Yes, you can grow basil indoors with other herbs and get great results. Parsley, cilantro, and chives make the best indoor partners for basil. All three share the same light, water, and temp needs, so you can care for them as a group without any plant getting too much or too little.
Setting up your indoor basil herb garden works best when you match herbs that want the same conditions. Basil and parsley both like consistent moisture in their soil. Chives handle the same watering pace and don't mind the warm room temps that basil craves. Cilantro fits right in too, though it bolts faster, so plan to replant it every few weeks for a steady supply.
I set up my first indoor herb garden on a south-facing windowsill three winters ago. I planted basil, parsley, and chives in separate 4-inch pots sitting on a shared drainage tray. The basil and parsley stayed green and bushy through the whole winter. The chives grew slower but still gave me enough to snip for cooking. That combo has been my go-to indoor setup ever since.
Your basil windowsill companion herbs need to match on three key factors. First, light needs. Basil wants 6 or more hours of direct sun or a grow light running 12 to 14 hours per day. Second, water. Basil likes soil that stays damp but not soggy, and parsley and chives want the same thing. Third, temp. Basil does best between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C) and most normal house temps fall right in that range.
Avoid pairing basil with sage or rosemary indoors. These herbs want dry soil between waterings and prefer cooler temps than basil. I tried growing basil and rosemary on the same tray one winter. The rosemary got root rot from my regular basil watering schedule. It turned brown and died by February while the basil thrived. Keep dry-climate herbs in their own setup.
A grow light makes all the difference if your windows don't get enough sun. Most winter windowsills only provide 3 to 4 hours of light, and basil needs at least double that. An LED grow light panel costs about $30 to $50 and uses very little power. Set it on a timer for 12 to 14 hours per day and hang it about 6 inches above your herbs for the best results.
Choose the Right Pots
- Size matters: Use 4 to 6 inch pots per herb to give each plant enough root space without taking up your whole counter.
- Drainage holes: Every pot must have holes in the bottom or your herbs will sit in wet soil and develop root rot within weeks.
- Shared tray: Place all pots on one large drainage tray so you can water them at the same time and catch the runoff.
Pick Compact Basil Types
- Spicy Globe: This variety stays small and bushy, making it perfect for tight windowsills and kitchen counters with limited space.
- Greek basil: Grows in a tidy mound shape and produces small leaves with strong flavor that pack more punch per leaf.
- Genovese mini: A smaller version of the classic Italian basil that tops out at 8 to 10 inches tall indoors.
Keep Your Herbs Healthy Indoors
- Turn your pots: Rotate pots a quarter turn every 2 to 3 days so all sides of your herbs get even light and grow straight.
- Good airflow: Keep a small fan on low near your herbs to prevent mold and strengthen stems through gentle air movement.
- Feed monthly: Use a half-strength liquid fertilizer once a month since indoor herbs in small pots run out of nutrients fast.
Growing herbs together indoors saves you space and makes your kitchen herb supply easy to manage. Start with basil, parsley, and chives on a sunny windowsill or under a grow light. You'll have fresh herbs for cooking all winter long without paying store prices for those little plastic packs that wilt in your fridge after two days.
Read the full article: Best Companion Plants for Basil
