Just like growing vegetables, organically growing fresh herbs indoors has its own benefits, especially during the winter months. Freshly harvested herbs add flavor to foods and offers numerous health benefits. There are some herbs that do not require sunlight and outdoor atmosphere to thrive. Indoor herbs just require a bright window and some basic care to keep them nourished and healthy.

Herbs to grow indoors

Basil

Basil is commonly used in world cuisines and is also a major sauce and salad ingredient at home. It is rich in Vitamins A and K, calcium and potassium. It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that boosts cardiovascular health. To grow basil, you plant the seeds in a pot of nutrient rich soil and place in near your window. They require light and warmth to thrive.

Thyme

Thyme is ideal for flavoring pork, poultry soup and sauces. It is also used as a home remedy for sore throats and upset stomachs. To grow thyme indoors, dig up or root a soft tip cutting from an outdoor plant. Pot the plant and place it where it receives adequate light. Thyme thrives in full light or sun.

Rosemary

Rosemary has become a staple herb in most kitchens. It is ideal for flavoring meat. Cut a piece of rosemary plant outdoors and place it in a soilless but moist mix until it develops roots. After developing roots, place it in a south facing window.

Parsley

Parsley resembles coriander leaves and is rich in potassium, manganese, magnesium, iron and calcium. It can be grown from seeds or a clump dug from an outdoor organic garden. It thrives in full sunlight but can also grow if placed in an east or west facing window.

Sage

Cut a tip from an outdoor plant, and place it in a pot to grow your indoor sage. Sage tolerates dry air and indoor atmosphere. However, it must receive adequate light to thrive. So, place it near a south facing window.

Tarragon

Tarragon thrives during early winter. Take a mature plant from the outdoor garden and pot it. Leave it to dry completely before taking it indoors. Store it in the coolest part of your house for a 3 to 4 days before placing it in your south facing window. Ensure it gets enough light and feed it adequately with organic liquid fertilizer.

Bay

Bay is a perennial plant that grows all year in containers. So, you could just shift the containers from your outdoor garden to your indoor gardening corner. However, it should be placed near west or east facing windows and in an area with adequate air circulation.

Chervil

Chervil growth starts from seeds, and it requires temperatures of about 70 degrees F to thrive. They do well under minimal light. So, placing them near a window is not a requirement.

Chives

Dig up a chives clump from the garden and place it in a pot or container. Leave the container outside until the chive leaves dry completely. Move the container indoors during early winter and place it in a cool part for a few days before placing it near a bright window. Chives thrive under natural light.

Cut a tip from an outdoor plant and place it in a pot filled with nutrient rich soil. Place the pot near a south facing window, water it and feed it with liquid organic fertilizer.

If you are an organic gardening enthusiast, growing herbs indoors during winter is a walk in the park. All you need is commitment to caring for your herbs and ensuring that they get as much light as needed.