How to grow herbs indoors
Herbs are essential for many recipes and very easy to grow at home.
However, the key is to focus on 3 items:
- Which herbs to grow
- How fast you want results
- How you want to grow them.
Most popular herbs:
Below are links to step by step advice for the most popular herbs. Or read on for more information
How to grow herbs indoors
3 Key items to focus on:
1. Which herb to grow indoors
There are 3 items I always focus on when selecting which herb to grow:
1a – If the herb is available in local supermarket
Quite a few herbs (like Thyme, Rosemary, etc.) can often be bought fresh in shops. Very often it’s simply easier to buy these when you are cooking as opposed to growing them at home.
1b – If not available
However quite a few you simply can’t buy fresh.
In which case it well worth growing at home – like different Basil or Tarragon types, etc.
1c – How often you use it
Finally some are well worth growing at home. For example Rosemary is available in most shops, but I use it so often then it’s very convenient to have it growing in the kitchen.
2. How fast do you want results?
If you want to grow herbs indoors then a key item to focus on it how quickly you want to use them. And the obvious question is:
2a. Use seeds or plug plant?
Seeds (like the basil ones in the pictures) are cheap but do take time.
If you want quick results then buying a plant or plug plant will be a lot more effective.
However…. Do note that some herbs are not available as plants or only available in spring or summer.
2b. Light, heat & growing system
They will all have an impact on how fast you will see results, more info below..
3. Your growing system
If you want to grow herbs indoors then the key it to decide on 2 items:
3a – Soil or Water
Growing herbs in a pot with soil is very easy (like the Thai basil on the right)
If you want to a very simple method then just put the herbs in a pot and make sure you water & feed them regularly.
However, growing them using hydroponics (where the roots hang in water) tends to get far faster results. And it also very easy, as the systems are often completely automated.
But if using hydroponics then be very careful of the size of system you buy. Some herbs can grow quite big.
3B – Heat & Light
Both of these have a major impact on results.
Especially light is important. If you have a south facing kitchen then this will help.
However using a grow light (or automated hydroponic system like the one on the right) is key.
Hydroponic unit show is available from Amazon
