Growing Herbs on a Sunny Windowsill

A sunny kitchen windowsill is the classic place for indoor herbs. With a little care, you can harvest fresh leaves through the colder months.

Pick the right herbs

• Basil — needs warmth and strong light.
• Parsley — tolerates slightly lower light.
• Chives — easy and reliable indoors.
• Mint — vigorous; keep in its own pot.
• Thyme and rosemary — need excellent drainage and bright light.
• Coriander — fast growing but short-lived indoors.

Light is essential

Most herbs want six hours or more of direct sun. If your sill is dim, supplement with a small LED grow light. Rotate pots weekly so plants grow evenly rather than leaning.

Containers and soil

Use pots with drainage and a free-draining mix. Do not overpot; herbs in oversized pots stay wet too long. Group pots on a tray with pebbles to catch runoff and add a little humidity.

Water and feed

Water when the surface dries, more often in warm rooms. Feed lightly every few weeks during active growth. Avoid soggy soil, which causes yellow leaves and root rot.

Harvest regularly

Pinch basil tips to keep plants bushy. Snip chives in clusters. Remove flower buds to prolong leaf production. Do not strip a plant bare; take a little from many stems.

Transition outdoors

If you move herbs outside in summer, harden them off gradually. Indoor leaves are tender and burn easily in direct sun.