Have you ever wished you could snip fresh herbs for your culinary creations without ever leaving your home? An indoor vertical herb garden is the answer to your dreams! Not only is it incredibly practical, but it can also be a stunning focal point in your home.
Even better? You can harvest your herbs whether it’s 0°F or 100°F outside.
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FINDING THE PERFECT PLACE FOR YOUR VERTICAL HERB GARDEN
Just like that new houseplant you brought home from Costco, your indoor herb garden needs the right amount of light to flourish. Ideally, you’ll want to find a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
South-facing windows are best for light-loving herbs like rosemary and basil, but don’t despair if your kitchen isn’t flooded with sunshine. East and west-facing windows can still give herbs enough light to produce leaves.
If the best spot for your herb garden is far from a window, that’s when grow lights come to the rescue. There are grow lights designed to hang from shelves or clip onto edges of furniture. You can even buy special grow light bulbs that work in normal lamps.
CHOOSING YOUR INDOOR HERB GARDEN
The beauty of vertical herb gardens is that they come in all shapes and sizes. You can purchase a pre-made system or get creative and DIY your own. Wall-mounted planters, plant stands, and repurposed shelving are all fantastic options.
Just make sure your chosen system has adequate drainage to prevent your herbs from getting soggy roots.
DIY Wood Indoor Herb Wall Planter
Save these free DIY Wood Indoor Herb Wall Planter Instructions to create a stylish and affordable herb wall planter for your home. This four shelf unit is perfect for all your herbs and even other indoor plants you love to grow. You can choose any wood that suits your budget, but we highly recommend cedar for all of your garden projects.
Pre-Made Systems
Outsunny Indoor Wall Planter – This wall-mounted planter would make a beautiful accent wall in a sunny spot of your home. It’s got 6 pots total with pre-drilled drainage holes for your herbs. You could grow 1 perennial herb or 3 to 4 annual herbs per pot.
Vertical Garden Wall Planter – This is a really stylish option with 3 black metal pots in different sizes. These pots are a little deeper than the first option, which is more ideal for herbs like cilantro and dill, which have longer roots.
Hydroponic Indoor Garden Tower – This 4-level setup allows you to grow a whopping 64 herb plants total! Water circulates throughout the tower, and all but the top level have grow lights. You could even dedicate entire rows to lettuce plants or flowers and still have tons of room for herbs.
Easy Vertical Plant Stands
5 Tier Plant Stand – If you have a bright window, this plant stand gives you a beautiful spot to place your herbs. Just grab 5 terracotta or ceramic pots for your herbs. You could do all matching pots or mix it up a bit.
Rolling Vertical Plant Stand – Create your own herb cart! You can fit tons of pots on this rolling plant stand.
Rotating Plant Shelf – This piece has two floating shelves that you can rotate to suit your space. You can fit at least 4 potted herbs.
SELECTING THE BEST HERBS FOR YOUR INDOOR GARDEN
Now comes the fun part: picking out the herbs you’ll be growing to use in your kitchen. Here are a few of our favorites for indoor vertical gardens:
- Basil: The quintessential herb for pesto and Caprese salads.
- Chives: Add a delightful oniony flavor to omelets, soups, and stews.
- Mint: Perfect for refreshing mojitos and invigorating your summer salads.
- Oregano: A must-have for pizzas, pastas, and tomato sauces.
- Parsley: The ultimate garnish for countless dishes.
- Rosemary: Adds a savory depth to roasted vegetables and grilled meats.
- Sage: Enhances poultry dishes and creamy pasta sauces.
- Thyme: A culinary workhorse that complements a wide variety of dishes.
I recommend buying small herb plants from the store for an easy way to get started growing. With the exception of basil and parsley, the herbs I listed above are perennials that can produce leaves for a long time. You’ll get way more than your money’s worth in harvests.
SETTING UP YOUR INDOOR HERB GARDEN
Follow these steps to set up your vertical garden.
Step One: Place Something in the Bottom of Each Pot
Cut strips of burlap or weed barrier cloth to place at the bottom of each pot. (You could even do coffee filters.) The goal is to use something porous so that water can drain but your soil doesn’t fall out the bottom.
Step Two: Fill with Soil
When planting indoors, stick with a good-quality potting mix such as Happy Frog’s Ocean Forest.
Step Three: Plant Your Herbs
Plant 1-2 herbs per pot. The closer you plant your herbs, the more frequently you’ll need to harvest.
CARING FOR YOUR INDOOR HERBS
With a little love and attention, your indoor herb garden will thrive for years to come. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
Watering
Water your herbs deeply when the soil feels dry to the touch. Add water at the soil level instead of watering the leaves of your herbs. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot.
To water your herbs, lift the individual pots off of your hanging planter or stand and water them over the sink. Allow the water to fully drain before returning the pots to their place.
Feeding
During the growing season, you can give your herbs a monthly feeding with a diluted organic fertilizer. Herbs benefit most from nitrogen to help them with leaf production.
Trimming
Regularly trim your herbs to encourage bushier growth and prevent them from getting leggy. The trimmings are perfect for adding fresh flavor to your meals!
From Seed to Plate in Your Own Kitchen
An indoor vertical herb garden is a great way to add a touch of greenery and gourmet flavor to your home. I mean, what’s better than attractive houseplants you can eat?
So why wait? Gather your supplies, choose your favorite herbs, and get ready to cultivate a little piece of culinary paradise in your home!
