, worms and damage due to weather.
How to Start Your Indoor Herb Garden
Whether you are trying to expand your culinary palette or create a more natural medicine cabinet, here are some tips for starting your own indoor herb garden.
Many plants grow well indoors. As long as you have ample sunlight on at least one side of your home. With a tiny bit of space, it can be done – even if you don’t have a green thumb.
Step 1 Choose Your Herbs
Decide what herbs you want to grow. Some are best placed in their own pots to avoid mixing the smells or tastes. For instance, chives have an onion
Step 2 – Choose your pots
Use containers that are large enough to accommodate roots of growing plants with holes in the bottom and a pan underneath it for drainage.
Step 3 – Add the soil
Most herbs come in small containers so you will need to re-pot them unless you’re buying seeds and starting from
Step 4 – Add the herb plant
Carefully remove your plant from the original container, gently shaking off excess dirt from the root ball. Cover the root ball with more soil.
If using seeds, place you seeds in your pot about an inch down from the surface.
Step 5 – Water your herb
Add water until the soil is damp but not too wet. Plant herbs with similar water requirements together in the same pot if you like.
Step 6 – Add light
Place plants in a window that gets a lot of sunlight, at least eight hours. Place shorter plants in front so all get enough sun. If sunlight is a difficulty in your space, add these very effective grow lights to help your herbs thrive.
In as little as four to six weeks, you can begin to harvest your herbs for medicinal and/or cooking needs.
Related: How to Start Small Space Container Gardens
How to Dry Fresh Herbs
One way to preserve the herbs that you have so painstakingly grown is to dry them. There is more than one technique for
Herbs are a way to add extra zest to foods without adding fat. If you’ve ever had cuisine with fresh herbs then you know the difference it makes. The next best thing is dried herbs.
Drying Fresh Herb Best Practices
Here are a few tips that always need to be observed when you’re planning on drying herbs.
Harvest herbs at their peak – Do you know when herbs are at their best tasting and most potent as far as oil is concerned? It occurs when they are getting ready to bloom. You will notice several buds but none will be open yet. Wait until after the morning dew has dried before cutting your leaves.
Carefully choose your leaves – Look for healthy branches that are free of disease, damage or yellowing. Also
Wash your leaves – Remove any dirt and soil from the leaves. Use cool water and then dry with a paper towel, being careful not to rip or tear the leaves. Wet herbs will
Methods for Drying Herbs
Bunching – This involves hanging your herbs. Remove all leaves from the bottom of about four to eight stems. Bind them together gently with a rubber band or a piece of string. Place them in a paper bag with the stems protruding out. Tie the bag closed around the stems and hang in a warm, dry area. Poke holes in the bottom of the bag for air circulation.
Tray drying – This is done for the leaves. Remove the stems and the stalks from leaves. Place the leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet or a drying tray. Large leaves can be cut into smaller pieces. Place in a warm area that is dark until drying is complete.
Drying in an oven – You don’t actually turn the oven on when you do this. Gas ovens seem to work more efficiently with this method. Using a baking sheet again, place leaves in a single layer so they are not touching. Separate more than one layer with a paper towel. Dry overnight.
Solar drying – This is not a very efficient method but may work for people who live in a very warm area. Place your leaves on a drying tray or an old window pane in the sun. In order for this to work, the temperature needs to be constant with low humidity (below 100 degrees F and 60% humidity). Avoid direct sunlight because leaves will fade.
Store your dried herbs in a dry, dark place in airtight jars for up to one year. Drying fresh herbs can keep your food full of flavor all year round.
A List of Common Herbs and Their Uses
Not sure what herbs to start with? Here’s a list of some common herbs and their uses.
Let’s start with culinary herbs.
These herbs are perfect for complementing a lifestyle of clean organic eating. You can also use these herbs to spice up your ketogenic diet meals.
Best Herbs To Grow For You Indoor Herb Garden
- Basil – Most often used is sweet basil. Use it to season meats and vegetables. It has a flavor similar to cloves.
- Anise – The seeds are used for salads and baked goods. The leaves can also be used for meat and salads. Tastes like licorice.
- Chives – Have an onion flavor. Used in salads and on vegetables.
- Dill – Known for use in making pickles, but also popular for dressings. Use leaves in salads and as seasonings on fish, meat and vegetables.
- Oregano – Used in Italian and Mediterranean cooking. Common on pizza, in soups, sauces and on vegetable dishes.
- Mint – Used as a flavoring for mint sauce. Use the leaves in teas as a soother.
- Parsley – Mostly used as decoration on dinner plates. It can make a seasoning for soup and salad.
- Thyme – Found in the mix of herbs used in Italian cuisine.
- Sage – This herb is used the most around Thanksgiving and Christmas. It flavors poultry as well as stuffing and dressing.
- Savory – Found in dishes that contain egg, soups, sauces and green beans.
- Rosemary – Great for seasoning lamb and poultry.
- Marjoram – It is found in the Italian mix of seasonings. Use it to flavor meats.
- Coriander – The seeds are used in stuffing and curries. It tastes like orange leaves. The leaves are used in Asian and Mexican cuisine.
- Chervil – Can be used as a garnish. Often mixed with salad greens and in soups or omelettes.
- Fennel – Used to season fish and sometimes found in sauces. You can use the leaves, seeds and stems.
- Tarragon – This is a French herb. It is an ingredient in tartar sauce, chicken dishes, some seafood and it can flavor vinegars.
- Sorrel – An acidic-tasting herb that is used in soups and sauces.
- Cilantro – Used primarily in Mexican cuisine for salsa, rice and meats.
How many of these herbs do you have in your kitchen? Use fresh and dried for your cooking purposes.
Medicinal Herbs and Their Uses
Now for a look at some herbs used to cure or aid common ailments. You’ll notice some culinary herbs doing double duty.
Herbs thought to have Medicinal Uses
- Peppermint – It is great for candy but has several medicinal purposes as well. Peppermint Leaves can be steeped in tea as a muscle relaxant, antispasmodic and antacid. Use leaves on the chest as an expectorant.
- Calendula: – Is used in creams, ointments, and washes to treat wounds, bruises, and minor infections.
- Yarrow: – The herbaceous, fruity aroma may promote feelings of relaxation and calm.
- Lavender – The purple flowers smell great. Used in essential oils to relieve headaches and stress. Lavender is one of the few essential oils,
- Chamomile – Steep the leaves in a tea as a sedative to help you sleep better. Also used as an anti-inflammatory.
- Ginkgo biloba – We’ve all heard of this one for improving memory. Used as a supplement to help fight the effects of free radicals in the body.
- Echinacea – Known as the “immune booster,” it is used to help fight off the effects of a cold or sore throat.
- Ginseng – Used to boost the immune system.
- Ginger – Eating fresh ginger root can help fight upset stomach and digestive problems. Use also in tea with a bit of honey.
- Tea tree oil – Used as an expectorant and an anti-inflammatory.
- Rosemary – Improves memory and blood circulation.
When using herbs for medicinal purposes make sure to check proper dosages used by herbalists for best results. Also, check with your doctor for any interactions with prescription meds.
Why Starting Your Own Indoor Herb Garden is Such Fun!
Starting your own indoor herb garden is such a fun and simple way to bring a touch of nature indoors and elevate your cooking game. Imagine the convenience of snipping fresh parsley or basil right from your kitchen counter while you’re making dinner—it’s such a game changer!
Plus, there’s something so satisfying about growing your own ingredients, even if you don’t have a big backyard. Whether it’s a sunny windowsill or a dedicated corner on your kitchen counter, these little herbs can thrive and bring life to your space.
So, why not give it a try? Pick a few of your favorite herbs, grab some cute pots, and watch your mini garden flourish. It’s a great project for the whole family and perfect for teaching kids about plants and how they grow.
With just a little care, your indoor herb garden will become a source of fresh flavors, lovely scents, and a whole lot of pride. You might even find yourself wondering why you didn’t start one sooner!
