Use this guide if you want fresh herbs without a garden, or to carry them through the winter. Have pots with drainage holes, saucers, peat-free multi-purpose compost and seeds or small herb plants ready.
Step by step
Pick the brightest window
Most herbs need as much light as possible, especially from autumn to spring. A south- or west-facing windowsill is usually best. Keep pots away from radiators and out of cold draughts behind curtains at night.
Choose herbs that cope indoors
Parsley, chives, mint, coriander and basil grow well indoors, though basil needs warmth and the most light. Woody herbs such as rosemary and thyme prefer being outdoors and dislike warm, dry rooms. Grow mint in its own pot, as it spreads.
Split supermarket herb pots
Supermarket pots contain many seedlings crammed together, which is why they often die. Tease the root ball into three or four clumps and pot each into its own container with fresh compost. Water well and they usually last far longer.
Sow seeds little and often
Sow a pinch of seed in a small pot of compost, cover lightly and keep it moist and warm. Sow a new pot every few weeks for a steady supply, especially of fast herbs such as coriander and basil.
Water carefully
Water when the top of the compost feels dry, then empty the saucer after 30 minutes so roots do not sit in water. Herbs indoors need less water in winter. Wilting in wet compost usually means overwatering, not thirst.
Harvest to keep them bushy
Pick leaves regularly, pinching basil stems just above a pair of leaves so it branches. Never take more than about a third of a plant at once. Remove flower buds to keep leaves coming.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Bright, south- or west-facing windowsill
- Pots with drainage holes and saucers
- Peat-free multi-purpose compost
- Herb seeds or small plants
- Supermarket herb pots divided
- Watering only when the surface is dry
- Regular light harvesting
Practical tips
- Turn pots a quarter turn every few days so plants do not lean towards the light.
- A low-cost plant grow light can make a big difference in dark winter months.
- Chop and freeze surplus herbs in ice-cube trays with water or oil to use in cooking.
Common problems
The herbs are tall, pale and floppy.
They are stretching for light. Move them to the brightest window, pinch out the tips to encourage bushier growth and consider a grow light in winter.
Tiny black flies hover around the pots.
These are usually fungus gnats, which breed in damp compost. Let the surface dry out more between waterings, water from below, and use yellow sticky traps to catch adults.
Basil keeps dying in winter.
Basil needs warmth and strong light, which are hard to give indoors in winter. Keep it in the warmest bright spot away from cold glass at night, or grow parsley and chives instead until spring.
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