Microgreens, Kräuter und Blüten in der GreenBox

Herbs in Winter: Which Herbs Really Grow on the Windowsill

In summer, herbs almost grow by themselves. In winter, the windowsill often looks sad: long, thin stems, pale leaves and hardly anything to harvest. That's rarely your fault. Indoors, what herbs mostly lack in winter is light, and every herb copes with that differently. Here you'll find out which herbs get through winter indoors just fine, which ones are tricky and how you can still harvest fresh leaves.

Why herbs struggle indoors in winter

Too little light. In December, the days in Germany are only around eight hours long, and it's often cloudy. Even less of that light makes it through the glass. Yet most kitchen herbs want 12 to 16 hours of bright light.
Dry air from the heating. Above a radiator, soil and leaves dry out fast. That attracts spider mites and aphids.
Cold glass and drafts. When you air the room with the window wide open, the temperature at the window drops fast. Warmth-loving herbs like basil don't handle that well.
Too much water. In winter, herbs grow more slowly and need less water. Soggy soil makes the roots rot.

These herbs get through winter well

Parsley. Tough and undemanding. It keeps growing on a bright east- or west-facing windowsill, just more slowly.
Chives. The trick: in late autumn, dig up a clump from the garden or balcony box and leave it outside in the frost for a few days. After that, it quickly sends up new shoots indoors.
Cress. The quickest win in winter. You can harvest after about a week. Just sow a small tray every few days.
Thyme, oregano and sage. These herbs like it bright, rather cool and dry. Water sparingly and only harvest a little in winter.
Mint. Pretty tough. It grows a bit more slowly indoors, but reliably regrows if you trim the tips regularly.

These herbs are tricky in winter

Basil. It needs warmth and lots of light. On a winter windowsill it often dies. Read how to keep it going anyway in our article Overwintering basil.
Rosemary. In winter it wants bright and cool conditions, ideally around 5 to 10 °C. In a warm living room it often gets powdery mildew or pests. A cool stairwell or a bright, frost-free room is better.
Coriander and dill. Both bolt quickly, especially in low light. Instead of keeping one plant going for a long time, sow a small batch every three to four weeks.

How to care for herbs in winter

Pick the brightest spot. A south- or west-facing window is ideal. Place the pots close to the glass, but not right above the radiator.
Water sparingly. Only water once the top layer of soil is dry. Tip out any water left in the saucer after 15 minutes.
Add humidity. A bowl of water next to the pots helps against dry air from the heating.
Harvest the right way. Cut whole shoot tips instead of single leaves. That way the plants branch out and stay compact.
Don't fertilise. Herbs grow slowly in winter. They don't need fertiliser again until spring.
Move them when you air the room. Briefly move sensitive herbs away from the window when you open it wide.

The biggest lever: more light

Almost every winter problem has the same cause: light. With a grow light that's on for 12 to 14 hours a day, herbs keep growing even in December instead of just surviving. What matters is a fixed schedule and a light that hangs close enough to the plants. Find out more in our guide to the best grow light for herbs.

Fresh herbs in winter with the GreenBox

If you don't want to worry about light and watering, the GreenBox has you covered. The smart indoor garden made of birch wood brings its own light: the LED switches on and off on your schedule, and you set the brightness and light colour yourself. A sensor measures the water level, and the app lets you know when it's time to top up. You don't need a window. You can use our PlantPlugs or sow your own seeds, for example parsley, chives, thyme or basil.

Learn more about the GreenBox