Create a DIY Herb Garden with Grow Lights in 5 Super Simple Steps

Want to start growing herbs but don’t have the space outdoors? Consider an indoor DIY herb garden with grow lights! Keep reading for a complete guide to create your own diy herb garden!

Ever dreamed of plucking fresh basil straight from the plant for your homemade pesto, or garnishing your dish with sprigs of rosemary just a few moments after snipping them? With a DIY herb garden, these culinary delights can become your everyday reality. 

Growing herbs is not only one of the easiest ways to get started with gardening, it’s also one with huge returns! Creating your own DIY herb garden with grow lights means you can grow and harvest fresh herbs year-round regardless of what garden zone you are in, or what the whims of nature offer! In this post, I’ll walk you through how to create your own indoor herb garden using grow lights. 

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Benefits of using grow lights with indoor herbs

Creating your indoor herb garden is a great way to enjoy the fruits of gardening in small spaces. There are so many indoor herb garden ideas on the internet and many of them are simple and beautiful designs but the beautiful pictures always leave one very key element to growing success out, and that’s the element of light!

While many herbs can grow okay in low light, mediterranean herbs like rosemary, lavender and oregano thrive in full sun locations! That’s why creating your diy herb garden with grow lights can really amp up your harvest!

Additionally, adding grow lights to your indoor herb garden allows you to control the amount of light your plants receive. Some plants may require more or less hours of sunlight, and with a grow light, you can easily adjust the settings to provide the perfect amount of light for each type of herb.

How to Create a DIY Herb garden with grow lights

Creating your own DIY herb garden is really as easy as one-two-three! With just a little preparation and a few decisions, you’ll be harvesting your own herbs in no time! 

Choose your location

The first step to creating your DIY herb garden is location! Ideally you’ll want a sunny window with natural light, so creating a windowsill herb garden that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight a day could be a good option! The main issue with this is a south-facing window is truly the best location. If this is in the bathroom vs a kitchen window, you may run into a few problems! 

When using grow lights, you’ll just want to select a location where you can mount your grow lights!  Under kitchen cabinets is a great location for your grow lights! Additionally, you can add shelving to your kitchen like these I have in my house where the grow lights can be mounted!

Selecting your grow lights for indoor herb gardening

The next thing you’ll want to do is select your grow lights!  There are two main types of grow lights to choose from: fluorescent and LED (light-emitting diodes). Fluorescent lights provide a good source of light for herbs and are more affordable. An LED grow light will be more energy efficient and can be easily adjusted for different types of plants.

One way to enjoy the energy efficiency of LED lights is to use shop lights! They are often far more inexpensive and can be purchased from any of your local hardware stores or online! I actually have these Shop Lights from Home depot and they worked great for seed starting! 

I also use these grow lights! You can see them in my grow shelf set-up below! They’ve worked great over the last two seasons!  

When selecting lights you’ll just want to make sure to measure for your space and get enough lights for the herbs you’ll be growing! 

Choosing the right herbs

There are tons of different herbs that can be grown indoors! Perennial herbs like rosemary, sage, lemon balm, mint, oregano, thyme and chives do well in the indoor garden! Additionally annual herbs like basil plants, dill, and cilantro can be grow with success in a DIY herb garden! 

Ultimately the choice of what to grow is going to hinge on what you want to have access to! Choose the variety that you enjoy and harvest often to keep the plants manageable! 

Once you have decided on the type of herbs you want to grow, you can source herbs from lots of different places including the garden center and grocery store! You can also purchase herb seeds from places like botanical interests!!

Selecting the right containers

The next step is selecting the right containers for your herbs. Containers vary in sizes and shapes, giving you room to be creative in finding pots that aesthetically complement your space. 

You can choose to use small individual pots for each herb or use a larger container and plant many herbs with similar water requirements together! The possibilities are endless, I recommend getting creative and checking out thrift stores for interesting options! 

One key point to remember is that the container must have drainage holes for proper water drainage. Avoid dealing with root rot or poor drainage by ensuring your planters have good drainage. If your containers lack drainage, consider adding small holes at the bottom. 

Planting your herbs (Start Seeds or purchase starts)

Now, it’s time to plant your herbs!  You can choose to start your herbs from seeds or purchase already grown starts from a local garden center, grocery store, or online. Starting from seeds is typically less expensive but may take longer for the herbs to fully grow and be ready for harvest. Purchasing starts cuts down on time but may cost more. 

When planting your herbs, make sure to use a good quality potting soil mix with proper drainage. If you are starting from seed, remember to keep the surface of the soil moist until seeds have germinated.

Also read: Seed Germination Methods for Beginners

Using a growing system

Now creating your own DIY herb garden can be fun and rewarding, but if you are short on time or want a more hassle-free approach, you may want to consider using a growing system for your herbs.

A growing system is essentially an all-in-one kit that provides the perfect environment for your plants to grow. It typically includes a planting container, grow lights, water and nutrient system, and often comes with pre-seeded pods for easy planting.

There are many different types of growing systems available, from basic to more advanced options. Some even have smart features that allow you to control and monitor your plants through a mobile app.

Using a growing system can be especially beneficial for beginners or those who want a low-maintenance herb garden. It completely takes the guesswork out of the process! I am partial to the Aerogarden! In fact, I have 7! They have different sizes that are perfect for any space and with these you’ll be able to grow more than herbs! 

Maintenance tips

Whether you choose to create your own DIY herb garden or use a growing system, there are some general maintenance tips to keep in mind:

• Water your herbs regularly. Make sure not to over-water, as this can cause root rot. Check the soil moisture before watering.
• Trim and harvest your herbs frequently to promote growth and prevent overcrowding.
• Fertilize your herbs every few weeks to provide essential nutrients for healthy growth.
• Monitor for pests and diseases, such as spider mites, fungus gnats or mildew, and take appropriate action if needed.
• Rotate your herbs occasionally so that all sides receive adequate light exposure.

Remember, it’s all about enjoying the process, getting creative, and loving your plants.  Be sure to add me on social and tag me with your indoor herb garden set-ups! I love seeing what you are doing in your own garden space! And when you’re plucking that first mint leaf, think of me and raise a mojito in my honor.