The 5 Best Herbs to Grow at Home (Garden, Planter, or Indoors)

In my ideal world, I’d have a full garden, with raised beds overflowing with tomatoes, vegetables, and herbs that I could walk around and snip from while preparing dinner. But now I live in an apartment in Portland with very little outdoor space. That means my gardening ambitions need to get a little more creative.

Fortunately, herbs are incredibly forgiving. You don’t need a backyard or that much space at all to grow them. A single planter on your balcony, a few pots by your kitchen window, or a small corner of your garden flower bed will produce more fresh herbs than you know what to do with. And once you start cooking with your own herbs, it’s hard to go back. Adding a handful of basil to your pasta, adding some mint to your sparkling water, or sprinkling some dill on your roasted vegetables somehow makes everyday meals feel a little more special.

If you’re interested in growing herbs at home, whether you’re planting them in your backyard garden, in a patio planter, or in a sunny kitchen window, these five herbs are the easiest to get started.

Best herbs to grow at home even in small spaces

When starting an herb garden at home, your goal is simple. Choose herbs that are easy to grow and that you can actually use in cooking. These five herbs are extremely versatile, easy to handle even for beginners, and adaptable whether you’re planting garden beds, filling planters with water, or growing herbs indoors.

basil

If there’s one herb that perfects any summer dish, it’s basil. It thrives in warm climates and grows quickly, allowing for frequent harvests throughout the season.

Perfect for: Garden bed or sunny outdoor planter

How to use: Basil is best enjoyed raw. Think pesto, capri salad, sandwiches, and pasta tossed with olive oil and tomatoes.

What to make:

mint

Mint is one of those herbs that grows too well. In garden flower beds, it happily spreads wherever it can reach. That’s why many gardeners prefer to grow them in containers. What are the advantages? Once it starts, you’ll have more mints than you know what to do with.

Perfect for: outdoor planters and pots

How to use: Mint instantly brightens drinks and salads. I love adding it to sparkling water with citrus, adding it to grain bowls, and using it in sauces like tzatziki.

What to make:

rosemary

Rosemary is one of the most restorative herbs you can grow. Because it is woody and shrub-like, once established it can last for many years with little maintenance.

Perfect for: large pot in backyard garden or outdoors

How to use: Rosemary glows when cooked. Add it to roasted vegetables and marinades, or infuse it with olive oil or honey.

What to make:

coriander

Coriander is a bit controversial. Some people love it, others think it tastes like soap (it’s not their fault…genetics has something to do with it). But if you are of the first school, it is one of the most useful herbs to grow at home.

Perfect for: small garden bed or outdoor planter

How to use: Coriander is best added fresh at the end of cooking. Sprinkle on tacos, grain bowls, soups, hummus, and more.

What to make:

dill

Dill feels very springy to me. Light and fresh, it pairs beautifully with vegetables, fish, and creamy sauces.

Perfect for: garden bed or sunny kitchen window

How to use: Chop dill and add it to yogurt sauce, sprinkle it over roast potatoes, or add it to salads and seafood dishes.

What to make:

How to grow herbs at home (regardless of space)

If you have a garden: Plant herbs along the edges of raised beds or next to vegetables. Most herbs prefer full sun and well-drained soil.

If you have a small outdoor space: One planter can support multiple herbs. Basil, mint, and coriander are especially fun to grow in pots.

If you are growing herbs indoors: Choose a pot with a sunny window and drainage holes. Basil, mint, and dill tend to adapt well to growing indoors.

takeout

Growing herbs at home is one of the easiest ways to bring freshness to your everyday dishes. Just a few small plants can completely change the way you cook. Suddenly you’re reaching for some fresh basil, picking some mint for a drink, or sprinkling dill on your dinner.

Start with the one or two herbs you use most often. Once you see how easy they are to grow, you can’t help but keep adding more.

This post was last updated on March 21, 2026 with new insights..