Indoor Gardening and Herbs: A Simple Way to Keep Growing All Year

When the Michigan garden beds go to sleep for the winter, I still like to keep a little bit of green around. Indoor gardening is one of my favorite ways to stay connected to growing, even when there is snow on the ground. One of the easiest and most rewarding indoor gardening projects is growing herbs on a sunny windowsill.

Whether you're drying them for future use or snipping them fresh into winter soups, herbs are a great way to bring the garden inside.


🌱 Why Grow Herbs Indoors?

There is something very comforting about walking into the kitchen and seeing a little pot of basil or thyme. Herbs not only brighten the room but also add fresh flavor to winter meals. They are low maintenance, take up very little space, and do not need any fancy equipment to get started.

🌿 Herbs That Grow Well Indoors

If you're wondering what herbs are best suited for indoor gardening, here are a few that are easy to grow and thrive in containers:

  • Basil

  • Chives

  • Parsley

  • Thyme

  • Oregano

  • Mint

  • Rosemary

Chives and thyme are two I dried last year using my air fryer, and I’ve already added basil to this year’s collection.

☀️ Light and Water Needs

Herbs need about 6 hours of sunlight per day, so a bright south-facing window is ideal. If you do not get enough natural light, a small grow light can help keep them healthy through the darker months.

Water when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. Be careful not to overwater, especially in the winter when things dry out more slowly indoors.

🪴 Supplies to Get Started

You do not need much to begin your indoor herb garden:

  • Small pots with drainage holes

  • A tray to catch excess water

  • Potting soil (organic is best for edibles)

  • Herb seeds or starter plants

  • A sunny windowsill or grow light

You can also repurpose old containers or mason jars as herb pots, just make sure they allow for proper drainage or add a layer of rocks at the bottom.

🍲 How to Use Your Indoor Herbs

Once your herbs are growing, you can:

  • Snip basil into pasta or tomato soup

  • Add chives to baked potatoes or eggs

  • Use mint in tea or desserts

  • Mix thyme into roasted vegetables

  • Dry extra herbs for winter storage (a countertop air fryer works great). See my post about drying fresh herbs with an air fryer.

I like to store my dried herbs in handmade spice jars labeled with my Cricut, which adds a personal and pretty touch.

🌼 Fun Facts About Herbs

  • Mint is one of the oldest known herbs and was used in ancient Egypt for its healing properties

  • Basil is considered a symbol of love in Italy

  • Thyme was used by ancient Greeks in baths and burned as incense

📝 Simple Wrap-Up

Indoor herb gardening is a simple pleasure that can keep your green thumb happy through the winter months. Even just a few small pots on a windowsill can lift your spirits and add fresh flavor to your cooking. If you have never grown herbs indoors before, start with something easy like basil or chives and see where it takes you. Your kitchen will smell wonderful, and you will be reminded that spring is never too far away.

If you enjoyed this, you might like some of my other gardening posts where I share more about what’s growing in my backyard.

What plants do you grow indoors? Share in the comments below.

Sensibly and simply yours,
Kat

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Location: Michigan, USA

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