There are endless benefits to growing a herb garden, such as the positive environmental impact, money-saving benefits, and the benefit to our wellbeing. Additionally, increasing uncertainties have encouraged many to turn to growing their own food and trying to be more self-sufficient.

Moreover, fresh, homegrown food is healthier and a lot more flavorful – what more could you want from herbs if not a strong flavor! Although we may want to start growing fruit trees and a vegetable patch, most living situations don’t allow space for this. It takes a whole lot of time and experience too. Instead, herb gardens are a quick way to start growing your own food with relative ease! Growing a herb garden is the perfect way for beginners to start gardening!

The best bit is that you can even grow some herbs indoors! So if you find yourself living up high in a Tokyo skyscraper please don’t rule it out. Trying to grow common garden herbs or figuring out how to grow herbs indoors requires a little more effort and trial-and-error, but it is still simple. Our Village House apartments found here have ample balcony space or a spacious interior that is perfect for growing herbs.

In the guide to growing a herb garden, we will discuss the common garden herbs and how to grow herbs indoors, as well as tips on specific herbs such as growing sweet basil, rosemary, coriander, and more.

Growing Sweet Basil

Growing sweet basil is often one of the first things that pops to mind when thinking about growing a herb garden. This is particularly true for any pesto Genovese lovers! You can use it for pizzas, pasta, sauces, and more, no wonder it is one of the most common garden herbs!

Fresh sweet basil leaves can be expensive so growing sweet basil is a great way to be able to enjoy this delicious herb without the hefty price tag. If you’re looking at how to grow herbs indoors, basil thrives in pots or containers, making it a good contender for an indoor herb garden.

When figuring out how to grow herbs indoors, you’ll want to figure out which windows in your living space get the best sunlight. Basil grows best in a sunny spot where it can get around six hours of sun each day. The plant is sensitive to the cold, so it’s best to avoid cold temperatures and drafts.

It’s best to let the soil dry out slightly between each watering. When growing sweet basil, if you spot any flowers on your plant, it is best to cut these before they bloom to allow the plant to focus all its energy on the leaves.

Growing sweet basil can be very fruitful, don’t worry about cutting and using too much of your plant. Basil plants need to be pruned so that they can grow more leaves. Harvest about a third of the plant, starting from the top and going down. Make sure to cut the stems right at a pair of leaves so that they can form more branches.

Growing Rosemary

Another of the most common garden herbs people enjoy growing is rosemary. This herb is hardy and low-maintenance, so it makes a perfect addition to any apartment herb garden.

Rosemary grows well in pots and doesn’t like much water, so it is best to let it dry out between waterings.

If you’re growing a herb garden with rosemary, the most important thing this herb needs is sunlight because it needs a whole lot of it. Rosemary grows best in full sun, so please find the sunniest spot you can find in your apartment. Rosemary does best outside, so for healthy rosemary use sunny balcony space if it’s available to you.

When rosemary plants start to grow tall, it is best to cut them back quite dramatically to promote growth that will help it turn into more of a bush rather than a tall spindly plant.

Growing Coriander

One of the most divine common garden herbs is coriander, also known as cilantro. Whilst many people liken the taste of coriander to soap, if you are someone who loves coriander, it is a crucial addition to your herb garden. Coriander packs a flavorful punch, so it makes a great garnish for curries, chilies, noodle and rice dishes, and salads.

When thinking about how to grow herbs indoors, the easiest way is to normally start from small plants rather than seeds. Although you can purchase small coriander plants, you can grow them from seed quite easily too.

Like most herbs, coriander enjoys some bright light, less than rosemary, however! Once you start to see full coriander leaves, you’re best picking them off straight away.

Growing Mint

Mint is another hardy herb perfect for an indoor herb garden. The sweet smell will help freshen up your apartment too! Cocktail lovers, dessert lovers, and salad lovers, this is a perfect herb for you!

Mint grows quickly, and although it does like to get some morning sun, it can tolerate some shade. It is important to keep mint moist, so water regularly and don’t let the soil dry out. Please make sure not to drown the plant since it is still susceptible to root rot.

Like the other herbs, it’s best to trim mint back to encourage more growth. If you spot any flowers on your mint plant, pinch them off before they begin to bloom.

Even if you don’t have much natural light, you can still grow a mini herb garden in your apartment. Try investing in a plant grow light or small propagation station to help you with this. All of the herbs we recommend here are useful in cooking, help freshen you up, and be showcased in DIY wall hangings that we teach you how to make here! If you begin growing a herb garden, as well as the coriander, rosemary, mint, and basil we’ve recommended here, there are plenty of other herbs that are easy enough to grow. Some other herbs you may want to try include oregano, thyme, sage, parsley, and chives. Good luck with the growing!