How to Make A Windowsill Kitchen Herb Garden

Gardening is making a comeback. There’s something about going outside and picking your own food that just makes it taste better. But, what do you do if you want fresh herbs year-round? Start a windowsill kitchen herb garden! Not only is it easy to make, it adds a touch of summer to your kitchen even when it’s -20 outside.

How To Make A Windowsill Kitchen Herb Garden

Choose a Container

The first step is to choose a container to match your decor. It doesn’t have to be designed for flowers. Just use anything that catches your eye. I recommend a rectangle shape to fit in the kitchen window, but you do you. Thrift shops are good places to find unique containers. Just be sure it doesn’t have holes in the bottom or you’ll have a mess whenever you water your plant.

I reused a planter from an indoor plant that needed to be transplanted to a larger container.

Add a liner

Add a plastic liner to the container, especially if it is wooden, to prevent rot. Believe me when I say it is no fun to pick up a container and have the bottom fall out. If you don’t have a plastic liner, you can cut a black plastic garbage bag to fit. Just make sure the bag doesn’t peek out over the sides.
Windowsill Kitchen Herb Garden (1)

Add pebbles for drainage.

Because the container doesn’t have natural drainage, you’ll have to help it out a little. Add a layer of pebbles to the bottom. Don’t have pebbles? Try styrofoam packing peanuts, landscape rocks, wood chips, or mulch. This will help keep the plant roots from rotting.

Use your favorite combinations and planters. This is rosemary and mint.

Fill the planter 3/4 full with potting soil.

If you fill the pot to the top, the soil will spill over when you add your plants.

Parsley is a good choice for indoor or outdoor herb gardens.

Add your plants.

Add your favorite herbs. Good choices for kitchen gardens include chives, rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, marjoram, parsley, dill, cilantro, sage, and mint. Plant taller herbs-like rosemary, dill, chives, and sage in the back of the container and shorter herbs, like basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, cilantro, and mint in the front. Most of these plants can be found at any hardware or home improvement store and the majority can be easily grown from seed.
windowsill kitchen herb garden

Tip: If you’re a new gardener, cilantro, dill, chives, and basil are some of the easiest plants to grow from seed. If you don’t have a green thumb, mint is an ideal first plant. It’s almost impossible to kill when it is established.

In my container, I used two plants-dark purple opal basil and Genovese basil-that I purchased, along with chives, dill, and parsley that I grew from seed. When the dill and chives grow bigger, I’ll move them toward the back and move the parsley and basil forward.

Tip: Make sure the roots of the plants are covered. In shallow containers, it’s easy for the dirt to shift and the roots to be exposed.

Provide Water and Sunlight.

Most herbs prefer full sun. Place your container where it will receive at least four hours of sunlight per day. One of the most important tips for creating a healthy windowsill kitchen herb garden is to not overwater the plants. Wait until the soil feels dry to the touch. You don’t want the soil to ever feel soaking wet.

Just make sure the top is wet. Watering once or twice a week is fine.

Now you’ll be able to snip off fresh herbs whenever you need them! Have you ever created a Windowsill Kitchen Herb Garden? What are your favorite herbs to plant?