Best Herbs to Grow in Your Kitchen

If you’re looking to grow herbs in your kitchen, you may be overwhelmed with all the choices and unsure where to start.
Most Commonly Grown Herbs
The following are traditionally grown herbs. They are usually popular because of the frequency they are used in recipes. Most people like having them on hand instead of needing to run to the store at the last minute.
  • Basil
  • Rosemary
  • Lavender
  • Cilantro
  • Parsley
  • Thyme
  • Oregano
  • Mint
  • Sage
  • Chives
Less-Frequently Grown Herbs
Depending on your lifestyle and taste, there are other fabulous herbs to grow. The following are grown less frequently, but if you use them in your cooking, they make a fantastic addition.
  • Bay laurel
  • Lemongrass
  • Tarragon
  • Dill
  • Lemon balm
  • Stevia
  • Savory
  • Chamomile
  • Marjoram
  • Catnip
Choosing What Herbs to Grow
How Much Light Do You Have
First, figure out how much sunlight you have in your kitchen, and then choose herbs that will grow well under those conditions.
Most herbs prefer direct light — i.eThe sun isn’t reflecting off another surface but hitting them directly — which makes them great plants for growing on a kitchen windowsill. But they may differ in the amount of direct light they need daily.
Group Plants by Light Requirements
One of the best ways to group herbs is by putting plants with the same sunlight needs together.
  • Full-sun herbs need six or more hours of direct sunlight daily. South windows are great for full-sun plants like basil, lemongrass, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and sage.
  • Partial-sun or partial-shade herbs need four to six hours of sunshine every day. Windows with east or west exposure are perfect for partial sun or shade herbs like chamomile, catnip, dill, and fennel.
  • Full-shade herbs need less than four hours of direct sun. They like filtered sunlight or direct sun in the early morning from north-facing windows. Some full-shade options include cilantro, chives, lemon balm, mint, parsley, and thyme.
Group Plants by Water Requirements
You can also group herbs in one large container if they have the same water requirements.
  • Moisture-loving herbs like the potting soil around their roots to stay a little moist between watering. They don’t want to be saturated but also don’t want the soil to dry out completely. Some herbs that like these conditions include basil, coriander, and parsley.
  • Some herbs don’t like consistently moist soil and want to be drier. For these plants — chives, lavender, lemon balm, rosemary, sage, and oregano — let at least the top inch of potting soil dry out before watering your plant.