Growing Culinary Herbs Indoors: Chives, Lemongrass, and Mint

Many culinary herbs thrive indoors in pots. Perennials can summer outside and winter inside, providing year-round fresh flavors. Here's how to grow three popular choices.

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Mild onion flavor. Tolerant of indoor conditions. Needs 5-8 hours of daily sun—south-facing windows ideal. Supplement with fluorescent lights if needed. Use well-draining potting soil. Harvest by cutting top 1-2 inches of greens. Remove flowers before seeding to maintain leaf quality.

Lemongrass

Annual grassy herb popular in Southeast Asian cuisine. Requires full sun and abundant water. Plant in loamy, well-draining soil in a south-facing window. Harvest stalks at ½-inch thickness, chop as needed. Dry or freeze excess.

Mint (Peppermint, Spearmint, etc.)

Most mints adapt well to indoor pots. Keep soil consistently moist—never let top ¼ inch dry out. Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade. Yellowing leaves signal need for more sun. Frequent harvesting encourages bushy growth. Clip sprigs and strip leaves for use.