Windowsill herbs
Basil, parsley and chives in clay pots on a sunny windowsill. The first weeks are about light, letting the mix dry between waterings, and the first snips for the kitchen.
What it is like
A windowsill herb garden starts with light. Indoors, most herbs need about eight hours of direct light a day, and a south window gives the most, then east or west. A north window is usually too shaded; a grow light on a timer can stand in for the sun.
The pots matter almost as much. Clay pots with drainage holes dry out faster than plastic, which suits most herbs, and a pot only a little bigger than the plant does not stay wet for long. One herb per pot lets each one dry at its own pace.
Basil, parsley, chives, mint, oregano, cilantro and thyme are the easy ones. Rosemary, sage and bay can grow indoors too, but they want more light and attract spider mites more often.
Harvesting keeps the plants going. Basil and parsley are cut just above a leaf pair, chives and thyme a third at a time, and basil flowers are pinched off before they open, because a stem that flowers stops making leaves.
- A session
- A minute a day to check the mix; ten minutes to sow or repot.
- A week
- A few snips for the kitchen and a turn of the pots toward the light.
- Season
- All year indoors; feed from early spring through summer, not in winter (Iowa State).
Indoors · Solo, With kids, For two
Kinds and styles
South, east or west windows, with no extra light.
Full-spectrum lights 6 to 12 inches above the leaves, 12 to 16 hours a day on a timer (Iowa State).
Chives, mint, oregano and thyme, cut a third at a time and kept for years.
Basil, parsley and cilantro, restarted from seed after several harvests (Iowa State).
Is it for you?
You will probably love it if
- You cook and would use fresh herbs every week
- You have a window that gets direct sun for most of the day
- You like small daily care that takes a minute
Maybe not, if
- Your only windows face north; Illinois Extension calls north windows usually too shaded for plants that need a lot of light
- You are away for weeks at a time with no one to water
What to buy first
- 01Three 6-inch clay pots with drainage holesClay dries out faster, which suits most herbs (Iowa State); a standard 6-inch clay pot with drainage holes lists at $3.29 at Valley Wide CooperativeFind it on Amazon$10
- 02A bag of potting mixA well-drained mix, not garden soil; Chalet Nursery lists Espoma Organic Potting Mix, 8 quarts, at $10.99Find it on Amazon$11
- 03Seed packets: basil, parsley and chivesThree of the easiest herbs indoors (Iowa State); Botanical Interests lists Italian Genovese basil at $2.99 to $5.99 a packet, by sizeFind it on Amazon$12
- Everything you need to beginAbout $3 a month after that$33
Typical US prices for entry-level gear, rounded. Last checked October 2026. How we get the numbers
The Amazon links open a search for that type of item, not a product chosen for us, and the prices in the list are our typical figures, or the listing of the shop a line names, not Amazon's price for any listing. If you buy through one we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you; as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What to buy next
- 01Saucers for the potsTo catch water; do not leave the pot standing in it (Illinois Extension)Find it on Amazon Before the first watering
- 02A full-spectrum grow light with a timer12 to 16 hours a day, 6 to 12 inches above the leaves (Iowa State)Find it on Amazon For winter or a dim window
- 03An all-purpose liquid fertiliserAt half or quarter strength, spring through summer (Iowa State)Find it on Amazon From early spring
- 04Small herb scissorsClean cuts just above a leaf pairFind it on Amazon Once you harvest every week
No prices here on purpose: these are later buys, and what to spend depends on how far the hobby has taken you. The Amazon links work like the ones above: a search for the type of item, and a possible commission for us at no extra cost to you.
From a sunny window to weekly snips, step by step
Chives have been grown in Europe since the Middle Ages and basil has travelled the world from India; today extension services agree that light decides most of what happens on a windowsill. This guide goes from choosing the window and the pots through sowing and watering to harvesting and keeping plants going through winter.
Warning: Before you start Some kitchen herbs are toxic to cats and dogs: the ASPCA lists chives, mint, oregano and parsley as toxic to both, while basil, cilantro and thyme are on its non-toxic list. If a pet can reach the sill, choose accordingly and call a vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center if one eats a toxic plant. Keep fertiliser out of reach of children and pets, and keep grow-light cords and plugs dry. We do not give medical or veterinary advice.
A south window gives the best light, then east or west (Illinois Extension); most herbs need about eight hours of direct light indoors, some manage with six (Iowa State).
Well-drained potting mix in a pot with a drainage hole, one herb per pot (Iowa State).
Sow the seeds at the depth on the packet, water gently and keep the mix moist until they come up.
Checking the mix is the only reliable way to know when to water (Illinois Extension); most herbs want it to dry between waterings (Iowa State).
Cut basil just above a leaf pair, leaving 4 to 6 inches of stem (Iowa State), and pinch off flower stems, because a stem that flowers stops making leaves (Wikipedia).
A herb pot on a sunny sill
A window at the left with sunlight slanting in onto a clay pot on the sill, drawn in section: a basil plant with leaf pairs on top, potting mix filling the pot, a drainage hole in the bottom, and a saucer underneath.
- A Sunny window South, east or west About eight hours of direct light. Step 1 →
- B Leaf pairs Above the stem Cut just above a pair. Step 7 →
- C Potting mix Fills the pot Let it dry between waterings. Step 5 →
- D Saucer Under the pot Empty it after watering. Step 5 →
- E Drainage hole The bottom Lets extra water out. Step 3 →
Steps 1-3Setting up
- Step 1 of 8 · Setting up
Choose the window
South gives the best light, then east or west; north is usually too shaded (Illinois Extension).
Most people: a sunny sill (south, east or west windows).
Start here A sunny sillBest forSouth, east or west windows
About eight hours of direct light for most herbs (Iowa State).
A grow lightBest forDim windows or winter
6 to 12 inches above the leaves, 12 to 16 hours a day (Iowa State).
- Step 2 of 8 · Setting up
Pick easy herbs
Parsley, mint, chives, basil, oregano, cilantro and thyme are the easiest indoors (Iowa State).
- Step 3 of 8 · Setting up
Pot up
One herb per clay pot with a drainage hole, in a well-drained potting mix; a pot that is too big stays wet too long (Iowa State).
Steps 4-6Growing
- Step 4 of 8 · Growing
Sow or plant
Sow at the depth on the seed packet and keep the mix moist until the seedlings are up.
- Step 5 of 8 · Growing
Water by feel
Check the mix before watering; most herbs want it to dry between waterings (Iowa State, Illinois Extension).
Goes wrong: Standing water in the saucer. Empty it; do not leave the pot sitting in water (Illinois Extension).
- Step 6 of 8 · Growing
Feed lightly
An all-purpose fertiliser at half or quarter strength, early spring through summer, none in winter (Iowa State).
Steps 7-8Harvest and winter
- Step 7 of 8 · Harvest and winter
Harvest
Cut basil and parsley above a leaf pair, leaving 4 to 6 inches of stem; take no more than the top third of chives, mint, oregano and thyme (Iowa State).
- Step 8 of 8 · Harvest and winter
Keep it going
Warning: CAUTION Keep grow-light cords and plugs dry and away from the watering can.
Pinch off basil flowers, add light in winter, and restart annuals from seed after several harvests (Wikipedia, Iowa State).
In shortIf it goes wrong
- Standing water in the saucer.
- Step 5 · Water by feel
How you get better
- First monthBasil from seed
One pot on the sunniest sill.
- Second monthThree pots
Add parsley and chives, one herb per pot.
- WinterA grow light
When the days are short, a light on a timer keeps the pots growing.
- LaterHarder herbs
Rosemary or sage, once the easy ones thrive.
- Reading light at a window
- Watering by feel
- Sowing in pots
- Harvesting without weakening the plant
- Pinching off flower stems
- Using a grow light and timer
Small things that help
- Put herbs in the sunniest window you have; south first, then east or west (Illinois Extension).
- One herb per pot, in a pot not much bigger than the plant (Iowa State).
- Water when the mix is dry, not on a schedule (Illinois Extension).
- Cut a third at most from perennial herbs (Iowa State).
- Restart basil and parsley from seed after several harvests (Iowa State).
Beginner mistakes
- 01Too big a potOversized pots stay wet too long (Iowa State).
- 02A saucer full of waterDo not leave the pot sitting in standing water (Illinois Extension).
- 03Feeding all winterIowa State advises fertilising from early spring through summer and not in winter.
- 04Lights on all nightRun grow lights 12 to 16 hours, not 24/7 (Illinois Extension).
Easy and harder herbs indoors
From Iowa State University Extension's guide to growing herbs indoors.
| Herb | Indoors | How to harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Easy | Cut above a leaf pair, leaving 4 to 6 inches of stem |
| Parsley | Easy | Cut above a leaf pair, leaving 4 to 6 inches of stem |
| Chives | Easy | Take no more than the top third |
| Mint | Easy | Take no more than the top third |
| Thyme | Easy | Take no more than the top third |
| Oregano | Easy | Take no more than the top third |
| Cilantro | Easy | Snip as needed |
| Rosemary, sage, bay | Harder | Higher light needs; more prone to pests like spider mites |
Why people quit
- 01Thin, leggy stemsToo little light; move the pot to the sunniest window or add a grow light 6 to 12 inches above the leaves for 12 to 16 hours a day (Iowa State).
- 02Yellow leaves and wet mixMost herbs do not tolerate wet soil (Iowa State); let the mix dry between waterings and empty the saucer (Illinois Extension).
- 03Basil goes to flowerPinch off flower stems early; once a stem flowers it stops producing leaves (Wikipedia).
Words you will meet
- Drainage hole
- A hole in the bottom of the pot that lets extra water out.
- Leggy
- Stretched, thin stems with few leaves, usually from too little light.
- Annual
- A plant that lives one season, such as basil.
- Perennial
- A plant that lives for years, such as chives or thyme.
- Full-spectrum light
- A grow light that gives light across the colours plants use; Iowa State recommends high-output fixtures.
Questions people ask
How much light do herbs need indoors?
Iowa State says most herbs need about eight hours of direct light a day indoors, some as little as six; Illinois Extension says six hours of full sun for most.
Which window is best?
South, then east or west; north windows are usually too shaded for plants with high light needs (Illinois Extension).
How often should I water?
When the mix is dry; most herbs do not tolerate wet soil (Iowa State), and checking the soil is the only reliable way to know (Illinois Extension).
Which herbs are easiest?
Parsley, mint, chives, basil, oregano, cilantro and thyme; rosemary, sage, lemon balm, marjoram, chervil and bay laurel are harder (Iowa State).
What temperature do they like?
Most plants grow best at 65 to 70 °F by day and 55 to 60 °F at night (Illinois Extension); basil is sensitive to cold (Wikipedia).
Where to go next
- 01MicrogreensAnother kitchen crop on a sill, ready in days. $33 to start
- 02Container tomatoesA bigger pot on a sunny balcony or patio. $111 to start
How it compares
| Windowsill herbs | Microgreens | Container tomatoes | Succulents and cacti | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start cost | $33 | $33 | $111 | $37 |
| Each month | $3 | $8 | $8 | $4 |
| Space | A sunny windowsill | A windowsill | A sunny patio, balcony or doorstep | A windowsill |
| Noise | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet |
| First result | First snips a few weeks after sowing | 8 to 12 days | First ripe fruit 52 to 90 days after planting | Same day |
| Mess | Potting mix when you sow and repot | Soil and water | Potting mix and water run-off | A little soil |
Where to learn more
- 01Iowa State University Extension: Growing herbs indoorsLight, pots, watering, feeding and harvesting.
- 02University of Illinois Extension: Sprouts on the sillWindows, grow lights and watering.
Sources: Iowa State University Extension: Growing Herbs Indoors · University of Illinois Extension: Sprouts on the sill · Wikipedia: Basil · Wikipedia: Chives · Wikipedia: Herb garden · Chalet Nursery: Espoma Organic Potting Mix, 8 qt · Valley Wide Cooperative: Terra Cotta Clay Flower Pot, Standard, 6-In. · ASPCA: Toxic and non-toxic plants (chives, mint, oregano, parsley, basil, cilantro, thyme) · Botanical Interests: Italian Genovese basil seeds
Researched and written by the Fjords Team.