If you're a design lover, you know that bringing the outdoors in can have a positive impact on your overall wellbeing. In addition to the aesthetic benefits plants offer, they can help relieve stress and purify the air. Looking for a fun and easy way to incorporate more greenery into your space? An indoor herb garden is the perfect option.
Even the most amateur of cooks are aware that, somehow, a homemade dish becomes even more delicious when your own homegrown herbs are the star of the plate. Skip the plastic-wrapped oregano and drooping basil you might find at your local supermarket, and consider these tips from gardening expert Charlie Nardozzi instead. Scroll down for his sage advice on how to grow an indoor herb garden that spices up your kitchen—both in aesthetic and flavor.
Parsley
This versatile, mild herb works well in everything from salads to meat dishes. When planting, be sure to choose a container (at least six inches deep) that has drainage holes. Since gardening soil isn't ideal for pots, a pre-fertilized potting medium is best. The vitamin-rich herb needs bright light (five hours a day) to thrive. It also has a surprising benefit. "Parsley is a biennial so will eventually form a flower stalk indoors," says Nardozzi. "At that point, simply compost the plant and start with a new one."
Cook with it: Oyster Pizza with Cream-Braised Leeks, Lemon Thyme and Parsley
Cilantro
Place this easy-to-grow herb in a window to take in the morning sun and in the shade during the afternoon. Nardozzi also suggests keeping the room at a cool temperature. "Cilantro likes to bolt, or go to seed quickly, so don't be surprised if it forms a flower stalk," Nardozzi says. "You can let the seeds form—they are actually the herb coriander—or compost the plant and start again. You can also start cilantro from seed." Just soak seeds overnight in warm water, then sow them in a plastic pot that's filled with moistened potting soil. Plant three to four seedlings per two-inch diameter pot.
Cook with it: Glazed Carrots with Honey, Cilantro, and Lime
Chives
New to indoor gardening? Start with chives. "They grow very quickly and are a compact plant, so they're good for apartments or other small spaces," Nardozzi says. (Even once you cut chives down to the soil, they'll quickly sprout up again.)
If you let chives grow wild, they'll start blooming with purple flowers that work well in soup or tossed in with potatoes.
Chives need ample sunlight and water. Make your potting soil "heavier" (help it retain more moisture), by mixing in store-bought compost. The compost should make up about 10 to 20 percent of the soil's total volume.
Cook with it: Ricotta and Chive Gnocchi
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Find the Light
Herbs tend to like things sunny—a problem for some indoor gardens. Make sure to position your pots somewhere that gets plenty of light throughout the day.
Wondering if your spot is bright enough? Herbs growing in with very long stalks and few leaves can be a sign that things are too shady, as can the tell-tale "leaning" effect, where the herbs leaves or stems all seem to be reaching in the same direction.
Rosemary
Warning: This plant can get unexpectedly huge. Especially if you live in a warm climate, a small rosemary plant can quickly grow into a large shrub. Trim it regularly to keep it a manageable size. You may need to replace it every, say, three years if the stems become too woody.
And if you do need to replace a rosemary plant, grow new plants from the mother plant. "You can take some cuttings, dip them in a product called rooting hormone powder, and they'll actually root so you can create your next generation of plants from the mother plant," says Nardozzi.
Cook with it: Rosemary Parmesan Popcorn
To Each Their Own
Not every herb plant needs its own pot, but they do each have special needs. When planting herbs indoors, pay attention to their individual preferences for soil, water, and sun to pair up your plants. For example: rosemary and thyme prefer drier climates and can live happily side by side, while tender herbs like basil and parsley do best with regular watering and belong in a separate planter.
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Basil
It's best to take this Mediterranean herb out to your patio or deck during the spring and summer for extra sunshine and, as a result, a higher yield, says Nardozzi. If that's not an option, try a variety with smaller leaves, such as spicy globe basil. "You'll have to use more of it in cooking for flavor, but it's more manageable and doesn't go bad as quickly as larger basil pants do indoors," says Nardozzi.
For the best flavor, snip stems mid-morning when herbs have the most essential oils. Maintain its freshness by storing cut leaves in water until you're ready to cook.
Cook with it: Basil Yogurt Panna Cotta With Raspberries and Ginger
Keep Them Healthy
If you'd like to give your herbs a boost, stay away from using home remedies. "A lot of those remedies, like Epsom salts or coffee grounds, have some nutrients, but not enough to make a difference," says Nardozzi. For your indoor herb garden, pick up an organic or chemical fertilizer from the gardening store.
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Oregano
Oregano is the reigning herb of Italian food, but for the most flavor and aroma, Nardozzi suggests Greek oregano (the variety will be specified on the label). Unless you're an avid gardener, buy the oregano as a small transplant; it can be difficult to grow oregano from a seed.
Oregano is a creeping plant, so plant it around the edges of the pot if it's sharing the container with other herbs. It will slowly grow over the edge, giving you more room to plant other plants in the middle of the container.
Cook with it: Couscous Risotto with Tomato, Oregano, and Mozzarella
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Refresh Your Herbs
Returned from a trip, only to discover your herbs are nearly dead? Nardozzi recommends filling a foot basin with one to two inches of water and placing the entire pot inside. The water will cover the drainage holes and rehydrate the entire root ball.
Mint
The poster-child for herbal solitary confinement, mint absolutely must have its own separate pot or it will overrun everything else sharing its space. You can cut off leaves often and it will continue to grow, says Nardozzi. To keep it growing happily, you'll likely have to re-pot the plant when it becomes too dense for its pot.
Cook with it: Cucumber Gazpacho With Watermelon and Mint
Plan for Your Pets
Good news: almost all of the herbs that humans love are also a-okay for our four-legged friends (the exception: members of the allium family, like chives) but it's still a good idea to take house pets into consideration when you're planting. Cats, in particular, can be attracted to herbs, so keep felines (and how much of their fur your want on your herbs) in mind when choosing the placement of your pots.
You can also check this handy list of non-toxic plants from the ASPCA to make sure that everything that goes into your indoor garden is pet-safe.
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Thyme
This herb adds pleasant flavor and color to both your windowsill and dish. "Some varieties have variegated leaves, meaning the leaves have yellow around their edges, which is nice for aesthetic," says Nardozzi. Experiment with the many different flavors of thyme, such as lemon thyme and orange balsam thyme.
Cook with it: Linguine With Mussels and Sauce Poulette
