VIA MERCHANT
VIA MERCHANT
Pros:
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Grows up to 20 different herbs
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Available in three colors
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Wheels make this easy for moving around
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Comes with a hanging chain for hoisting
Cons:
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Pricey
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Some assembly required
If you love to cook and make your own DIY soaps, medicinal tinctures and teas, this Stack & Grow herb kit is a prime pick. At 2 feet wide and 15 inches tall, this stackable planter would be perfect for a tall bay window. This indoor herb kit includes seed packets for basil, dill, oregano, parsley, mustard and chives, and has room to grow 20 plants.
You’ll also get 12 compressed soil pucks (just add water!), a drip tray and a 12-cell seed tray. When it’s time to water your plants, simply pour it into the top level—its stacked design lets water pass through down to the lower levels, ensuring every plant gets enough to drink. Made of durable BPA-free plastic, this planter can be reused throughout the year.
VIA MERCHANT
VIA MERCHANT
Pros:
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Very affordable
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Everything is included
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Ideal for a small spaces or a windowsill
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Easy to transplant once seedlings have grown
Cons:
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Only includes basil seeds
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You will need to transplant these soon after seedlings have grown
Complete with everything you need, Window Garden’s basil herb kit is ideal for beginners who don’t want to spend a lot, and an excellent intro to at-home container gardens. This budget-friendly pick includes basil seeds and fiber soil starters, plus a mini-greenhouse that’s terrific for creating a moist environment for effective seed germination.
The compact dimensions of this indoor herb garden kit are perfectly sized for your windowsill. Though you’ll need to transplant your basil to a larger pot after the seedlings have grown, you can reuse this mini-greenhouse to grow other herbs.
What to consider when buying an indoor herb garden kit
When buying an indoor herb garden kit, it’s important to think about what you’ll use the herbs for. Are they for cooking, making fun mixed drinks or trendy flavored ice cubes? Maybe you want to use your herbs for crafting handmade soaps or healthy essential oils. Perhaps you’re thinking of using them for hot or iced teas or medicinal purposes. By figuring out what kind of herbs you want and how many you’ll need, you’ll be on your way to finding the kit that’s best for you.
From a practical standpoint, you’ll want to measure the area for your indoor herb garden kit. Maybe the windowsill is more narrow than you first imagined, or your indoor herb garden kit is too tall for the window box in your kitchen. Consider the lighting as well—is it near a window that gets the right amount of sunlight? Decorating tip: An herb garden kit might look nice in your home office or in the China hutch, but make sure it comes with a leak-proof tray to prevent damaging furniture.
How We Chose the Best Indoor Herb Garden Kits
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQs
Does an indoor herb garden need direct sunlight?
For most indoor herb garden kits, you should find a sunny spot in your home that provides at least 6 to 8 hours of medium-to-bright direct sunlight per day. Ideally, that means a south-facing or a southwest facing window. This is especially true for popular herbs like basil, sage and thyme. Some herbs may still be able to thrive with less light, though they will likely be less flavorful. If you have a window that only gets morning or partial afternoon sunlight, consider rosemary, parsley, mint, chives or coriander.
If you don’t have a space that offers enough natural light, you can supplement by using grow lights, which utilize fluorescent lighting. During winter months, your herbs may need an even greater amount of supplementation. Beware: Pale or yellowing leaves or stems, slow growth and undersized leaves usually indicate your herb is not getting enough sunlight. But here’s how to revive a dead or dying plant, if it comes to that.
How often do you need to water an indoor herb garden?
Watering needs vary depending on the season and the types of herbs you’re growing, but the key is to find that balance between under-watering and overwatering, which can result in root rot. During fall and winter months, your herbs will not require as much water as in the spring and summer months, which is especially true for rosemary. But each indoor environment is different based on your home’s humidity and average temperature, so use your best judgement.
Herbs grow best at temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees. They should never get too dry, but it’s important to provide proper drainage so the soil doesn’t get too soggy. A simple tip: Press your finger into the top part of the soil—if it feels dry, it’s generally a good time to water your herbs. Misting your herbs once a week with a spray bottle is an easy way to increase humidity.