The 6 Best Herbs For Growing In Your Window Box

1. Cilantro

Comfortable with frequent watering or drier conditions, cilantro is the perfect low-maintenance plant for any window box. Cilantro is trained to grow upward and outward, allowing room for other herbs to grow. Harvesting cilantro from seeds? With proper care, your cilantro leaves will begin showing 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

Prized for its culinary versatility, basil is favored by chefs (and foodies) everywhere. Its clove-like flavor goes great in:

• 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

This tender green herb is best fresh right from the garden. The spicy onion-like flavor is great to enhance any dish such as:

• 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

In cooking, rosemary has become a fan favorite. The needled leaves are among the most popular herbs in a variety of dishes 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

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.

Perhaps you don’t have the best place or access for a window box. No worries! Window World offers beautiful garden windows that allow you to grow your favorite herbs from the comfort of 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!