Winter Windowsill Herbs & Microgreens
What you *can* grow indoors—even in a cold Canadian winter
🌿 Can You Grow Herbs Indoors in a Canadian Winter?
Yes, but with a few warnings. Most windowsills in Canada are cold and dark in winter. Herbs like basil and rosemary will struggle. But if you choose the right plants and give them a little help, you can still enjoy fresh flavors indoors.
Best Herbs for Cold Windowsills
- Chives - Very hardy. Cut and come again.
- Parsley - Slow, but tolerates lower light.
- Mint - Likes humidity; keep moist.
- Thyme - Small and tough, handles cool windows.
Avoid: basil, dill, or cilantro in winter unless you have a grow light—they need warmth and strong light.
Best solution: Grow herbs under lights — even basic shop lights work great. I acquired mine from a neighbour that was throwing out theirs.
Why shop lights work:
You don't need a fancy "grow lights" I do grow all of my herbs, flowers and vegetables seedlings under "shop lights".
| Item | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Type of Light | LED shop light or T5/T8 fluorescent |
| Standard LED or fluorescent shop lights | (5000K-6500K) provide enough light for herbs. |
| Distance from Plants | 4-6 inches above the tops |
| Duration | 12-16 hours per day (I use a timer for night-time) |
| Placement | On a metal shelf from Costco - I use "S" hooks to attach lights to shelf. |
Herbs that grow well under lights:
- Basil (needs warmth too)
- Thyme
- Chives
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Dill (short-lived indoors, but works)
- Oregano (slow but steady)
- Mint (very forgiving)
My suggestion: Skip the cold windows if you can do it. Sometimes buying more equipment is just not possible.
However, even a sunny window in winter rarely provides enough - light intensity or warmth - for herbs — especially since:Windowsills often dip below 15°C (59°F) at night
Double-glazed windows block UV and reduce PAR light (Photosynthetically Active Radiation)
I have grown Rosemary on the windowsill before and it worked. Watch for the really cold days.
Microgreens: A Better Winter Option
If herbs struggle on your windowsill, try microgreens! These tiny greens grow quickly on a shelf or kitchen counter and don't need direct sun.
Easy Microgreens to Try
- Pea shoots
- Sunflower
- Radish
- Broccoli
- Mustard
- Spinach
- Kale
- Beets
Microgreens grow in shallow trays. Just mist them with water and harvest in 7–10 days. All you need is a warm spot and maybe a clip-on grow light if your kitchen is dark.
📋 Track Your Microgreens or Herbs
Use this simple tracker to keep notes about what you grow and how it tastes.
Just type your Herbs or Microgreen on this Page and when you're done - print landscape for your records. Set your printer to print just 1 page - that way you'll only get the page you just typed.
| Microgreen | Sow Date | Harvest Date | Flavor Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
💡 Helpful Hints
- Use shallow trays or recycled containers (yogurt lids, baking pans)
- A basic LED clip-on grow light can help a lot
- Trim with scissors when they're 5-10 cm tall
other pages at canadian-gardening.ca:
Winter Garden Checklist to PrintKnow Your Garden Naturally
Companion Planting Chart and Garden Planning
Get Your Free Garden Tools