You might dread the winter months for many reasons, like the snow, the cold, the lack of a tan, or the few extra pounds that come from being cooped up indoors for months on end. Most of all, you probably find winter to be a bit lonely without a bustling landscape to fuss over or the endless needs of a full-fledged flower garden, but fear not! We’ll show you how to defy the laws of nature right in your kitchen with your very own indoor herb garden full of all your favorites, like cilantro, sage, thyme, and mint. Here’s how!

Dees Nursery-Oceanside-Defy Nature-Grow Herbs Indoors-herbs growing on windowsillThe Best Herbs to Grow Indoors

When it comes to growing herbs indoors, you have a great variety of plants that do well in the temperate and controlled conditions of our wintering nests. Here’s a few herbs that will thrive in your home this winter with a little sunlight, warmth, and love:

 

Mint

It’s hard not to love the cool freshness of mint, and harder still when you discover how easy it is to grow! Mint grows like a weed, meaning even the blackest of thumbs will have no problem growing this herb! With the right sunlight and a bit of water, you’ll have a steady stock to keep those mojitos rolling all winter! Mint is also a great natural remedy for digestive issues and tummy troubles (you know, in case you overdo it with the mojitos…).

Dees Nursery-Oceanside-Defy Nature-Grow Herbs Indoors-rosemary in potsRosemary

This beloved Mediterranean plant is a must-try addition to your indoor herb garden. Known as an “upside down” plant, rosemary prefers to draw in its moisture from the air around it, so getting its watering right is critical for successfully growing it indoors. Our advice? Water cautiously, allow its soil to dry out a bit on the top, and pamper it with a weekly misting to make sure this superb herb remains a success all winter. 

 

Sage

Sage is a woodsy perennial shrub from the mint family, but with its own distinct flair. It also requires quite a few daily rays to grow properly, but is nonetheless a very wise addition to your indoor herb garden. Aromatic and loaded with rich flavor, sage definitely tops the list of the best herbs to grow indoors. If you’re not into cooking with fresh sage, it’s also a tea titan; tea brewed from sage leaves is touted for its off-the-charts proposed health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Growing this herb indoors this winter definitely sounds like some ‘sage’ advice to us!

Dees Nursery-Oceanside-Defy Nature-Grow Herbs Indoors-sage and thymeThyme

Another one of those amazing Mediterranean herbs, thyme has been grown and used for just about everything! The realms of food, medicine, and nutrition have all benefited from this remarkable plant, and it is thankfully one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors. A lover of sunshine and hot, dry climates, keep this herb where the sun shines and the humidity doesn’t get too high. It’s usually better to grow thyme separate from the rest of your indoor herb garden so you can keep its soil conditions low in nutrients and on the drier side, just the way it likes it!

 

Chives

We know you love chives sprinkled over a baked potato as much as we do, so make sure to keep stock of this tasty herb year-round in your indoor herb garden, too! Like mint, chives are incredibly easy to care for; the more often you harvest, the better they grow! They do need lots of light, however, so either a sunny window sill or a herb garden grow light will help you get the most out of this delicious kitchen standby.

Dees Nursery-Oceanside-Defy Nature-Grow Herbs Indoors-herb grow lights kitchenGrowing Herbs Indoors Without Sunlight

As we all know only too well, Long Island winters aren’t exactly famed for their abundance of sunshine, meaning you’ll need to play Sun God this winter to ensure your indoor herb garden gets the rays it needs to grow lush and bountiful. Remember: plants still need to photosynthesize over winter, and that sort of thing needs light!

Unless you actually possess solar manipulation powers, a good grow light will take care of most of this hard work for you. These handy indoor gardening accessories mimic the UV profiles of the light you would find outdoors or in a greenhouse, making them must-haves for any houseplants or indoor herbs not getting their daily tanning hours over winter. 

If you’re on the hunt for new ways to try growing herbs indoors in Oceanside, NY, we’ve got you covered! Come see us at the Dees’ Nursery and Florist today to kickstart your new indoor herb garden or keep it going with some savvy new additions.