If you love to cook, there’s nothing quite like being able to walk into your kitchen and snip some fresh herbs to add to your meal. If you don’t have a lot of space outdoors, or if you simply want to have your herbs close at hand, indoor herb gardens are the way to go. Luckily, indoor herb gardens are easy to set up and care for— all you need is a little bit of time, some basic supplies, and a bit of know-how. Keep reading for everything you need to know about how to plant an indoor kitchen herb garden.
Choose a Location
The first step in setting up your indoor herb garden is choosing the right location. Look for a spot in your kitchen that gets plenty of bright light—herbs need at least six hours of sunlight each day in order to thrive. If you don’t have a spot in your kitchen that gets that much sun, you can supplement with grow lights.
Choose and Prepare Pots
Now it’s time to choose your pots. Just about any type of pot will do, as long as it has drainage holes in the bottom. Terra cotta pots are classic choices for indoor plants, but if you’re looking for something a little different, try enlisting some colorful planters or repurposing some mason jars. Once you’ve chosen your pots, fill them with potting soil until they’re three-quarters full. Gently compress the soil with your fingers and water each pot until damp.
Plant the Herbs
Now comes the fun part: it’s time to start planting! When selecting seedlings from your local nursery or garden center, look for plants that are marked “dwarf” or “compact.” These varieties are best suited for growing indoors. Once you’ve chosen your seedlings, carefully remove them from their plastic pots and loosen the roots before planting them in your larger pots. Gently backfill the soil around each plant and give them a good watering. That’s it—your indoor herb garden is now officially planted!
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Garden trowel
- Scissors
- Plant grow lights (as needed)
Materials
- Potting soil
- Planting pots
- Pot trays
- Herb seedlings (as desired)
Tend Your Garden
To keep your herbs happy and healthy, they’ll need some regular TLC. Water them whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch; most indoor plants will need watering every three days or so. Be sure not to overwater them, though—soggy soil can lead to root rot. Every week or two, give your plants a light fertilizer application following the package directions. Lastly, trim your herbs regularly to encourage new growth—just be sure not to take more than one-third of the plant at a time.
Move Your Herb Garden Outdoors
Once spring arrives and there is no longer any risk of frost, you can move your herb garden outdoors if desired. Just acclimate them gradually by placing them in a shady spot for a week or two before moving them into full sun.
Conclusion
There’s nothing quite like being able to walk into your own kitchen and snip some freshly grown herbs to add flavor to your meal. And what could be more convenient than having them right at hand? Indoor herb gardens are easy to set up and care for— all you need is a little bit of time, some basic supplies, and a bit of know-how. So why not give it a try? You might just find yourself hooked on gardening!
