Basil
One of the very best herbs to have on hand—add it to caprese salads and pizzas or use it to make a bright batch of pesto. Grow basil from seed or a starter plant from the garden center. Plant it in well-drained soil in a bright, warm spot and pinch back any flowers. To harvest, cut a few stems just above where two leaves meet.
We’ve gathered up dozens of recipes to use all that fresh basil.
Mint
Mint is a natural choice for container gardening as it can run wild when planted outdoors. Give your indoor mint rich soil and frequent waterings. There are quite a few varieties of mint—and many more ways to use them: spearmint is wonderful in savory recipes and mojitos, while chocolate-mint and apple-mint are great in desserts. Peppermint is refreshing in candies and ice cream—and it makes a lovely tea!
Rosemary
Rosemary is a sturdy, shrub-like herb that grows very well indoors. It does best in the same growing conditions as basil, so you can even plant them together. Snip a few stems anytime to add rich, piney flavor to recipes. Rosemary’s also easy to dry, so you’ll never need to buy pre-packaged stuff again.
Chives
Don’t overpay at the grocery store for a tiny package of cut chives—they’re easily one of the best herbs to grow indoors! Sow seeds directly in a pot placed in the sunniest spot in your house. Keep a tray of pebbles and water under the pot to give the plant extra moisture.
Parsley
With parsley growing indoors—in lightly moistened soil near that sunny window—and available anytime, you’ll find yourself adding it to all kinds of dishes: make a parsley butter to add to grilled meats, mince and stir the leaves into cooked rice or whip up a batch of spicy chimichurri sauce!
Oregano
Oregano is a surprisingly easy and hardy herb to grow, and the fresh leaves have a beautiful scent. It can be companion-planted with sage as they like the same growing conditions. Then, use your fresh oregano leaves in garlicky chicken recipes or in a batch of homemade spaghetti sauce.
Sage
The herb that gives that wonderful flavor to Thanksgiving dressings and savory sausages is a such a nice addition to an indoor herb garden. Sage does need a lot of sunlight (6 to 8 hours a day) but if you have that sunny spot, this is a fabulously easy herb to grow.
Thyme
In addition to being a beautiful indoor plant, fresh thyme is so much more fragrant and potent than dried. Give it a sunny spot and well-drained soil that you can let get dry between waterings. You can grow the regular variety of thyme or lemon-thyme for a bright, citrusy flavor that’s delectable with roast chicken.
Lemongrass
It may not be your first thought for indoor herbs, but if you have some space and a big pot, fragrant lemongrass is a great choice. You can even grow it using stalks bought at the store! Keep it well-drained and in a sunny spot. When you need some, cut off a stalk close to the soil. It’s one of the best spring herbs to cook with, and can be used in chicken dishes and marinades.
Chervil
This herb is one of the four in the classic French blend, fines herbes. To grow chervil, plant the seeds directly in the container. Once grown, trim the chervil back often to keep it from bolting. Chervil’s delicate flavor is lovely when added to salads, roast chicken, vinaigrettes and egg dishes.
The post 10 Best Herbs to Grow Indoors appeared first on Taste of Home.
Nancy Mock