10 Best Herbs to Grow in Small Spaces (Even on a Sunny Windowsill)

If you’ve ever looked longingly at a lush kitchen garden but sighed because your space is limited, you’re not alone. Many of us dream of having fresh herbs at our fingertips—whether it’s for cooking, brewing tea, or just enjoying a bit of green in our daily lives. The good news? You don’t need a sprawling backyard to create your herbal haven. With thoughtful choices and a few clever techniques, you can grow a variety of flavorful, fragrant herbs in even the smallest spaces. Whether you have a tiny patio, a sunny windowsill, or just a blank kitchen wall, here’s how to make the most of it and discover the best herbs to grow in small spaces.

Step 1: Choose Herbs That Thrive in Small Spaces

Not all herbs are created equal when it comes to space efficiency. Some grow like small shrubs, while others are compact, tidy, and easily adaptable to container living. Your first step is selecting herbs that don’t mind a bit of crowding and do well with minimal soil. Here are some of the best herbs to grow in small spaces:

• Basil – Excellent for windowsills and patio pots, basil thrives in containers and produces plenty with regular harvesting. It enjoys full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
• Chives – These mild, onion-flavored herbs grow in neat clumps. They’re perfect for clipping off for eggs, soups, and salads.
• Mint – Mint spreads aggressively in garden beds, but in containers, it’s well-behaved and easy to manage. Try peppermint or spearmint for tea or cocktails.
• Parsley – This leafy green takes up very little space and regrows quickly after cutting. It prefers partial sun and regular watering.
• Thyme – A woody herb that looks dainty but packs a punch in flavor. It’s low-growing and perfect for small containers with good drainage.
• Cilantro – Ideal for partial sun, cilantro has a quick growth cycle, making it great for small-space harvesting every few weeks.

“I started with basil and mint in mason jars on my windowsill, and I’ve been hooked on growing herbs ever since!” — Lily, reader in Oregon

When selecting your herbs, consider your cooking habits and the sunlight available. For example, sunny kitchens are a great spot for basil and rosemary, while shady balconies are better suited for mint and parsley.

Step 2: Pick Smart Containers and Vertical Solutions

Once you’ve selected your herbs, the next trick is figuring out where to put them. In small spaces, vertical and hanging solutions are your best friends. If you’re short on floor or counter space, look up! Vertical gardens or hanging planters let you take advantage of unused wall and ceiling space while keeping herbs within reach. Here are some container options that work well for compact herb growing:

• Mkono Ceramic Hanging Planter 3-Pack – These minimalist hanging planters add style to your space while giving you room to grow three different herbs, ideal for kitchens with natural light.
• Wall-mounted planters – Great for balconies or sunny indoor walls. They bring your herbs up to eye level and save counter space.
• Window boxes – Perfect for apartment dwellers with a windowsill that gets ample sunlight.
• Mason jars or repurposed containers – These can be charming and practical, especially when paired with a custom shelf or mounted board.

Just make sure there’s adequate drainage. You can place a small layer of pebbles at the bottom of containers or use planters with built-in drainage holes.

Step 3: Focus on the Right Growing Conditions

Herbs are relatively low maintenance compared to other plants, but they still need some care to thrive indoors or in tiny outdoor spaces. The three most important factors to get right are sunlight, watering, and soil quality.

Sunlight

Most culinary herbs love the sun. Aim to give them 6–8 hours of sunlight daily. If your natural light is limited, don’t fret.

• T5 Grow Light Full Spectrum by Monios-L – This compact grow light fits under cabinets or shelves and mimics natural sunlight, ideal for supporting herb growth indoors year-round.

Grow lights are especially helpful during winter months or for windowless rooms.

Watering

Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes with herbs. As a general rule:

• Allow the top inch of soil to dry out slightly before watering again.
• Make sure pots have drainage holes.
• Use a saucer or tray underneath to catch excess water without damaging surfaces.

Soil

Use a well-draining potting mix designed for herbs or indoor plants. Adding perlite can loosen heavy soil and improve aeration. Compost or organic fertilizer once a month can give your herbs a nutritional boost, especially in containers.

“Adding a grow light to my indoor garden made all the difference. My basil went from leggy to lush in a couple of weeks.” — Sam, reader in Illinois

Step 4: Try an Indoor Gardening System

If you want a more hands-off or high-tech approach to herb growing, an indoor garden system can be a wonderful option, especially for beginners or busy home cooks. One we especially like is the AeroGarden Harvest Indoor Garden — it’s compact enough for small kitchen spaces and automatically regulates water, light, and nutrient delivery. It even reminds you when it’s time to add plant food.

• No soil mess – Uses hydroponics for clean, fuss-free herb growing.
• Great for beginners – Comes with seed pods and step-by-step guides.
• Self-contained light – Perfect for rooms without good natural sunlight.

These systems make it possible to harvest herbs year-round, and they’re ideal for anyone living in apartments with minimal outdoor access.

Step 5: Harvest Regularly and Prune Smartly

One of the best parts of growing herbs is using them—but regular harvesting isn’t just for your plate, it’s for the plant’s health, too.

“My kitchen smells amazing now that I snip fresh herbs every couple of days—it’s become part of my cooking routine!” — Jamie, reader in North Carolina

Here’s how to harvest and prune for maximum growth:

• Start small – Snip sparingly at first. Let your herb plants get established and bushy before major harvesting.
• Pinch, don’t pull – Use fingers or clean shears to pinch stems above a leaf node. This encourages branching and keeps the plant from getting leggy.
• Prune flowering heads – When herbs bolt (start flowering), the leaves can become bitter. Trim off flower buds to keep the plant focused on leaf growth.
• Use from the top – Harvest top leaves to promote outward growth, especially for basil and mint.

A little regular trimming not only gives you fresh ingredients but also keeps your herbs compact, tidy, and productive—perfect for maintaining your mini-garden all season long.

Helpful Tools from This Article

• AeroGarden Harvest Indoor Garden
• Mkono Ceramic Hanging Planter 3-Pack
• T5 Grow Light Full Spectrum by Monios-L

Growing herbs in a tight space may seem like a challenge, but with the right setup and a bit of daily love, your small space can bloom into something both useful and beautiful. Whether it’s a hydroponic harvest on your counter or a sweet-smelling mint dangling near the window, these small green touches can bring real joy to your home. We’d love to see how your setup turns out — tag @PorchLightPicks and show us your garden!