Top 10 Herbs To Grow Indoors

If you have a log splitter, you might consider growing your own cooking herbs indoors. Logs make excellent pots because they provide a consistent source of vitamins and minerals needed for growth. More often than not, a log-pot will not need as much fertilizer as plants grown in the traditional ceramic or clay pot.

Using logs as herb pots is not that difficult with a log splitter and some carving knife. You can easily create a hole in the log, fill it with soil and plant your herbs. Of course, if this becomes too much – you can always choose to plant them in a more convenient place.

What is really important here is the herb. More specifically – what herbs should you plant?

10 Herbs To Grow Indoors

Here are the top 10 herbs to grow indoors that will thrive with little supervision.

1. Rosemary

Adorned with the most amazing smell, rosemary makes your kitchen fresh-smelling all the time thanks to its natural aroma. It is a wonderful herb that can be added to many dishes. It grows perpetually so you will never have to replant it.

This herb can be grown from a cutting started from a soil-less mix until roots sprout out. It is often used for meat, poultry, and fish.

2. Thyme

Thyme should be placed near a west-facing window as it requires ample sunlight. It can be tough to grow, so you would want to grab an already rooted plant and place it in a pot.

While thyme can also be grown from a stalk, it may take a very long time. It is often used along with rosemary in seasoning meat.

3. Oregano

Incredibly easy to grow, you can plant either the seeds or taking a healthy cutting of the plant. To keep it fresh and healthy, harvest it routinely.

Unfortunately, oregano needs to be replaced every two years as the plant becomes woody over time.

It provides a minty taste and can be used to season lamb meat or sprkinle on top of a pizza.

4. Chives

Chives look a lot like grass. It make for an excellent replacement for onion as it has a similar flavor. This herb grows well in cool weather, so chose a space indoors that is away from direct sunlight.

Chives should be harvested down to soil level to encourage growth.

They are best used for garnishing. Avoid overcooking this delicate herb.

5. Parsley

Parsley is easy to grow but has a short lifespan. To prolong the productive life of the plant, its best to harvest the outer leaves every now and then. It is a biennial herb that grows best under direct sunlight. You can start it from seed or you can use a tip to start a rooted plant.

Use it to garnish cooked fish, meat, and/or pasta to add a touch of freshness.

6. Lemongrass

Remarkably easy to grow, lemongrass requires direct sunlight. It is best grown from a root. Hence, you would want to find an actual plant and place it in a pot. When harvesting, make sure to cut from the root so that there will always be something fresh on hand.

As the name implies, it is a grassy-type of herb so you will want to constantly cut on the top to ensure it does not grow too high. It sprouts quickly so try to separate the new stalks to avoid overcrowding in the pot.

Add to rice or tea for that distinct flavor.

7. Sage

Plant an indoor sage from a cutting taken from a fully grown and healthy plant. It is easy to grow this herb, however, ensure it gets ample sunlight. There is a dwarf version of this plant which only grows as high as 10 inches so that it would be easier to control.

You will have to harvest it often to keep it within the pot.

Fortunately, sage is a favorite ingredient in many recipes including pork, beef, and duck. It is ideal for soup meals and can be dunked into a hot broth to add flavor. Use sparingly as it can be quite strong to taste.

8. Mint

Mint is best planted alone in a pot since it tends to overtake all the other herbs. It grows quickly so harvest often.

You have the choice between peppermint and spearmint – both provide an amazing flavor when added to a dishe. Mint can also be used to make Mint tea – perfect for those suffering from a cold/cough. While cooking, it is best added as a garnish.

During summer months, it is used to make refreshing beverages as it has a cooling effect.

9. Bay

This herb grows slowly. Cultivate it early to get a decent batch. Bay looks like a small tree but may be managed by growing it in a pot. When buying bay, you will have to get something that is at least 1 foot tall – which means that it is not something you can place on the windowsill.

However, you can try grabbing a log and putting it in a corner of the room where it can still be accessible without crowding all the other herbs. The plant is often used for its floral garnishing with food – often an excellent item to add with oregano or thyme.

10. Basil

No indoor herb garden is complete without basil. It is practically a staple in every chef’s kitchen since basil is wonderfully flexible ingredient to work with.

It is best to start it from the seed or if you get a grown plant, make sure it get lots of sunlight. It works well with pasta or soup. It is also the main ingredient in pesto and can also be added in sandwiches.

Note: Bear in mind that these herbs have varying preferences when it comes to sun, soil, and water. You will have to put them in strategic spots in the kitchen or utilize a vertical garden if you do not have sufficient space.

You can also give them away to friends if you have more than you can use per harvest!