Domakihub Grow Fresh Aromatic Herbs at Home, Year-Round
A beginner-friendly guide to keeping basil, mint, oregano and rosemary thriving on any Greek windowsill or balcony.
Reviewed by Domakihub garden pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
A little aromatic herb garden is one of the easiest ways to add fresh flavour, greenery and a welcoming scent to a home, a holiday rental or a hotel terrace. The video above walks you through setting up an indoor herb garden from scratch, and this article lays out the practical steps so you can repeat it confidently. Everything here is written with Greek conditions in mind, from sun-soaked balconies in summer to bright kitchen windowsills in winter.
Why herbs are a perfect fit for Greek homes and rentals
Greece gives aromatic herbs almost everything they want: long hours of sunshine, warm days and a dry climate that many Mediterranean herbs evolved for. Oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage and bay are practically native to the landscape, while basil and mint are summer staples on nearly every Greek table. That means you are working with the climate, not against it.
For holiday rentals and hotels, a few pots of fresh herbs also do double duty. They look and smell inviting on a balcony or breakfast terrace, guests love clipping their own basil or mint, and the upkeep is minimal between stays. A tidy herb pot signals care and quality at almost no cost.
Two herb families, two watering habits
The single most useful thing to know is that herbs split into two broad groups with very different needs. Mediterranean, woody herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage and lavender like lots of sun, lean soil and dry-ish conditions; they hate having wet feet. Leafy, soft herbs such as basil, mint, parsley and coriander want richer soil, a bit more water and protection from the harshest midday sun in high summer.
Once you sort your herbs into these two camps, almost every care decision becomes obvious. Group pots with similar needs together so you can water them on the same rhythm, and you avoid drowning the rosemary while starving the basil.
Five steps to a thriving herb garden
- 1
Pick the right spot and light
Most aromatic herbs need at least six hours of direct sun a day, so a south- or west-facing windowsill, balcony or terrace is ideal. In winter, move pots to the brightest window you have. If a room is genuinely dark, a simple LED grow light for a few hours a day keeps leafy herbs like basil and parsley from getting leggy and pale.
- 2
Choose pots with drainage and the right soil
Always use containers with drainage holes; standing water is the number one killer of indoor herbs. Use a good-quality potting mix, and for Mediterranean herbs add a handful of sand, perlite or grit so water drains fast. Give each herb room, roughly a 15 to 20 cm pot per plant, and don't overcrowd, as airflow helps prevent mould in humid coastal spots.
- 3
Start from seedlings, cuttings or seed
For fast results, buy small seedlings from a nursery or supermarket and transplant them into a bigger pot. Mint, basil and rosemary also root easily from cuttings placed in a glass of water for a week or two. If you prefer seeds, basil, parsley and coriander are forgiving; sow a few, keep the surface moist, and thin out the weakest sprouts.
- 4
Water and feed without overdoing it
Check the soil with your finger before watering: water leafy herbs when the top centimetre feels dry, and let woody Mediterranean herbs dry out a little more between drinks. Water at the base, not over the leaves, ideally in the morning. A light dose of diluted liquid feed every few weeks in spring and summer is plenty; too much fertiliser produces lush but flavourless leaves.
- 5
Harvest often to keep plants bushy
Regular picking is care, not just reward. Pinch basil and mint from the top, just above a leaf pair, to push the plant to branch out and stay compact. Snip oregano, thyme and parsley stems from the outside. Remove any flower buds on basil quickly, as flowering turns leaves bitter and slows new growth. The more you harvest, the more you get.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted gardening pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- Which herbs are easiest for a complete beginner in Greece?
- Basil, mint, oregano and parsley are the most forgiving. Basil and mint grow fast and reward frequent picking, while oregano thrives almost effortlessly in the Greek sun. Start with two or three of these in separate pots before expanding to rosemary, thyme or sage.
- How do I keep herbs alive through the hot Greek summer?
- In peak summer, shift leafy herbs like basil and mint to a spot with some afternoon shade and water them more often, sometimes daily, as pots dry out fast. Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and thyme tolerate the heat well and prefer to dry out between waterings, so resist over-watering them.
- Can I grow herbs indoors year-round without a balcony?
- Yes. A bright kitchen windowsill with six or more hours of light will support most herbs. In darker apartments, an inexpensive LED grow light run for a few hours daily fills the gap. Keep pots away from cold draughts and hot radiators, and rotate them weekly so they grow evenly toward the light.