Great news for all plant growers is that you can successfully grow herbs indoors. This is particularly useful during winter. People without outdoor gardens can make a small garden indoors to grow their herbs. An ideal place is a kitchen windowsill but any bright window will do. These plants don't require any special lighting setup and can easily be grown outdoors.

Growing these herbs indoors is relatively easy. All you need to know are some small techniques that will make them happy and healthy.

The top 10 herbs for growing in a windowsill garden (in alphabetical order):

• Bay. This is a perennial that can do well in a container all year long. Bay needs lots of air circulation to remain healthy, so make sure it doesn't get crowded. It thrives best when placed in an east or west-facing window.
• Chervil. It's best to start seeds in late summer. This plant can do well even in low light. However, it needs temperatures between 65°F and 70°F so make sure to keep it somewhere warm.
• Chives. To grow chives indoors over winter, it's best to dig up a clump from a garden at the end of the growing season and pot it up. It's best to leave the pot outside until the leaves die. Early in winder, move it inside but to a cool spot (such as basement) for a few days. Finally, you can move chives to your brightest window.
• Oregano. Start this plant with a tip cutting from an oregano growing outdoors. Oregano needs lots of sunlight so you should place the pot in a south-facing window.
• Parsley. There are several ways you can go with this herb. You can start it from seeds or dig up a clump from a garden at the end of the growing season. It's important to remember parsley likes lots of sun but it can grow slowly if placed in an east or west-facing window.
• Rosemary. It's best started with a cutting. Rosemary should be kept in moist, soilless mix until it roots. It's best to keep it in a south-facing window since it requires a lot of sunlight.
• Sage. To start it, collect a tip cutting from an outdoor plant. Sage can tolerate dry indoor air very well. However, it needs strong sun so it's best placed in a south-facing window.
• Basil. You should start basil from seeds. This herb likes lots of sun and warmth so it's best to place the pots in a south-facing window.
• Tarragon. If you wish to grow it indoors, it's important to pay attention to its dormant period in the late fall or early winter. You should plant a mature plant from an outdoor garden and leave it outside until the leaves die back. After this, you should place it inside, but in a very cool spot (such as basement) for a few days. Then, place it in a south-facing window so the plant can get as much sunlight as possible. For the best results, you may add some fertilizer.
• Thyme. There are several ways to start thyme. You can dig up and pot an outdoor plant or you can start it by rooting a soft tip cutting. This plant needs lots of sun so it's best to keep it in a south-facing window. However, it can grow slowly in an east or west-facing window.

Photo credit: dogeared