Growing herbs is by far one of the easiest aspects of gardening that you can enjoy. They're very forgiving, need little to nil TLC and produce far beyond what you could hope for. Until you try growing them indoors. Then they become wimpy, whining little plants that throw a tantrum the moment you ignore their pleas.

They lean towards the greater outdoors like a cat waiting to be let out but if you give in and take them outside they'll cry to be let back in. Aaargh! Can there be any level of success in growing these plants inside your home?

Sure there can be. Yet, I guess the most important consideration for growing herbs indoors successfully is that they require more of you when grown inside. The set-and-forget mentality with outdoor herbs just won't work and if it does then the results are more spasmodic than reliable.

Here are the some considerations for growing herbs indoors, in order of relevance;

1. They need a light source - sunlight is by far the cheapest form of light for your herbs but they can grow just as well under grow lights. If you opt for sunlight then finding a location within your house where they can access between 4-6 hours of sunlight per day is recommended. For those living north of the equator, a south facing window is ideal while the obverse is a northern aspect in the southern hemisphere.
2. Water less - when growing herbs inside they don't suffer from the effects of evaporation quite as much as their outdoor counterparts. Overwatering is the main culprit for the demise of indoor herbs as plants struggle to deal with the excess moisture and problems associated with it.
3. Keep them away from draughts - most herbs are fragile in their structure so extreme weather changes will affect them adversely. Therefore, keep them away from doors that are open and shut constantly or windows where draughts are unstoppable.
4. Feeding - your indoor herbs will require more nutrient than when growing outside because they have much more to contend with. Feed them with a foliar spray fertiliser every 4-6 weeks at least and if you're using them regularly then increase this to 2-3 weeks
5. Use with restraint - indoor herbs don't have the same growth rate or ability to bounce back like they did when they were growing in your garden beds so don't over use them. Always cut from the edges and leave a good deal of growing material so that the plant is able to continue growing. If you require more herbs then grow more.

So, now that you have all this sorted and feel ready to embark on growing herbs indoors again, the next question becomes which herbs grow well inside? Here a few to get you started;

• Chives - Allium schoenoprasum
• Marjoram - Origanum majorana
• Oregano - Origanum vulgarie
• Coriander - Coriandrum sativum
• Thyme - Thymus sp.
• Tarragon - Artemisia dracunculus
• Chervil - Anthriscus cerefolium
• Parsley - Petroselinum sp.
• Valerian - Valeriana officinalis
• Mint - Mentha sp.
• Roman Chamomile - Chamaemelum nobile
• Borage - Borago officinalis

Most gardeners grow herbs indoors for their culinary value but growing herbs for their aesthetics and medicinal purposes are equally as worthwhile.