Grow These Herbs Yourself So You Never Have To Buy Them
When a single bushel of basil or parsley at the grocery store costs $2, incorporating fresh herbs into your cooking adds up quickly. That along with increased air quality, the visual aesthetic of plants, and the satisfaction of growing your own food are all compelling reasons to grow herbs indoors this winter. Moreover, you don't need to be a seasoned gardener to do it: many of these plants are low-maintenance and hassle-free. Here are 20 herbs you can grow indoors through the winter.
1. Basil
Who doesn't love fresh basil on a pizza or pasta? Luckily, the plant can thrive inside in the winter. It likes sun and warmth, so use a grow light or place it in a warm spot in your home.
2. Thyme
The perfect seasoning for meats, stocks, soups, and marinades, you can easily grow thyme inside in the winter. It requires consistent watering and full sunlight so make sure to put it on a windowsill.
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3. Cilantro
Elevate your winter taco nights with fresh cilantro straight from your herb garden. It grows fast and likes cooler temperatures and plenty of light.
4. Rosemary
A necessary element for your Christmas turkey, this aromatic herb is amazing on steak and poultry. It likes a lot of moisture making it more finicky to gross inside if you have forced heating; however, building a small tent with plastic over the plant can help.
6. Oregano
A classic Italian seasoning used in sandwiches, salads, pasta, and pizza, oregano is easy to grow indoors in the winter. It's drought resistant so doesn't need a lot of water, but likes a lot of sunlight so place it on a south-facing windowsill.
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7. Mint
This winter, you could make the perfect mint tea with your very own herb. Plants in the mint family are extremely easy to grow inside. Just keep the soil evenly moist and avoid temperature extremes.
8. Chives
Popular in the culinary world for its soft onion-y flavor, chive grows easily indoors through the colder months. Copared to other herbs on this list, chives are resilient and low-maintenance.
9. Parsley
Another herb commonly used in Italian cuisine, parsley grows well indoors if you have a sunny place for it. It requires frequent watering and harvesting to ensure fresh growth.
10. Sage
Sage has a strong, peppery, and earthy flavor that goes well in heavier winter dishes, so luckily it grows well inside in the colder months. It doesn't need a lot of water but prefers plenty of sunshine.
11. Dill
The perfect addition to warming winter soups, dill grows great indoors. The dwarf type, fern leaf, is ideal for growing in a small pot as the regular plant gets quite large.
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12. Lemongrass
A staple in Southeast Asian cooking, lemongrass has a zesty, lemony flavor that brightens curries, soups, and marinades. It can be grown inside during winter as long as it's regularly watered and in a sunny spot.
13. Marjoram
Marjoram is similar to oregano but milder. It's used in sausages, salad dressings, and meat dishes. If you have enough light in your home, it grows well indoors and doesn't require much humidity.
14. Chervil
Commonly used in French cooking, chervil has a delicate anise flavor. Kept in a sunny spot, it grows wonderful inside during winter. Just make sure the soil is evenly moistened.
15. Bay Laurel
Bay laurel or bay leaf has a minty flavor and is used to flavor soups. It thrives indoors through winter as long as it's not placed in a drafty spot.
16. Fennel
Fennel has a bittersweet licorice flavor and can be used in savory and sweet dishes. If you choose an indoor variety, you can grow it indoors, though it's better to plant the seeds in spring.
17. Sorrel
Sorrel is a tart, lemony herb that's prized in the culinary world. Sorel is easy to grow indoors and can be harvested throughout the winter. It only needs to be watered once a week and is happy in the sun or light shade.
18. Lovage
Lovage has a flavor similar to celery, with hints of anise and parsley, and is commonly used in potato dishes, soups, and stews. Because it's not easily found in grocery stores, It's worthwhile to grow at home if you love the taste. It can thrive in full sun or light shade and doesn't like too much water.
19. Catnip
Entertain your cats (and yourself) by growing their favorite vice indoors. Catnip grows wonderfully inside, just remember that it enjoys drier conditions so don't overwater it and place it in a sunny location.
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20. Stevia
Stevia is a popular natural sweetener that you can grow inside through the winter. This plant prefers a lot of sunlight so you may want to consider buying a grow light. It's also recommended to harvest the leaves regularly.
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