reviewed by Truman Perkins
When growing an indoor herb garden, lack of sunlight can represent an issue for many of us. Especially when thriving for six or more hours a day to shine on your plants. Luckily, there are plenty of herbs that grow in the shade and tolerate low light.
Using these shade-loving herbs will open up more space for you to spread your indoor garden out. This creates more green space inside your home.
Understanding your plant’s light needs will help you plan your garden space better. Keep shade-tolerant plants in separate areas of their very own. Giving those sunbathing plants much more natural light opportunities in your indoor garden.
Winter can also impact your regular hours of light that come through your windows, and the same light intensity you experienced in the summer months may be diminished in the cooler months.
Contents
Mint is a very durable common perennial herb that thrives indoors. Mints will grow in the sun, too but thrive in low light and shade.
⇒You can easily start mint with this great Mint Garden In a Bag starter kit from Seeds now.
⇒ More information about growing mint can be found in this latest article on-site. Follow this link here to learn more. Growing Mint in Containers- Best method
A hard-to-find store herb that produces some tremendous mild anise-like flavor is Chervil. It does not dry well, so it is best-used fresh-picked for the most excellent taste. It grows great in low light, light shade conditions.
⇒ I love this fantastic recipe for Fool-proof Bernaise from serious eats.
Cilantro likes bright light but not direct sunlight beating on it. This makes it an ideal herb to grow in low light. It does well in east windows that get morning sunlight but stay indirect the rest of the day.
⇒Slow-bolt Cilantro seeds can extend your growing time for your plant and keep them from going to seed. You can get some quality slow-bolting seeds here.
This one may cause an argument as I have seen many people swear that parsley needs a lot of suns. I will tell you in my 20 years of experience growing parsley; it has no issues growing in low light.
Thyme does great with indirect light in a bright room or an east window. You are freeing up more space in your sunny southern windows for sun-loving plants. Light does not need to shine on this plant directly but is near for thyme to thrive.
The use for thyme is almost limitless as it pairs well with so many dishes you can prepare in the kitchen—a classic pairing with Rosemary for seasoning poultry and game meats. Thyme also is an excellent seasoning for soups, stews, and stocks.
Shiso, or otherwise referred to as perilla, is a beautiful, unique herb. It adds an Oriental flavor to your dishes with its Asian roots.
Not everyone considers this to be a shade-loving herb. Yet, the hardiness of chives tolerates low light and shade conditions with style. The blades maybe a little more delicate when grown in lower lights, but the taste is not sacrificed.
⇒Garlic chives can be an excellent flavor treat in your dishes; if you have never tried this variety, give it a chance. You will be surprised.
This is a variety of oregano that likes the shade, unlike the rest of the Oregano and marjoram family. Its delicate pale green to yellow leaves thrive in the shade and burn up in high amounts of sun.
Turmeric appreciates indirect light for the best growth for your plant. This beautiful plant grown for its roots, rhizomes, is a very versatile home dweller.
Much like the previous herb mentioned, ginger is also grown for and from its rhizomes(roots). It is a hardy shade grower almost anywhere in your home with a minor indirect light source.
Having indoor herbs that can tolerate lower light will help you space your indoor garden—bringing you more growth opportunities. It will be essential to watch your plants for problems with light deficiency.
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Did I miss an herb that you have had success growing in lower light conditions and shade indoors? I would love to hear about what you are growing and how it is working for you. Leave a comment below!
Happy Gardening!
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About Truman Perkins
Truman Perkins is a Detroit-based SEO consultant who's been in the business for over a decade. He got his start helping friends and clients get their websites off the ground, and he continues to do so today. In his free time, Truman enjoys learning and writing about gardening - something he believes is a natural stress reliever. He lives with his wife, Jenny, and their twins in Detroit.
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