The Surprisingly Simple Way to Grow Herbs

There’s something deeply satisfying about plucking fresh basil leaves to toss in your pasta or pulling a sprig of thyme while dinner simmers on the stove. And the good news is, you don’t need a yard — or even a green thumb — to grow fresh herbs at home. You can grow them right on your kitchen windowsill, or anywhere with enough light and a little counter space. 

But with so many kits on the market, figuring out which one to buy can be a bit confusing. Some kits rely on natural sunlight, while others are equipped with LED grow lights or even full hydroponic systems that water and feed your plants for you. They vary widely in seed selection, offer different built-in features, and come in a range of aesthetics like rustic wooden planters, clean ceramic pots, and minimalist countertop systems. Prices range from under $30 to more than $300, depending on how much help you want with watering, lighting, and upkeep.

To make things simple, we’ve researched dozens of kits and rounded up the best options across the spectrum — from low-maintenance starter sets to sleek smart gardens — so you can spend less time comparing specs and more time snipping parsley for your next meal.

_{Prices are accurate as of June 3, 2025. Subject to change.}

Spade to Fork Organic Herb Garden Kit

This sweet and simple starter kit is a fantastic option for anyone with a sunny windowsill and a taste for fresh, organic herbs. It comes with five classic favorites — basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and mint — and everything you need to get started: compostable starter pots, rich organic soil discs, and wooden plant markers that are charmingly pre-engraved with each herb’s name. The design is clean and earthy with a minimalist feel that won’t clutter your kitchen. And unlike many herb kits, every component, from the seeds to the soil to the starter cups, is fully USDA-certified organic, making it an easy, chemical-free way to start growing herbs at home.

Zestigreens Indoor & Outdoor Herb Garden Kit

Designed with a clean, contemporary aesthetic, this indoor-outdoor herb kit showcases a minimalist look that feels right at home whether you display it on a modern kitchen countertop or a sun-drenched patio bench. It features eight small white ceramic-style pots with matching saucers, along with transparent herb labels printed in sleek Rae Dunn–inspired font. Compared to the first kit, this one offers a broader selection of seeds, including oregano, dill, chives, basil, parsley, thyme, cilantro, and rosemary. It’s the only kit on the list that’s specifically designed for indoor and outdoor use, giving you more flexibility on where to place it. And because the pots are individual and movable, you can scatter them across window sills, shelves, or outdoor tables instead of keeping everything in one place.

Click and Grow Indoor Herb Garden Kit

If your home doesn’t get much sunlight — or you simply don’t want to fuss with watering schedules — this convenient countertop kit is an excellent low-maintenance option that still comes at a reasonable price point. It uses built-in LED grow lights to mimic natural sunlight, while a hidden reservoir automatically delivers water to each pod as needed. The pre-seeded “smart soil” pods take care of the rest, releasing nutrients and balancing pH with no mixing, measuring, or nutrient tanks required, making it a hands-off way to grow herbs without the learning curve of hydroponics. The kit comes with basil to start, but you can mix and match thyme, chives, or cilantro and coriander, as well as vegetables like peppers and tomatoes.   

LetPot Air Hydroponics Growing System

Perfect for aspiring indoor gardeners who are ready to move beyond soil and sunlight, this user-friendly hydroponic kit offers an approachable entry point to water-based growing. Instead of planting in soil, your herbs grow in nutrient-rich water that’s circulated by a quiet pump that delivers consistent hydration and oxygen to the roots. The LetPot system supports up to 10 pods at a time, with a 24-watt adjustable LED grow light and a 4-liter water tank (that can last up to three weeks between refills). You can control everything manually using a touchpad or download the companion app to fine-tune your lighting and pump schedule. The tall lamp height gives your plants up to 17 inches to thrive, and it comes with grow sponges and nutrients to help you get started. Just note that this kit doesn’t include seeds.

AeroGarden Harvest Elite Hydroponic System

This polished countertop garden offers a more advanced indoor growing experience than the LetPot without overwhelming first-timers. It supports six herbs or greens at a time, each growing in a self-watering pod under a full-spectrum 20-watt LED light. The digital display tells you exactly when to add water and plant food, and there’s even a vacation mode that dials things back while you’re away. It comes with a set of pre-seeded starter pods, including basil, dill, and mint, so you can get growing right out of the box, or branch out later with veggies or flowers. The setup is quick, and the adjustable light hood extends up to 12 inches, giving your plants plenty of room to thrive. Available in several finishes, including a stylish stainless steel option, it’s a great mid-range choice for anyone who wants a low-effort but high-performing hydroponic setup.

Rise Gardens Personal Hydroponic Garden

For the home cook looking to graduate from simple windowsill basil and dive into full-fledged indoor herb gardening, the Rise Gardens kit offers a high-yield, app-enabled system that produces vibrant, fast-growing plants with minimal effort. The robust hydroponic garden supports up to 12 plants at once — from microgreens and lettuces to herbs and cherry tomatoes — and comes with everything you need to get started, including eight starter pods, plant food, and a nursery tray. The companion app takes the guesswork out of all maintenance by tracking watering, feeding, and lighting schedules. It’s bigger and pricier than other kits on the list but for the ambitious indoor gardener, this all-in-one system is well worth the splurge.

Feature Image Credit: Switlana Symonenko/ iStock