How to grow mint, basil, and curry leaves indoors at almost zero cost

Fresh herbs make meals healthier and more flavourful, but not everyone has the time to buy small bunches of mint or coriander every few days. For urban households, where time and freshness are constraints, growing your own herbs can cut monthly kitchen costs while bringing a little greenery indoors.

One does not need a balcony, designer pots, or expensive soil. With kitchen scraps, reused containers and a few minutes of care, you can grow mint, basil, curry leaves, lemongrass and more for almost free. 

Most herbs thrive even on windowsills or under basic indoor light. Here’s how to do it: 

1. Start Free: Grow From Kitchen Scraps Instead of Buying Seeds

The cheapest way to begin an indoor herb garden is to grow from what you already have. Mint, basil, coriander stems, lemongrass and even curry leaf stalks can be rooted in water and planted at no cost.

For mint and basil, take three to four healthy stems from your grocery bunch, remove the lower leaves and place them in a glass of water. They sprout roots in five to seven days. One rooted stem can grow enough mint for daily tea and chutney within a month.

The bottom three to four inches of market-bought lemongrass stems regrow well when kept upright in a jar of water. Once roots appear, transfer to soil.

If you get curry leaves with their woody stems, keep the stems in water for seven to ten days. When they firm up, plant them. These are near-zero-cost propagation methods with high success rates and are perfect for beginners.

Also Read: Rs12 lakh a year from 1 bigha: Assam teacher’s organic vanilla success

2. Use old buckets, cups, plastic bottles 

There is no need for store-bought pots. Herbs grow well in almost any recycled container as long as water can drain out. Ice-cream tubs and take-away boxes work for coriander or basil seedlings.

Steel bowls with a single hole drilled can hold mint well. PET bottles can be cut in half to make excellent self-watering planters. Broken buckets or paint tubs are great for curry leaves, which need deeper soil.

If drainage holes aren’t possible, place a thin layer of stones at the bottom to prevent root rot.  

3. Use free growing mediums instead of potting mix

Good soil doesn’t need to be expensive. You can grow herbs using a mix of kitchen waste, old soil and natural materials. Old garden soil is sufficient for mint, lemongrass, and ajwain.

A good alternative to cocopeat is shredded newspaper with garden soil, while compost from kitchen waste like peels, coffee, and eggshells boosts nutrients. For basil, a pinch of baking soda can reduce soil acidity.

Also Read: Five farmers harvesting bumper profits from rambutan farming

4. Grow in Low Light 

Most people assume that indoor farming of herbs requires full sun, but many Indian homes don’t get direct light. Instead of complicated grow lights, use simple hacks like moving pots closer to windows. Even reflected light is enough for mint and coriander.

You can also use mirrors or foil behind the pot to bounce extra light. It is a good idea to rotate containers weekly for even growth. 

Mint and ajwain grow exceptionally well even with two to three hours of indirect sun. Basil prefers more light, but it adapts if placed near the brightest window.

5. Watering, Pruning & Harvesting Correctly

Herbs don’t need heavy maintenance, fertilisers or sprays. Just basic, careful routines are enough for growth. However, you must water lightly every two to three days. Overwatering is the biggest reason indoor herbs die.

It is good to pinch off the top leaves to encourage bushier growth. Mint and basil grow more when trimmed, so harvest regularly.

Once a month, water with diluted leftover rice water can be added as a natural fertiliser to plants in your small kitchen garden. Boil some water with neem leaves and spray once in a while to avoid pests.

This approach keeps herb gardening fully cost-free, allowing continuous harvests for months.

(Riya Singh is a Ranchi-based journalist who writes on environment, farming, sustainability, startups, & women empowerment)

Also Read: How to save money by growing veggies and herbs in small spaces

Look up our YouTube Channel