By mumu
Growing herbs in small pots is one of the easiest and most rewarding things a beginner container gardener can do. Fresh herbs transform everyday cooking, they smell incredible, and most of them are surprisingly easy to grow — even in the smallest spaces.
A sunny windowsill, a small balcony, a kitchen counter — any of these can become a productive herb garden with just a few pots and the right knowledge.
I started growing herbs in small pots years ago with a single pot of basil on my kitchen windowsill. Today I grow over a dozen different herbs in containers, both indoors and outdoors. Here is everything I’ve learned about how to grow herbs in small pots successfully.
Table of Contents
- Why Grow Herbs in Small Pots?
- The Basics of Growing Herbs in Pots
- Basil
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Top Tips for Growing Herbs in Small Pots
1. Why Grow Herbs in Small Pots?
Growing herbs in small pots has several advantages over growing them in a large garden bed:
- Space efficient — Most herbs grow happily in a 6–8 inch pot, making them perfect for small spaces
- Year-round growing — Bring pots indoors in winter and continue growing fresh herbs all year
- Easy to control — Aggressive spreaders like mint are safely contained in their own pot
- Convenient — Fresh herbs right on your kitchen windowsill, within arm’s reach while cooking
- Beginner-friendly — Most herbs are forgiving, fast-growing, and hard to kill
2. The Basics of Growing Herbs in Small Pots
Before we look at individual herbs, here are the fundamental rules for growing herbs in small pots successfully:
| Factor | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Pot size | 6–8 inches is enough for most herbs. Go larger for mint and rosemary. |
| Drainage | Always use pots with drainage holes. Herbs hate wet roots. |
| Soil | Use a well-draining potting mix. Add extra perlite for Mediterranean herbs. |
| Sunlight | Most herbs need 4–6 hours of sun per day. South-facing windowsills are ideal indoors. |
| Watering | Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Most herbs prefer to dry out slightly between waterings. |
| Fertilizing | Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2–4 weeks during the growing season. |
3. Basil
Basil is the most popular herb to grow in small pots — and one of the easiest. It grows fast, smells amazing, and is endlessly useful in the kitchen. If you’re new to growing herbs in pots, basil is the perfect place to start.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pot size | 6–8 inches |
| Sunlight | 6–8 hours of direct sun |
| Watering | Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged |
| Indoor or outdoor | Both — needs a very sunny spot indoors |
| Difficulty | Easy ⭐ |
Key tips for growing basil in small pots:
- Pinch off flower buds as soon as they appear — once basil flowers, the leaves become bitter
- Harvest regularly by pinching stems just above a leaf pair — this encourages bushy growth
- Basil is frost-sensitive — keep it indoors or bring it inside when temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C)
- Water at the base, not on the leaves, to prevent fungal diseases
4. Mint
Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow in small pots — it’s practically impossible to kill. It grows vigorously, spreads quickly, and thrives in conditions that would challenge most other herbs.
Important: Always grow mint in its own pot. Mint spreads aggressively via underground runners and will quickly take over any container it shares with other herbs.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pot size | 8–10 inches (mint spreads fast) |
| Sunlight | 3–6 hours — tolerates partial shade |
| Watering | Keep soil consistently moist |
| Indoor or outdoor | Both |
| Difficulty | Very easy ⭐ |
Best mint varieties for small pots: Spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint, and apple mint all grow well in containers.
5. Rosemary
Rosemary is a beautiful, fragrant herb that thrives in containers. It’s a Mediterranean herb that loves hot, dry conditions — which makes it surprisingly drought-tolerant and easy to care for once established.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pot size | 10–12 inches (rosemary gets large) |
| Sunlight | 6–8 hours of direct sun |
| Watering | Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings |
| Indoor or outdoor | Both — needs maximum sun indoors |
| Difficulty | Easy ⭐ |
Key tip: The number one mistake with rosemary in pots is overwatering. Rosemary roots rot quickly in soggy soil. Always use a well-draining potting mix with extra perlite, and never let the pot sit in water.
6. Thyme
Thyme is one of the most low-maintenance herbs you can grow in small pots. It’s drought-tolerant, compact, and produces delicious aromatic leaves throughout the growing season.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pot size | 6–8 inches |
| Sunlight | 6–8 hours of direct sun |
| Watering | Allow soil to dry between waterings |
| Indoor or outdoor | Both |
| Difficulty | Very easy ⭐ |
Key tip: Trim thyme regularly to keep it bushy and prevent it from becoming woody. Cut back by about one-third after flowering for the best regrowth.
7. Parsley
Parsley is a must-have kitchen herb that grows reliably in small pots. It’s slower to establish than basil or mint, but once it gets going, it produces abundantly and lasts a long time.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pot size | 8–10 inches deep (parsley has long roots) |
| Sunlight | 4–6 hours — tolerates partial shade |
| Watering | Keep soil evenly moist |
| Indoor or outdoor | Both |
| Difficulty | Easy ⭐ |
Key tip: Parsley seeds are slow to germinate — up to 3–4 weeks. For faster results, start with a transplant from a garden center rather than growing from seed.
8. Chives
Chives are one of the most beginner-friendly herbs to grow in small pots. They’re virtually indestructible, come back year after year, and produce both edible leaves and beautiful purple flowers.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pot size | 6–8 inches |
| Sunlight | 4–6 hours |
| Watering | Keep soil evenly moist |
| Indoor or outdoor | Both |
| Difficulty | Very easy ⭐ |
Key tip: Harvest chives by snipping leaves to about 1 inch from the base. They’ll regrow quickly. The purple flowers are also edible and make a beautiful garnish.
9. Cilantro
Cilantro is beloved in the kitchen but has a reputation for being tricky to grow. The key is understanding that cilantro is a cool-season herb that bolts quickly in heat. Grow it in spring and fall for the best results.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pot size | 8 inches deep |
| Sunlight | 4–6 hours — afternoon shade in summer |
| Watering | Keep soil consistently moist |
| Indoor or outdoor | Both |
| Difficulty | Moderate ⭐⭐ |
Key tip: Sow cilantro seeds every 2–3 weeks for a continuous harvest. As soon as one batch starts to bolt, the next one will be ready to harvest.
10. Top Tips for Growing Herbs in Small Pots
| Tip | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Harvest regularly | Regular harvesting encourages bushier, more productive growth |
| Never let herbs flower | Most herbs become bitter after flowering — pinch buds off immediately |
| Group herbs by water needs | Keep drought-tolerant herbs (rosemary, thyme) separate from moisture-loving ones (basil, mint) |
| Use terracotta pots | Clay pots breathe well and prevent the overwatering that kills most herbs |
| Bring indoors in winter | Most herbs can continue growing indoors near a sunny window through winter |
| Fertilize lightly | Too much fertilizer produces lots of leaves but reduces flavor — feed every 3–4 weeks |
Final Thoughts
Growing herbs in small pots is one of the most satisfying and practical things you can do as a container gardener. Start with one or two easy herbs like basil or chives, learn what they need, and expand from there.
Before long, you’ll have a full herb garden growing in containers — fresh flavors always within reach, no matter how much space you have. 🌿
Have questions about growing herbs in containers? Visit the Contact page — I’d love to hear from you!
— mumu, Green Garden Tips
