Guide to Growing Apartment Herbs - Learn Gardening Indoors

Each year, one of the toughest decisions for an indoor gardener is choosing which plants deserve to occupy their limited space and access to sunlight. Use this Guide to growing apartment herbs to help make that choice easier! Should you go with something practical that provides some fruit for your labor or something more beautiful that provides eye candy throughout the year?

Fortunately, that choice becomes pretty easy when considering herbs because you get both!

Growing herbs in your apartment is rewarded with beauty, and it provides plenty of reasons to celebrate come harvest time. Also, because you can grow most herbs as large or as small as you want, you don’t have to just choose one or the other.

Herbs have been written about and cultivated for thousands of years. And throughout that time, they have been used widely as medicine, in cooking, to mask odors, and even to ward off evil spirits.

This guide will teach you about growing herbs in your apartment by focusing on the ins and outs of the big four: oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme.

Oregano

Oregano is a woody perennial plant part of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Its origins come from the Mediterranean region. Oregano is used as an ornamental plant but is widely used as a culinary herb, especially in Italian, Mexican, French, and Spanish cuisines.

It prefers a hot, dry climate but can do well in others. In colder climates, oregano is typically grown as an annual. Its flavor is considered earthy, slightly bitter, and warm. If you’ve never tried fresh oregano before, you may be surprised to find out that its taste is quite different than the dried version.

Uses For Oregano

Oregano is commonly used in tomato-based recipes, like pizza and pasta sauce. It’s also used often in olive oil dishes, vinaigrettes, and marinades for different meats. Oregano pairs well with garlic, onion, thyme, and basil.

Oregano is high in vitamins A, C, and K and minerals like iron, manganese, and calcium. It’s also rich in dietary fiber. Medicinally, oregano has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

How to Grow Oregano

Unlike the other herbs in this guide, growing oregano from seed is easy.

From seed:

Choose a pot that offers quick draining, and fill it with a sterilized seed starting mix.
Sow the powder-like seeds across the surface. Do not bury them.
As the seeds grow, keep the soil on the dryer side.
Germination occurs within 7 to 14 days. Transplant if needed.

From cuttings:

Strip the leaves off of the bottom two inches of a stem of oregano.
Cut the stem at a diagonal angle.
You can use honey or a root growth hormone (be sure to read the label) if you wish.
If using growth hormone, you can place it directly into well-draining soil.
If not using a growth hormone, place the stem in a glass of water, careful not to submerge the leaves.
Replace the water every few days.
Store the glass in a humid location for a few weeks until the roots grow 1 to 2 inches.
Transplant the stem into a pot of well-draining soil.

Care Tips

Oregano is a hardy plant that does well in 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Oregano prefers bright sun and soil that is light and fast-draining. If mixing your own, you can use potting soil with coarse sand or finely ground granite.
Water your oregano plant regularly, but don’t overwater it. The soil should dry out between waterings.
In winter or dry indoor conditions, provide extra humidity by placing a plate of pebbles and water directly underneath your potted oregano.
You can feed your oregano with controlled-release pellet fertilizer. Feeding only needs to happen a few times a year, if at all.

How to Harvest

As soon as the plants are 4 to 5 inches tall, you can begin to clip off the leaves of your oregano. Consistent clipping promotes regrowth. You can use fresh oregano directly off the stem or dry it to use later on. To dry oregano, hang bunches in a warm, well-ventilated area that provides some direct sunlight. Oregano is ready to be stored in about 2 to 6 weeks.

You can also line a baking sheet with parchment and place it in a 180-degree oven for 2 to 4 hours. When you can crumble the leaves, it’s dry and ready for storage.

Dried oregano is best for up to six months. Store the herbs in an airtight container in a cool dark place.

What to Watch For

Soil should be well-drained and have a pH level of 6.5 to 7.0. On sweltering days, put oregano pot in a partially shaded area for protection.

Basil

Basil is a culinary herb from the mint (Lamiaceae) family, native to tropical regions but is used in cuisines worldwide. There are several types of basil. The most commonly used in cooking is sweet basil. Basil is an annual but can be grown as a perennial in some areas of the world.

Although basil grows best outdoors, it can be grown indoors easily.

Uses For Basil

Basil is very fragrant, with a sweet smell and peppery taste. Basil leaves are commonly used to flavor Italian dishes but can also be found in Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese cooking. It’s a staple ingredient in traditional pesto and is used in tomato-based pasta dishes. Different basil varieties offer a wide range of flavors. Some taste of citrus and spice, while others provide a spicy licorice flavor.

Basil’s aroma is sometimes used in candles, oils, and other scented items. The basil flower is used to make tea. Across the world, basil is used to help stomach spasms, loss of appetite, kidney conditions, head colds, warts, worm infections, fluid retention, and intestinal gas. It’s also used by women before and after childbirth to start the flow of breast milk and improve circulation.

How to Grow

Basil grows best during the warm months and in the sun for 6 to 8 hours. Many people who grow basil outside will either bring the plant inside or use cuttings to transplant it to continue growing during the winter months. Whether you’re starting from seed or transplanting, you’ll want to place your potted basil near a warm window that offers sun for most of the day. If you can’t provide sun, you can grow it under a grow light instead.

While basil can be grown from seed, most choose to grow it from cuttings.

From seed:

Put moist soil into 4- to 6-inch pots.
Place basil seeds in your palm and sprinkle them across the surface.
Cover with a thin layer of soil and press gently into the soil to make it firm and eliminate air pockets.
Water lightly.
Place the pot(s) in a southern facing, warm window or sunny area.
If using grow lights, set them on a 14-hour timer.
Keep the soil moist but not soaked.
After about two months, you should start to see whole leaves to use for cooking.
If the leaves start looking pale, add liquid fertilizer (use according to packaging).

To create a rotation of fresh basil, plant new seeds every few weeks.

From cuttings:

Use clean scissors or a sharp knife and clip a fully grown basil stem at an angle just below a leaf node (this is where the stems emerge). The cutting should be about four to six inches long.
Remove any lower leaves from the bottom of the stem.
If using a growth stimulator, you can plant the cutting directly into the soil.
If not using a growth stimulator, fill a small glass or jar with filtered water and place the stem in it. Be sure to keep the leaves out of the water.
Change the water every couple of days.
Roots should sprout after 10 to 14 days.
After the roots are about an inch or two long, remove the cutting from water and pot them with a pre-moistened potting mix.
Firm the soil around the bottom of the cutting. Place the pot in a warm, sunny spot or under grow lights.
Water often enough to keep the soil moist but not overly wet.

Another medium besides water or soil that you can use is perlite to grow roots. Perlite is excellent for helping cuttings and plants stay moist over extended periods.

Care Tips

Caring for basil is pretty straightforward. Here are a few essentials:

Basil needs about one inch of water weekly. The best time of day to water is in the morning.
Basil requires little to no fertilization. If you’d like to add fertilizer, choose a light application of liquid fertilizer one or two times a season.
Trim leaves early to encourage full and bushy growth.
Plant basil next to tomatoes, oregano, lettuce, and peppers.
Bolting, or “going to seed,” is when the top grows too fast for the roots to support it. You can prevent this by not allowing your soil to get too dry and providing slight shade if it gets too hot during the day.
Pinch off flowering stems one inch below the flower to keep the basil from producing seeds.

How to Harvest

Use sharp scissors or snips to harvest your basil regularly. Clipping at least one-third of the leaves each month encourages new growth. To store it, you can freeze it with olive oil.

What to Watch For

The main issue to look out for in basil is wilting. Wilting can occur if the plant is exposed to an extremely hot day. Simply provide shade or move it to a cooler spot for the day and keep the soil moist.

Different Varieties of Basil

There are several different varieties of basil, each offering unique flavors.

Common varieties include:

Sweet basil is the most commonly found variety in stores and used for cooking.
Thai basil produces purple leaves and a spicy, licorice-like flavor.
Lemon basil has a powerful lemon scent and adds a layer of freshness to dishes.
Purple basil is a vibrant purple color with very large leaves. It’s not as sweet and offers a strong clove flavor. It’s not generally used in cooking but adds something unique to salads and pesto.

Adding in other varieties of basil is a great and easy way to incorporate different colors and aromas into your indoor herb garden.

Rosemary

Rosemary is an aromatic shrub with fragrant needle-like leaves. It’s native to the Mediterranean region and a member of the sage family. Rosemary gets its name from the Latin ros marinus or “dew of the sea.” It’s a perennial that can live as long as 30 years in the right conditions.

Rosemary is a very hardy herb that can withstand a wide range of temperatures and typically blooms in the spring and summer. However, it has also been known to flower in early December or mid-February.

It’s used as a decorative plant in gardens. Its leaves are used to flavor many foods worldwide, especially roasted meats.

Its Uses

Rosemary provides no nutritional value, but when roasted with meats, it leaves a mustard-like aroma with the fragrance of charred wood that lends itself well to barbecuing and grilling. It’s also commonly used in oils, perfumes, shampoos, cleaning products, and incense.

Medicinally, rosemary is an effective antimicrobial herb.

How to Grow Rosemary

Rosemary requires about six hours per day of sunlight. Potted rosemary should be kept on a windowsill that receives light throughout the day, in a sunroom, or under grow lights. You should use grow lights for about 14 hours a day if using them.

Rosemary is considered hardy and can thrive in temperatures down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes rosemary a great indoor plant, even in the winter.

Similar to basil, rosemary grows best from cuttings.

From seed:

Choose a container with adequate drainage and about 12 inches of depth to make room for the roots.
Choose a soil that is dry and well-drained. A sandy cactus soil blend works really well.
It’s best to provide rosemary seeds with a seed-starting medium or mix. A basic recipe includes 4 parts compost, 1 part perlite, 1 part vermiculite, and 2 parts peat moss.
Rosemary can grow to about four feet if allowed. Using a smaller pot will prevent it from getting too tall.
Because rosemary can take a long time to germinate, you’ll need to sow more seeds than you think you need.
Sow the seed just below the surface of the soil.
Watering after seeding should be minimal, but you need to provide lots of light and ventilation.
Once rosemary reaches about 4 to 5 inches, it can be transplanted into larger individual pots.

From cuttings:

Fill a small three-inch pot with well-draining potting soil.
Start with a 4- to 6-inch sprig of healthy non-flowering rosemary.
Strip leaves off the bottom two inches of the sprig to bare the stem.
Cut the sprig at a 45-degree angle with a sharp knife or scissors.
If using rooting hormone (or honey), dip the cut end into it and place that end directly into the soil.
If not using the rooting hormone, start the root growth in a small jar of water. Only the stem should be submerged.
Replace the water every few days.
After 3 to 4 weeks, you should see roots.
Plant the stem into your pot size of choice. Remember that pot size will determine how tall your rosemary grows.
Plants should mature after 6-8 weeks.

Care Tips

Ensure that the rosemary gets plenty of sunlight.
Keep the top level of the soil damp.

How to Harvest

Wait for the stems to reach about eight inches in height. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to harvest your rosemary by clipping 2 to 3 inches off the top. This will encourage quick and healthy regrowth. Storing rosemary is best done by putting bunches in water like a bouquet of flowers. Trim off the bottom leaves, or they will break down in the water. Tent a plastic bag over the glass and place it in the fridge. Replace the water regularly. Storing rosemary this way can make it last for a couple of weeks.

To dry your rosemary, hang a bunch upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area. It takes about 10 days to dry completely. Strip the leaves off the stems and store the dried leaves in an airtight container. They can last a long time when stored this way but are best if used within the first year.

What to Watch For

Rosemary can withstand a wide range of temperatures but does not do well in temperatures below freezing.
It does best in full sun but can take some shade.
Overwatering can cause root rot.
Fertilizing isn’t necessary. If your rosemary begins to look yellow and pale, consider feeding lightly.

Thyme

Thyme is a relative of oregano and a part of the mint family of herbs. Used primarliy in cooking, thyme has medicinal and ornamental uses. It’s indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming, and ancient Greeks used it in their baths and incense. During the Middle Ages, thyme was believed to ward off nightmares and aid in sleep if placed under the pillow. Thyme has a musty scent that is considered warming, spicy, and therapeutic.

Uses For Thyme

In cooking, thyme is used to flavor savory dishes like braised and roasted meat, fish, and vegetables. It also adds flavors to marinades, stocks, and soups. Thyme can also be used in cocktails and teas.

Medicinally, thyme is used to fight bacterial and fungal infections. It offers some relief from coughing and has antioxidant effects. Though people also use thyme for helping with patchy hair loss, dementia, and other conditions, there is no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness.

Found in many lotions, creams, candles, and oils for its aroma, thyme is almost everywhere.

How to Grow Thyme

Thyme grows best in clay pots to help control moisture. Also, Thyme isn’t tolerant of soggy root conditions. The clay pot should have at least one large hole in its bottom. Thyme can do well in indirect light, making it a great herb to mix into your indoor garden. It does best with about six hours of daylight and temperatures around 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Germination from seed can take about 28 days, so most people prefer to grow thyme from cuttings.

From seed:

Use well-draining soil in a clay pot with good drainage.
Scatter seeds on top of the soil and cover them lightly.
Transplant if needed once it reaches 3 inches.
It grows best in full sun and in soil with a pH of 7.0. You can add lime to raise the pH level if required.

From cuttings:

Grab a thyme sprig about 4 to 6 inches long.
Strip the leaves from the bottom two inches of the sprig, leaving the bare stem.
If you choose to use a root growth hormone, you can place the sprig directly into the soil to grow its roots.
If not using a growth hormone, place the stem in a jar of water, careful not to submerge the leaves.
Set the jar in a dry, sunny space and replace the water every few days.
After 3 to 4 weeks, you can plant the stem into soil.
In about 6 to 8 weeks, you should have a fully mature thyme plant.

Thyme plants grow best in a warm, humid area.

Care Tips

Keep the top level of the soil damp but not too wet.
As the thyme grows, you can replant it in a bigger pot if you wish.
Clip thyme leaves to encourage regrowth.

How to Harvest

Harvest thyme by cutting off the top five to six inches of growth, leaving the tough, woody parts. Trimming it regularly will encourage new growth, but you should always leave at least five inches on the plant. It’s best to harvest in the morning when it’s cooler.

You can store fresh thyme in the refrigerator, lightly wrapped in plastic or porous material. To dry thyme, hang the sprigs in a dark, well-ventilated, and warm area, then place the dry leaves in an airtight container. You can also freeze the thyme leaves.

Thyme will maintain its flavor for up to two years.

What to Watch For

Thyme needs plenty of sun and soil that is not overly wet.
It’s also vital to maintain its pH level.

Regardless of which herb or herbs you choose to grow in your apartment, we hope that they add lots of fragrance, flavor, and joy to your life.

And that they keep any pesky spirits away as well.