When I first dipped a toe into indoor gardening, I was amazed at how quickly a handful of herb plants transformed my kitchen. Fragrant leaves at my fingertips made cooking more exciting, and the simple act of nurturing seedlings lifted my mood on dark winter evenings. As someone who runs an online store selling smart indoor gardens, I love showing beginners that you don’t need a greenhouse or years of experience to enjoy fresh herbs. This post fits into our wider Indoor Herbs & Plants overview series and is designed to help you choose the right herbs, decide between planters and hydroponic smart gardens, and grow with confidence.

Why grow herbs indoors?

Herbs are some of the most rewarding plants for beginners. They mature quickly, stay compact and add both flavour and aroma to your home. Growing your own herbs also aligns with our core values of sustainability and wellness: you avoid pesticide‑laden supermarket bundles, save packaging waste and gain access to nutrient‑rich ingredients any time. Indoor gardening can be a joyful, stress‑relieving hobby too — just watching new shoots emerge on your windowsill can brighten a grey Estonian winter.

Which herbs thrive indoors?

Not all herbs are equally suited to indoor life. The UK charity Thrive notes that popular indoor herbs include parsley, thyme, basil, oregano, mint and chives. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) advises potting up chives, mint and parsley from outdoor beds and bringing them inside to a south‑facing windowsill for winter, and recommends sowing seeds of basil, chives and parsley under glass in early spring. Drawing on those insights and my own experience, here are eight herbs that perform particularly well indoors, whether you use a traditional planter or a hydroponic smart garden:

• Chives – A hardy perennial with a mild onion flavour. Chives tolerate cooler temperatures and partial shade; they grow happily in a pot of soil or in a hydroponic pod. Clip the leaves with scissors and they will regrow repeatedly.
• Coriander (Cilantro) – This versatile herb thrives in cool, bright conditions. It tends to bolt in heat, so indoor temperatures are ideal. Sow seeds every few weeks in planters or smart garden pods for a continuous supply. Harvest leaves before the plant flowers to enjoy the best flavour.
• Parsley – Thrive describes parsley as a staple herb for cooking. It comes in curly or flat‑leaf forms and is forgiving of beginner mistakes. Parsley appreciates slightly moist soil and moderate light; in hydroponics it enjoys the constant moisture of the reservoir.
• Basil – A sun‑loving annual that rewards you with aromatic leaves for pesto, salads and soups. Basil needs warmth and steady moisture. In planters, keep it away from draughty windows and allow the soil to remain slightly damp. Hydroponic smart gardens are excellent for basil, as their LED lights and nutrient solution keep growth vigorous.
• Dill – A delicate herb with feathery foliage that dill grows well in well‑drained soil in sun. Indoors, provide bright light to prevent leggy stems. Dill grows quickly from seed in both soil and hydroponic systems; harvest when plants reach about 20 cm, and sow successive batches for a continuous crop.
• Peppermint – A strongly flavoured member of the mint family. Mint is described by Thrive as tenacious and even invasive outdoors, which makes containers a smart choice. Peppermint thrives in planters or hydroponic pods but will spread rapidly, so give it its own pot. Keep the growing medium evenly moist and enjoy fresh leaves in teas and desserts.
• Rosemary – A woody, Mediterranean shrub with aromatic needles. I suggests growing rosemary in well‑drained soil and placing pots in full sun. Indoors, rosemary appreciates bright light (a south‑facing window or strong grow lamp) and excellent drainage. In a smart garden, ensure the system’s lights are close enough to the foliage and allow the roots to dry slightly between waterings.
• Thyme – A low‑growing, drought‑tolerant herb. It does well in planters with gritty soil or in hydroponic systems if you allow a dry period between water changes. Trim thyme regularly to encourage bushy growth.

Hydroponic smart gardens vs planters

If you’re new to indoor gardening, you may be wondering whether to invest in a hydroponic smart garden or stick with simple pots. Both have advantages:

• Planters with potting soil – Traditional planters give you full control over soil type, watering and placement. Choose pots with drainage holes, use a light potting mix and position them near a bright window. Planters work well for woody herbs like rosemary and thyme, which prefer to dry out between waterings. They’re also inexpensive and flexible, so you can rearrange or combine herbs as you like.
• Hydroponic smart gardens – These self‑contained systems use water and nutrients instead of soil. They include built‑in LED lights and timers, so you don’t need a sunny windowsill. Smart gardens are ideal for moisture‑loving herbs like basil, dill and parsley. Because the water circulates, they use less water overall and require minimal maintenance. Seeds or pods sprout quickly and grow vigorously, making them perfect for beginners or busy people.

I use a mix of both: pots for my rosemary and thyme, and a compact hydroponic unit for basil, dill and coriander. This arrangement provides a steady supply of different flavours and lets me experiment with both methods.

Getting started: step‑by‑step

Ready to grow your own indoor herb collection? Follow these steps for success:

1. Select your herbs and equipment. Choose two or three herbs from the list above to start. Gather planters with drainage holes and potting soil, or set up a hydroponic smart garden according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Plant seeds or seedlings. For planters, fill each pot with potting mix and sow seeds lightly or transplant young plants. For hydroponic systems, insert seeds into the slots, fill the reservoir with water and nutrients, and turn on the lights.
3. Provide adequate light. Most herbs need at least six hours of light a day. Place planters on a south‑facing windowsill like a sunny kitchen window. If natural light is limited, use LED grow lights 15–30 cm above the plants to supplement.
4. Water and feed properly. In soil, water when the top centimetre feels dry and allow excess water to drain. Group pots on a tray to catch drips, and water deeply rather than little and often. In hydroponics, monitor the water level and top up as needed. Add liquid fertiliser every two to four weeks.
5. Harvest regularly. Frequent harvesting encourages herbs to grow bushy and produce new leaves. Pinch off the top sets of leaves on basil to prevent flowering, snip chives near the base, and cut stems of dill and parsley while leaving the central growth untouched. Avoid taking more than one‑third of a plant at once.
6. Watch for problems. Indoor herbs can suffer from aphids or fungus gnats if overwatered. Improve air circulation, avoid soggy soil and inspect leaves regularly. If using a hydroponic system, clean the reservoir periodically to prevent algae.

Tips for success

• Rotate your pots. Plants lean toward light sources. Turning them every week keeps growth even.
• Grow what you love to eat. If you cook Italian food often, focus on basil and parsley. For Asian dishes, coriander and mint are invaluable. Growing herbs you use ensures you harvest regularly, which keeps plants productive.
• Succession sow. For annual herbs like dill and coriander that bolt quickly, sow a small batch of seeds every few weeks to maintain a continuous supply.
• Combine with edible microgreens. Herb microgreens (basil, coriander, dill) grow in just two weeks and provide intense flavour and nutrition. They’re a fun project if you want instant results.

Conclusion

Indoor herb gardening is accessible and rewarding. By choosing adaptable herbs — chives, coriander, parsley, basil, dill, peppermint, rosemary and thyme — and providing light, water and a little attention, you can enjoy fresh flavours all year. Whether you use planters or a smart hydroponic system, you’ll save money, reduce waste and discover the joy of watching your own food grow. Explore our Indoor Herbs & Plants overview to learn more, and browse our Herb Seed, Vegetable Seeds and Planters categories for everything you need. Happy growing!