Herb care guides
Grow guides, care advice and troubleshooting for the herbs people most often keep on a windowsill. Start with a plant you already cook with. It is the fastest way to learn the habits that transfer to everything else.
36 guides in this section
Easiest herbs to grow indoors: 16 ranked, easy to hard
The easiest herbs to grow indoors, ranked from easy to hard. See which suit your window, which to buy as plants, and the one mistake that kills each.
How to grow lemongrass indoors
A complete guide to growing lemongrass indoors: starting from cuttings, light and temperature needs, watering, propagation and a practical FAQ.
How to grow basil indoors and keep it bushy
Grow basil indoors with 6 to 8 hours of sun or a grow light, warmth above 70°F, and regular pinching. Plus fixes for yellow, black, and droopy leaves.
How to grow Thai basil indoors
How to grow Thai basil indoors from seed or cuttings, the warmth and light it needs, and how to harvest for a fresh supply through the year.
How to dry herbs: 4 methods with times and temperatures
How to dry herbs by hanging them, or in the oven, microwave, or a dehydrator. Exact times and temperatures, which herbs dry best, and how to store them.
How to grow dill indoors
How to grow dill indoors in containers, whether you want full plants for dill weed and seed or microgreens. Pots, light, watering and harvest.
How to grow mint indoors
Mint wants a damp pot and forgives a dim sill, and peppermint cannot be grown from seed at all. How to start mint from a cutting and keep it producing all year.
How to grow cilantro indoors
Cilantro is a sprint, not a houseplant: sow it in its final pot, keep it cool, take two cuts, and have the next pot already coming. The full indoor routine.
How to grow St. John’s Wort indoors
St. John’s Wort needs 8+ hours of full sun, moist soil and 65 to 70℉ indoors. How to grow it and harvest the leaves and flowers for tea or oil.
How to grow stevia indoors
How to grow stevia from cuttings or seed on a bright windowsill with only a few supplies, for a minimally processed sweetener all year round.
13 most aromatic herbs to grow
The 13 most aromatic herbs to grow at home, what each one smells and tastes like, and the growing conditions that bring out the strongest scent.
How to grow rosemary indoors
Rosemary dies from kindness far more often than neglect. The four ways indoor plants actually die, the cool bright winter it wants, and why the misting advic...
How to effectively treat and avoid indoor garden pests
How to identify aphids, spider mites, fungus gnats and thrips on indoor herbs, treat them with low-toxicity methods, and stop them returning.
15 rare herbs you should consider growing in your garden
Fifteen uncommon herbs worth growing, from anise hyssop and lovage to epazote and Vietnamese coriander: what each tastes like and how to grow it.
Root rot: what it looks like and how to save your plant
Root rot makes a plant wilt in wet soil. See what rotten roots look like next to healthy ones, how to save the plant, and when to take cuttings instead.
How to grow Bay Laurel indoors: Everything you need to know to get started
How to grow bay laurel indoors: a slow-growing evergreen that behaves like a houseplant you can cook with. Light, watering, potting and harvesting.
How to grow chervil (beginner-friendly guide)
How to grow chervil indoors or out: why the seed must not be buried, how to stop it bolting, the deep pot its taproot needs, and when to harvest.
How to grow catnip: planting, care and what it actually does to cats
Catnip care is mostly restraint: full sun, lean soil, water when the top inch dries. How to grow it in a pot, when to harvest for the strongest leaves, and t...
The best winter herbs and spices for every occasion
The herbs and spices that define winter cooking, from rosemary and sage to cinnamon, cloves and cardamom, and how to use each one well.
What you need to know to grow herbs indoors during winter
Winter indoors means less light, drier air and cooler nights. How to adjust lighting, watering and humidity so your herbs keep growing through it.
How to prepare herbs for winter so they don’t die
How to get herbs through winter: which are hardy, which to bring indoors, and how to cut back, mulch and adjust watering before the cold arrives.
The complete guide to growing savory indoors
How to grow summer and winter savory indoors, how the two differ, and the light, soil and watering each one needs to thrive in a container.
Everything you need to know about growing marjoram indoors
How to grow marjoram indoors. This tender perennial trails as it grows, so it wants a wide, shallow container, steady warmth and plenty of sun.
Mold on houseplant soil: what it is and how to fix it
Mold on houseplant soil is usually a harmless fungus that means the soil stays too wet. How to tell it from salt, mildew and root hairs, and how to fix it.
Why herbs bolt and how to stop it
Bolting is a herb flowering ahead of schedule, driven by day length and heat. Why basil turns bitter when it blooms, why bolted cilantro cannot be saved, and...
8 Reasons why your indoor herbs are dying and how to fix it
Most indoor herbs die from too much water or too little light. Start from the symptom you can see, then work through the eight causes and their fixes.
Growing oregano indoors: History, uses, and best growing conditions
Growing oregano indoors: its history and culinary uses, plus the light, lean soil and careful watering that concentrate its flavour in a pot.
How to freeze fresh herbs, and 6 more ways to preserve them without drying
Freezing keeps the flavor that drying destroys. How to freeze fresh herbs bare, in cubes and as pesto, why basil needs a 15-second blanch first, and six more...
Grow sage indoors: Supplies, methods, and tips
How to grow sage indoors: the supplies you need, propagation methods, when to harvest, and how to store your bounty for cooking later.
Your guide to the best indoor lighting for growing herbs
How much light indoor herbs actually need, how to read a window exposure, and how to choose and position a grow light when sunlight is not enough.
How to grow the most flavorful chives indoors
How to grow chives indoors for the strongest flavour: sowing, light, watering, and the cutting technique that keeps them producing all season.
How and when to prune your herbs
When and how to prune indoor herbs so they grow bushier instead of leggy: where to cut, how often to do it, and what to do with the trimmings.
How to grow parsley indoors, from seed to harvest
Grow parsley indoors in a pot at least 8 inches deep. Seeds take 2 to 4 weeks to sprout. How to plant, light, water, and cut parsley so it keeps growing.
The best herbs to grow in low light
Six herbs that genuinely tolerate low light indoors, what counts as low light, and the watering changes you have to make in a dim window.
How to group indoor herbs together for the best results
Which indoor herbs can share a pot and which need their own. Group them by light, water and root habit so one plant does not crowd out the rest.
How to grow herbs indoors: light, pots, water, and care
How to grow herbs indoors: the light, pot and soil herbs need, when to water and feed them, how to harvest, and how to fix the problems that kill them.