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11 Herbs for Indoor Container Gardening
Keep these herbs on your windowsill for easy access to ingredients for adding to recipes and scented crafts.
Text and Photos by Rachael Brugger, Senior Associate Web Editor
Photo by Gina Cioli/Bowtie, Inc.
Wintertime can often mean retiring the garden and relying on dried herbs for your homemade meals. Growing herbs indoors in windowsill containers allows you to extend your gardening activities to the cold months and have fresh ingredients on hand for recipes and crafts—not to mention, these plants make great air fresheners!
The 11 herbs below are a great place start your indoor herb garden, but are not the only plants suited for growing in the house. Position the plants near a sunny window and keep them well-watered. To minimize pests, such as aphids and mealy bugs, infecting these indoor houseplants, prevent stressing the plants by ensuring they receive the adequate amount of sun and water and wash plants every couple of weeks as needed. Also be aware of introducing pests indoors if bringing your potted herbs inside from a back patio or purchasing from a nursery. To keep existing houseplants from being affect, sequester the new plants
Print off these indoor-herb ID cards for a handy growing reference.
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1. Thyme
(Thymus vulgaris)
- Soil requirements: loose, well-drained soil; pH between 4.5 and 8.0
- Water requirements: more than 1 inch per week
- Sunlight requirements: full sun; 6 hours is ideal
- Container size: 4- to 12-inch diameter
- Uses: flavoring for cheese, dressing, egg and tomato dishes, fish, honey, poultry, rice, sauce, soup, stew, stuffing; fragrance in potpourri and sachets; herbal medicine; tea
- Recipes to try:
Raspberry Lemon-thyme Sparkler
Herbed Vinegar
Turkey Vegetable Soup with Rice
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2. Sage (Salvia officinalis)
- Soil requirements: rich, light, well-drained soil; pH between 4.2 and 8.3
- Water requirements: 1 inch per week; allow soil to dry between waterings
- Sunlight requirements: full sun; minimum 6 hours per day
- Container size: 8- to 30-inch diameter
- Uses: flavoring for cheese, fish, ground meat, honey, pickles, salad, sausage, soup, stew, stuffing; herbal medicine; natural insect repellent
- Recipes to try:
Pumpkin Risotto
Brussel Sprout and Cauliflower Gratin
Venison Meatloaf
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3. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
- Soil requirements: rich, moist, well-drained soil; pH between 4.9 and 8.3
- Water requirements: water deeply once per week; do not overwater
- Sunlight requirements: full sun; minimum 5 hours per day
- Container size: 6- to 18-inch diameter
- Uses: flavoring for dressing, salad, sauce, soup, stew; garnish; herbal medicine; ornamental edging
- Recipes to try:
Herbed Goat Cheese Dip
Pasta Carbonara
Italian Lettuce Wraps with Chilled Orzo
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4. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
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5. Winter Savory (Satureja montana)
- Soil requirements: dry, well-drained soil; pH between 6.5 and 7.3
- Water requirements: 1 inch per week; allow soil to dry between waterings
- Sunlight requirements: full sun
- Container size: 8- to 24-inch diameter
- Uses: flavoring for fish, meat, salad, sausage, soup, stew
- Recipe to try:
Herbed Mustard
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6. Mint (Mentha)
- Soil requirements:moist, rich, well-drained soil; pH between 6.0 and 7.0
- Water requirements: more than 1 inch per week
- Sunlight requirements: partial to full sun; minimum 6 hours is ideal
- Container size: 8- to 24-inch diameter
- Uses: flavoring for confections, infused vinegar, jelly, sauce; fragrance in bath products, candles, perfume; tea
- Recipes to try:
Fresh Mint Tea
Watermelon and Mint Aguas Frescas
Mint Candy
- Grower’s tip:Grow mints in pots by themselves, as they will overwhelm other plants.
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7. Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- Soil requirements: rich, well-drained soil; pH between 4.9 and 8.7
- Water requirements: 1 inch per week; allow soil to dry between waterings
- Sunlight requirements: full sun; minimum 6 hours is ideal
- Container size: 12- to 24-inch diameter
- Uses: flavoring for confections, egg dishes, fish, infused vinegar, jelly, meat, salad, sausage, soup, stew, stuffing, vegetables; fragrance in sachets, potpourri; herbal medicine; material for crafts; tea
- Recipes to try:
Asparagus Frittata
Spinach Velvet Soup
Cornish Game Hens with Apple Bacon Stuffing
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Photo courtesy Mountain Valley Growers, Inc. |
8. Patchouli (Pogostemon patchouli)
- Soil requirements: rich, friable, well-drained soil; pH between 5.5 and 6.2
- Water requirements: at least 1 inch per week
- Sunlight requirements: partial sun
- Container size: 8- to 30-inch diameter
- Uses: fragrance in incense, perfume, soap
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9. Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
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10. Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
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11. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Soil requirements: alkaline, well-drained, not heavily fertilized soil; pH between 4.5 and 8.7; sandy or rocky soils OK if given minimum soil depth of 8 inches
- Water requirements: at least 1 inch per week
Sunlight requirements: full sun
- Container size: 12-inch diameter; 8 inches deep
- Uses: flavoring for bread, butter, infused vinegar, jam, meat, stuffing, vegetables, stew; fragrance in bath products; herbal medicine; natural insect repellent; tea
- Recipes to try:
Apple Brie Soup
Citrus-braised Wild Duck
Sweet Potato Oven Fries
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Grow an herb garden for your cat or bird, too!
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11 Herbs for Indoor Container Gardening
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