For most kitchens, the best indoor herb garden kit is a self-watering smart garden with a built-in LED light, such as the Click & Grow Smart Garden 3. It handles light and water for you, which are the two things that kill windowsill herbs in winter. If you have a very sunny window and a small budget, a simple soil seed kit works too.
Fresh basil in January sounds like a small luxury, but it is one of the easiest wins in indoor gardening. The catch is light. Most herbs want 6 or more hours of direct sun, and a winter windowsill rarely gives them that, which is why supermarket basil collapses in a week.
An indoor herb garden kit solves that with a grow light, a water reservoir or both. We compared the main types, what they are good at and where they fall short.
Why grow herbs indoors?
- Fresh flavor on demand. Snip what you need instead of buying a whole bunch that wilts.
- Saves money. A pack of fresh herbs costs about the same as a seed pod and lasts a fraction as long.
- Works anywhere. A smart garden grows on a countertop with no window at all.
- A great gift. Herb kits are one of the most popular presents for cooks and new plant owners (see our gifts for houseplant lovers).
The 3 types of indoor herb garden kits
| Type | How it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart soil garden | Plant pods in a growing medium, self-watering tank, LED light on a timer | Beginners who want it to just work | You mostly buy the brand’s pods |
| Hydroponic garden | Roots sit in water with nutrients, pump and LED light | Faster growth and bigger harvests | Topping up nutrients, some pump noise |
| Seed starter kit | Seeds, small pots and soil for a windowsill | Sunny windows and tight budgets | Needs strong light and regular watering |
How to choose the right kit
Light: look for a built-in LED
Light is the deciding factor. Unless you have an unshaded south-facing window (north-facing in Australia), choose a kit with a built-in LED light. Not sure about your window? Try our free Houseplant Light Meter.
Pods: how many herbs do you use?
3 pods is plenty for one cook who uses basil and parsley a few times a week. A 6 to 12 pod garden suits families or anyone who also wants lettuce or cherry tomatoes.
Height: can the light rise?
Basil, dill and tomatoes grow tall. A light arm that extends keeps the lamp the right distance above the plants as they grow.
Ongoing cost
Smart gardens are easiest with the brand’s pre-seeded pods. Many also sell “grow your own” pods so you can use any seeds. Hydroponic kits need liquid nutrients every couple of weeks.
The easiest herbs to grow indoors
Basil
The star of any indoor herb garden. Pinch the tips every week and it keeps growing for months. Keep it away from cold windows, as basil dislikes temperatures below about 50°F (10°C).
Parsley and chives
Slow to start but steady growers that keep producing for a long time.
Mint
Grows like a weed, which is exactly what you want in a contained pod.
Thyme and oregano
Like it a little drier and very bright. Good in smart gardens with strong lights.
Harvest often. Cut basil just above a pair of leaves, and take no more than a third of the plant at once. Regular trimming makes herbs bushier and stops them from flowering, which turns leaves bitter.
How to set up your herb garden
- Pick a spot near an outlet, away from heaters and cold drafts, ideally between 65 and 75°F (18 to 24°C).
- Fill the reservoir with room-temperature water and add nutrients if the kit uses them.
- Plant the pods and fit the germination domes if included. Most herbs sprout in 7 to 14 days.
- Set the light timer. Most kits run 14 to 16 hours a day. Plants still need a dark period, so do not leave the light on all the time.
- Thin and trim. Remove extra seedlings and start harvesting once plants are a few inches tall.
Do not let the reservoir run dry. It is the most common reason smart gardens fail. Check the water level indicator weekly, more often once plants are large.
Common problems and quick fixes
Leggy, floppy seedlings
The light is too far away or too weak. Lower the lamp or move the garden away from a window, where plants stretch sideways toward the glass.
Yellow leaves
Usually a nutrient or water issue. Top up nutrients if your kit needs them and check the water level. Our guide to yellow leaves on plants covers the other causes.
Tiny flies around the pods
These are fungus gnats, which love damp growing media. Let the surface dry slightly and add a sticky trap. See our fungus gnats guide.
Our 5 favorite indoor herb garden kits
Prices change often, so check the store for today's price.Click & Grow Smart Garden 3
The simplest way to grow herbs indoors. Drop in the pre-seeded pods, fill the tank and the built-in LED does the rest on an automatic schedule, with no pump and no nutrients to measure.
- Very easy for beginners
- Quiet, no pump
- Compact countertop size
- Comes with basil pods
- Downside: Only 3 pods
- Downside: Best with the brand's own pods
How to use it: Top up the tank every 3 to 4 weeks and raise the light arm as the basil grows.
Compare stores — match the model, size, seller and delivery cost.
Search links show store results, not confirmed offers. Prices and availability must be checked at the store.
AeroGarden Harvest
A 6-pod hydroponic garden with a 20W LED and a reminder light for water and nutrients. Hydroponics grows herbs fast, so you can harvest more often than in soil.
- 6 pods
- Fast growth
- Adjustable light height
- Reminders for water and food
- Downside: Needs liquid nutrients every 2 weeks
- Downside: Slight pump hum
How to use it: Add nutrients when the reminder light comes on and prune basil hard so it does not shade its neighbors.
Compare stores — match the model, size, seller and delivery cost.
Search links show store results, not confirmed offers. Prices and availability must be checked at the store.
iDOO Hydroponics Growing System (12 pods)
Twelve pods let you grow a full kitchen herb selection plus lettuce, and it usually costs less than the big-name brands for the same capacity.
- 12 pods
- Good value
- Adjustable light
- Grows herbs and greens
- Downside: Seeds and nutrients sold separately on some versions
- Downside: Takes more counter space
How to use it: Start with fast herbs like basil and mint in the center and slower ones like parsley at the edges.
Compare stores — match the model, size, seller and delivery cost.
Search links show store results, not confirmed offers. Prices and availability must be checked at the store.
Click & Grow Smart Garden 9
The bigger version of our top pick. Nine pods mean you can grow herbs, salad leaves and even mini tomatoes at the same time, with the same no-fuss watering.
- 9 pods
- Same simple self-watering system
- Looks good on a counter
- Downside: Pricier
- Downside: Pods add up over time
How to use it: Grow your most-used herbs in two or three pods each so you always have one ready to cut.
Compare stores — match the model, size, seller and delivery cost.
Search links show store results, not confirmed offers. Prices and availability must be checked at the store.
Garden Republic Herb Garden Seed Kit
A low-cost soil kit with herb seeds, pots and soil. Great for a sunny window or as a fun first project, though it needs real sun or a grow light in winter.
- Inexpensive
- Nice gift
- Teaches the basics of seed starting
- Downside: No light included
- Downside: Needs regular watering
How to use it: Keep it in your brightest window and turn the pots every few days so herbs grow straight.
Compare stores — match the model, size, seller and delivery cost.
Search links show store results, not confirmed offers. Prices and availability must be checked at the store.
If your windowsill is too dark for a soil kit, pair it with a grow light from our best grow lights for houseplants list.
FAQ
Are indoor herb garden kits worth it?
Yes, if you cook with fresh herbs at least once a week. A self-watering kit with an LED light pays for itself in a few months compared with buying fresh herb packs, and it works in any room.
What herbs grow best in an indoor garden kit?
Basil, parsley, mint, chives, thyme and oregano are the easiest. Basil grows fastest and is the most popular. Cilantro and dill work but bolt quickly, so sow them every few weeks.
How long does it take to grow herbs in a smart garden?
Most herbs sprout in 7 to 14 days and are ready for a first light harvest in 4 to 6 weeks. Basil is usually first, parsley and thyme take longer.
Do indoor herb gardens need sunlight?
Not if the kit has a built-in LED grow light. Soil seed kits without a light need a very sunny window, ideally 6 hours of direct sun, or a separate grow light in winter.
How many hours should an indoor herb garden light be on?
Most kits run their lights 14 to 16 hours a day on an automatic timer. Herbs still need a few hours of darkness each night.
