Whether you’re short on garden space or love the easy access, having a beautiful harvest of fresh herbs right outside your window makes it simple to spice up your recipes and your home’s exterior. Of course, when it comes to creating your herb garden, it’s important to select plants that thrive in a container as well as your city’s climate – luckily, quite a few herbs meet this criteria! Ready to get growing? Dust off your green thumb and check out our 6 favorite herbs to include in your home’s window box.
Why Grow Herbs in Planter Boxes?
Because of their adaptability, herbs excel in containers and planter boxes. By adding herb-filled planter boxes to your windows, you not only enhance your home’s exterior aesthetics but also elevate your culinary experiences with fresh, homegrown ingredients. Additionally, growing your herbs in window baskets keeps them high above ground, so you won’t lose your harvest to hungry critters.
Which Herbs are Best for Containers and Planter Boxes?
Numerous herbs are well-suited for growing in planter boxes or containers. Dive into the variety of options below to craft an herb garden perfectly suited to enhance your culinary creations!
1. Cilantro
Cilantro is a versatile herb that can thrive in various watering conditions, making it perfect for window boxes. Its growth pattern allows other herbs to coexist, and with proper care, cilantro grown from seeds can produce harvestable leaves in just three to four weeks.
Culinary Uses
Fresh cilantro is highly aromatic with a distinctive taste. Its peppery zest is best complemented in spicer foods such as:
- Salsas
- Meats
- Pasta
- Soups & Stews
2. Basil
Basil is an annual herb that grows well in containers such as pots or window boxes. With well-drained soil, heat, and access to sunlight, your basil plant will thrive, creating a fresh and spicy scent. For ongoing success, the basil stem may need to be trimmed to keep its flavor. This simply means pinching the stems back to just a single pair of leaves. Once the stem has been removed, your basil plant will continue to push out fresh growth.
Culinary Uses
Adored by chefs and food enthusiasts alike, basil is popular for its culinary flexibility. Its distinctive clove-like flavor complements a variety of dishes, including:
- Pasta
- Salads
- Pesto
- Cocktails
3. Chives
Adding chives to your window box? This easy-to-grow culinary herb is perfect for enjoying year-round. Typically early and fast bloomers, chives are more successful in sunny or lightly shaded, moist areas. Before harvesting, wait till your chive plant is strong. If you harvest too early the herb may die. Tip: Cut off only half the length of the stem and wait until they re-grow before taking from them again.
Culinary Uses
Freshly picked from the garden, chives offer a delicate green flavor. Their spicy, onion-like taste serves as a delightful enhancement for a variety of dishes, including:
- Baked potatoes
- Seafood
- Omelets
- Dips
4. Rosemary
Naturally compacted, rosemary is one of the more popular herbs to grow in a window box. All it requires is sunlight, ample air circulation, and well-drained soil. However, rosemary doesn’t do well in wet roots—so avoid overwatering it. For harvesting, simply snip off sprigs of rosemary and add them to your next dish for some serious flavor.
Culinary Uses
Rosemary has gained widespread popularity in the realm of cooking. Renowned for its aromatic needle-like leaves, this herb is a staple ingredient in numerous dishes, adding a distinctive flavor to recipes such as:
- Chicken
- Steak
- Mushrooms
- Fish
5. Mint
Like cilantro and basil, mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow. When choosing a location for your mint, find a space in your window box where the plant will receive morning sun and partial afternoon shade. To avoid overcrowding, ensure your mint plant remains trimmed to keep it at a manageable size.
Culinary Uses
This easy, breezy herb has the power to enhance just about anything! From sweet and savory dishes to your favorite afternoon drink, try adding mint to recipes such as:
- Cocktails
- Curry
- Fruit
- Soups
6. Thyme
Thyme is one of the best herbs for container gardening; it is low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and doesn’t need constant care to enjoy year after year. For best results, give it full exposure to sun, don’t overwater it, and place it in damp to dry soil. Tip: Place thyme and rosemary next to each other in your window box—their needs are almost identical.
Culinary Uses
Thyme makes bringing fresh flavor to the kitchen effortless. It contributes a subtle, savory note that complements many dishes like:
- Stuffing
- Poultry
- Soups
- Eggs
Window Box vs. Garden Window: Which is Right for You?
Window boxes are a beautiful, yet functional accent for any home’s exterior—and whether you go to your local home improvement store and purchase one or make your very own window box with our easy step-by-step guide, there is nothing better than having fresh flavor close at hand.
If finding the perfect spot for a window box is a challenge, don’t worry! Window World offers exquisite garden windows, providing an alternative way for you to cultivate your favorite herbs indoors, right within the comfort of your home. Designed to add style, life, and natural sunlight to any room, harvest the benefits of a garden window and schedule your free estimate today!