Herb gardens are little (sometimes huge) treasures that many people turn to for various reasons—they are economical, a great hobby, and also have many benefits. Those that have a big back or front yard in modern homes most commonly grow large gardens, but what about compact homes or small spaces like cozy apartments? With a little planning and creativity, growing your own garden in the smallest of places is very possible! Whether it’s a sunny windowsill in a high-rise apartment, a narrow balcony, or a corner on your terrace, starting a herb garden can be an incredibly rewarding experience!
Why Start An Herb Garden?
Besides fresh ingredients and the aesthetic appeal, herb gardening has many benefits—it’s a common hobby that has been passed down through generations in many communities.
Culinary benefits
- Herbs like coriander (dhaniya), mint (pudina), and basil help intensify flavors of many traditional and fusion dishes.
- Fresh herbs are far more aromatic and potent than the ones packaged at stores; this also helps in improving the quality of your meals for better health.
Health and wellness
- Many herbs have medicinal properties. For example, tulsi (holy basil) helps boost immunity and helps with digestion.
- Homegrown herbs don’t have any pesticides or chemicals, which can be harmful for health.
Environmental impact
- Growing your own herbs is a great step towards sustaining our environment—you help reduce the need for packaged and transported products, plastic containers, etc.
- Plants and herbs also help make air quality better along with having a serene green ambiance.
Therapeutic value
- Gardening is one of the best hobbies when it comes to reducing stress and helping better mental well-being. Nurturing plants not only connects you to nature but also helps instill mindfulness and a sense of accomplishment.
Preparing To Start Your Herb Garden
If you’re new to gardening or are revamping your garden, there are some steps that you can do to help prepare. These will help you avoid any common problems people face, understand the space you have, and what you want to grow.
Choosing the perfect location
One of the most challenging parts of growing an herb garden is finding a location where herbs can grow well and thrive—they need sunlight! There are, however, a few spots in homes without large outer spaces that can definitely grow some herbs.
- Balconies and window sills: Choose windows or balconies that get the most sunlight during the day in your home—these would be the south-facing ones. Ideally, herbs need about 4-6 hours in the sunlight. Some common spots are bathroom and kitchen windows and bedroom balconies.
- Terraces or rooftops: If you have a rooftop or terrace, you can grow your herbs here in small containers or vertical set-ups.
- Indoor spaces: If your home doesn’t get little to no sunlight, having grow lights that mimic sunlight is a great option.
Understanding climate
Understanding the climate that you live in will help you pick the herbs that grow best in that climate. This will increase your chances of successful growth!
- Hot and humid climates (like in Chennai or Mumbai): mint, lemongrass, and curry leaves.
- Mild, cooler regions (like in Bangalore and Pune): Basil, parsley, and thyme.
- Colder climates (like in Shimla or Darjeeling): Dill, chives, and coriander grow well during spring and summer.
Essential gardening supplies
- Containers: Terracotta pots are the best choice because they are designed for the soil to breathe. You can also use recycled jars, buckets, or hanging baskets. All you have to do is make sure that the containers have drainage holes.
- Potting mix: Having a good mix of garden soil, cocopeat, and compost is important—it helps in efficient draining, which prevents many plant diseases.
- Fertilizers: Use organic fertilizers like vermicompost or homemade compost—they are effective and are affordable long-term.
Best Herbs To Grow In Small Spaces
When it comes to growing herbs in limited spaces, it’s essential to choose varieties that thrive in containers and are widely used in daily cooking. Here’s a more detailed guide to each herb, with specific care tips and their culinary or medicinal benefits:
Coriander (Dhaniya)
Coriander is a common herb used in most Indian dishes, such as in curries and chutneys, and in fusion or western dishes as garnishes. It’s versatile because its seeds and leaves are both edible! Besides being a culinary delight, it also has a lot of health benefits—it’s known for its antioxidant properties, which have detoxification; it has vitamins A, C, and K and essential minerals like potassium, calcium, and iron. Traditionally, coriander is used to help with digestion, reduce inflammation, and improve heart health.
How to grow
Sow coriander seeds in a shallow container, and make sure that they are 3–4 inches away from each other. Press them gently into the soil but not too deep. It’s important to use soil that has nutrients and drains well. Keep the container in a spot you can find that has indirect sunlight.
Harvesting
3-4 weeks after you sow the seeds, you can harvest the leaves by trimming the outer stems of the plant—this will help it continue to grow. If you want to let the plant flower, you can collect seeds to use as a spice or for replanting.
Mint (Pudina)
Besides its refreshing smell, mint is used for many things like beverages, chutneys, and even desserts. It has vitamins A and C along with antioxidants that help in reducing inflammation and boosting the immune system. It’s also a natural pest repellent, great for oral health, and helps with digestion, nausea, and bloating!
How to grow
Mint does the best when it’s grown in containers—this helps you control the spread of the growth. Add moist (not soggy) soil to a pot that is 8-10 inches deep and put it in a place that gets partial shade or indirect sunlight.
Extra tip: Pinch off flower buds when you see them—it helps with more leaf growth!
Tulsi (Holy Basil)
Tulsi is known for its medicinal properties and has been used for many centuries—it helps in boosting immunity and fighting off infection. It’s also an adaptogen, which helps in reducing stress and improving mental clarity. It’s commonly used in herbal teas and also in Ayurvedic care because of its calming effects and ability to balance the body’s energies. It has a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, encourages respiratory health, and helps in digestion.
How to grow
Using a medium-sized pot with well-draining soil works best for Tulsi plants—they need about 4-6 hours of sunlight a day. The plant does need to be watered regularly, but between waterings, make sure the soil is dry—overwatering can lead to root rot.
Care tip: Pinch the topmost leaves often; this helps for bushy growth and prevents flowering too early.
Curry Leaves (Kadi Patta)
Curry leaves have a unique smell and flavor and are common in many South Indian dishes like sambhar, rasam, and chutneys. They have a lot of antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E, and essential minerals and help in various aspects of health—they help improve digestion, support liver function, and encourage healthy hair growth. They also are known for their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic properties, making them quite versatile in medical care as well.
How to grow
Curry leaves should be planted in deep containers with soil that is nutrient-rich. They love the sun but are okay with a bit of sharing. When it comes to maintenance, they do need to be fertilized once a month with organic compost to help with healthy and lush growth. Make sure to also prime the plan every few weeks to help shape it and encourage more branching.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass, because of its citrusy flavor, is commonly used in teas, soups, and desserts. It’s also rich in antioxidants and has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties—it’s used as a natural remedy for digestive issues. It also has mosquito-repelling properties, making it a useful and natural way to keep insects at bay, both indoors and outdoors.
How to grow
Make sure to plant lemongrass in a sunny spot in sandy, well-drained soil in a container with good drainage holes. It needs to be watered moderately to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to fungal issues.
Harvesting
You can harvest lemongrass by cutting stalks close to the base when they are about half an inch thick.
Fenugreek (Methi)
Fenugreek is commonly used in dals, parathas, and curries—it adds a slightly bitter, earthy flavor. Beyond its culinary uses, fenugreek is valued for its medicinal benefits. It is known to help in digestion, soothe stomach issues, and reduce swelling and pain because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It also has fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which helps with heart health and regulates blood sugar levels.
How to grow
Using a shallow tray or pot, scatter fenugreek seeds densely and cover them lightly with soil. Water immediately after that. Make sure the water is moist, not soggy, and keep it in a place where there is partial sunlight.
Harvesting
You can harvest fenugreek leaves within 2–3 weeks when they’re tender and green. For a continuous supply, sow seeds every 2 weeks.
Creating Your Herb Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Preparing your containers
- Containers: The best pots for herb gardening are 6-12 inches deep with draining holes. For herbs that spread more like mint, you can use wider containers.
- Soil: Use a potting mix that has organic compost, which makes sure there is good drainage and gives your herbs the nutrients they need.
- Pro tip: Add a layer of small pebbles at the bottom of the container—this improves drainage.
Step 2: Sowing seeds or planting cuttings
- Seeds: Make sure to read the packet to understand how deep in the soil the seeds need to be sown and how far apart from each other they need to be. Most commonly they should be sown twice as deep as their size.
- Cuttings: Before planting cuttings in soil that is moist, make sure to dip them in rooting hormone to help the roots to develop faster.
- Spacing: Make sure there is enough space for air circulation, because overcrowding can lead to slow growth.
Step 3: Watering
- Frequency: Herbs generally like to grow in soil that is moist—the best times to water them are in the morning to reduce evaporation.
- Avoid waterlogging: Check the soil often by using your finger and pushing it one inch deep; if it feels dry, you can water it again.
Step 4: Sunlight and care
- Sunlight: Most herbs need about 4–6 hours of sunlight a day.
- Rotation: Make sure that you rotate the containers once a week so that all sides of the plant get even sunlight.
Step 5: Maintenance
- Pruning: It’s important to trim herb plants often to prevent them from becoming woody and also help them grow bushy.
- Fertilizing: Your herbs need to be fed once a month with organic compost or a diluted liquid fertilizer. Don’t over-fertilize, as it can affect the flavor of the herbs.
- Pest control: Use natural remedies like neem oil or garlic spray to remove common pests like aphids or spider mites.
Maximizing Small Spaces for Your Herb Garden
Vertical gardening
Vertical gardening is an innovative way to grow herbs in places where there is little to no horizontal space available. Using this concept, you can grow many different types of plants without using too much of the ground or floor area.
They are great for balconies, terraces, and patios, have an aesthetic appeal, and also make watering and harvesting herbs more convenient. But, make sure that the structure is stable and the area gets enough sunlight. You can place taller plants on higher tiers and shorter ones below to maximize sun exposure.
How to set it up
- Wall-mounted planters: You can hang lightweight, modular planters on walls or fences. These can be filled with soil and used to grow small herbs like basil, coriander, and thyme.
- Stackable containers: You can buy stackable or tiered planters to grow multiple herbs in one place—each level can host a different herb, creating a multi-layered garden.
- DIY Options: You can also repurpose household items like old shoe organizers, wooden pallets, or PVC pipes to create your own vertical planters.
Hanging baskets
This is most definitely a space-saving solution to gardening and also allows you to grow many trailing herbs, which adds a bit of a decorative touch to the space. Some of the best herbs to grow in hanging baskets are mint with its great trailing growth, thyme with its cascading nature, and parsley (they somehow do really well in hanging baskets even though they are not trailing plants). It’s important to remember that the soil in hanging baskets can dry out faster than containers placed on the ground, so check the soil moisture at least 2 times a week. Don’t forget to rotate the baskets too!
How to set it up
- Choose hanging baskets that have a diameter of at least 10-12 inches; this will help with good root growth.
- Line the basket with moss or coco coir to help retain soil and moisture.
- Make sure to hang the baskets using sturdy hooks on ceilings, railings, and walls.
Hydroponics
This is a modern and recently popular gardening technology that lets you grow your herbs in water that has a lot of nutrients—yes, which means no need for soil. This is commonly used in small spaces and urban areas because it does not take up much room. It works pretty simply: the plants grow with their roots submerged in water that’s nutrient-rich and supported by an inert medium like clay pebbles or coco coir. You can set it up indoors or outdoors, with artificial lighting used if sunlight is scarce. The best herbs for hydroponics are basil, mint, parsley, dill, and chives! This gardening tech helps herbs grow faster, needs a lot less water, and eliminates the risk of soil-borne pests.
Types of hydroponic systems
- Deep water culture (DWC): Plants are suspended in a reservoir of oxygenated water.
- Nutrient film technique (NFT): A thin film of nutrient solution flows over the roots, providing continuous nourishment.
- Kratky method: A passive system that doesn’t require pumps or electricity, ideal for beginners.
Setting up a hydroponic system
Buy a ready-made hydroponic kit or build your own using plastic containers, an air pump, and net pots. Then, mix a water-soluble nutrient solution following the instructions and place the system in an area with good lighting—natural sunlight or artificial grow lights. Make sure to monitor the water levels and the amount of nutrients often, and clean the system periodically to prevent algae buildup.
FAQs
What herbs grow the best indoors?
The best herbs to grow indoors are parsley, mint and chives!
How do I prevent pests from attacking my herbs?
You can use natural solutions like neem oil, garlic spray, or a solution of dish soap and water. Also, make sure that they have good air circulation and avoid overwatering, because pests thrive in moist, stagnant conditions.
Can I grow multiple herbs in one container?
Yes you can grow more than one herb in one container but make sure that you pair herbs that have the same sunlight and watering needs. For example, basil and parsley can grow together, and mint is best grown alone due to its invasive nature.
