If you are planning on creating a herb garden, there are a few things you need to consider first to help you be successful.
One of the most important things that are often overlooked by potential gardeners, would be how much adequate lighting to provide your herbs with.
Growing a successful herb garden relies on how much light your plants received, with most herbs needing about 6 hours of full sun. If you’re growing indoors, your herbs need to have at least 8-12 hours of direct intense light.
If you are growing your herbs indoors, be aware that not all herbs fare well in an indoor environment.
Cilantro and dill will simply not grow back after you cut it, so it is recommended that you grow these herbs outside in the warm summer months.
Most herbs can be grown successfully indoors, and some can even be trimmed and will return to live in good health.
They just require adequate lighting.
Let’s evaluate each and their Sunlight ‘vs’ Artificial light benefits, and then look at some of the most common herbs and how much light requirement is needed for each one.
Why Is Sunlight Good for Growing Herbs?
Sunlight consists of not only the visible spectrum light we can see, but also infrared light and ultraviolet light (UV light).
Heat from infrared light helps plants grow, and herbs grow better with strong root structures in more infrared light.
Ultraviolet light contributes to the flavor of herbs because it is ultraviolet light that stimulate herbs to produce essential oils.
This is why when humans eat herbs, we gain many of the health benefits from the herbs such as antioxidants for cellular repair, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Using an Indoor Artificial Light to Grow Herbs
Artificial light sources do not have the complete light spectrum like all the colors emitted by sunshine.
Most artificial light sources emit intense portions of the spectrum with strong yellows and orange colors that generate excessive infrared light.
The most appropriate artificial light source is important when indoors growing herbs, and with so many light colors available on the market it can be difficult to choose the right lights.
Herbs require a full color spectrum to facilitate photosynthesis and blue and red lights are a significant factor.
Note: Blue light promotes plant growth while red light promotes vegetative growth.
Indoor Fluorescent Grow Lights
Fluorescent grow lights are a great way to grow on a budget but fluorescent bulbs usually do not emit the full spectrum that some plants require for optimum growth.
If using fluorescent grow lights make sure they emit enough red (infrared) and blue (ultraviolet) light for your herbs to get the best chance!
Full-Spectrum LEDs
When growing herbs indoors, using a full-spectrum LED growing light is your best option.
Full-spectrum LED lights are designed to produce the full spectrum of light that replicates sunlight, just like the name suggests.
Full-spectrum LED lights are also energy efficient, which is especially nice because they are likely to be on for 8-12 hours per day.
Light Placement
Herbs prefer direct overhead light sources, giving them the opportunity to grow upward naturally towards the light source.
Ideally, you want to have a grow light mounted on a stand that allows adjustment of height as your grow progresses.
Also, use a light reflector to bounce as much light on your herbs as possible.
Different lights give off different amounts of heat; therefore, different heights will be required.
You will also need to adjust your height as they grow, as herb leaves should never touch the light source as they may burn.
- Incandescent lights: 24 inches over your herbs
- Fluorescents: 12 inches above your herbs
- LEDs: 6 inches over your herbs.
Most herbs thrive when they are placed in a nice warm spot in full-direct sun next to a window, if you are using natural sunlight.
This will provide them with as much full sun each day as possible.
Then, of course, depending on the climate and season – it may not be possible to provide them with as much light as they require without using artificial lighting.
Let’s explore the light requirements of the most common herbs you would like to grow.
Cilantro
Many novice gardeners have likely supplied some expletives regarding cilantro and its tendency to bolt (develop seed) even in some hotter weather conditions.
Even with a short life cycle, cilantro is relatively easy to grow when conditions are favorable.
If you enjoy cilantro, you’ll naturally want this wonderful herb available all through the year.
Cilantro Lighting Requirements
Cilantro has to have a minimum of 6 hours of full sun or 6-8 hours of partial sun.
This can be a bit of a difficult request if you live in a hot dry environment, as they can burn quickly if it gets above 95° F (35° C).
Cilantro is also prone to bolting while it is getting warm so you will need to monitor it to ensure you prune any seeds that arise from the main stem.
Cilantro Growing Indoors ‘vs’ Outdoors
Although it is relatively easy to grow cilantro outside, it can be tricky to grow year-round inside because of the lighting.
If you’re going to grow cilantro indoors, you’ll need 6 hours of full sun per day.
- Growing lamps will work better for growing cilantro, especially in the winter months. You will also have to introduce more nutrition to your cilantro plant.
- Make sure to use well draining soil, potting soil mixed with sand will allow for easy drainage.
Basil
Basil is an excellent herb to cultivate, as it’s relatively straightforward to produce and will yield immense bunches of aromatic and flavorful leaves that are great for cooking when grown correctly.
Basil responds favorably to growing inside with sunlight and outdoors as long as you keep the basil plant away from the cold during the cooler months.
Keep your basil plant out of cooler temperatures below 50°F (10°C).
Basil Lighting Requirements
When growing basil in pots outdoors, it requires a minimum of 6 hours of sun each day.
If potted outdoors in partial sun or indoors in a window, it requires about 6-8 hours of sun.
When indoors, if you place your basil by a sunny window, it will grow very well.
In the winter or with artificial grow lights, your basil may need 10-12 hours of direct light.
Like most herbs, basil prefers a lot of red and blue light to photosynthesize.
An LED grow light that provides the full-spectrum light is best, and fluorescent grow lights that are comprised of mostly red and blue light will also be great for growing basil indoors.
Basil Growing Indoors ‘vs’ Outdoors
Basil has the same growing potential either inside with grow lights or outside with at least 6 hours or more of direct sunlight per day.
If you live in a region when it’s 95°F (35°C) or above, just be cautious as too long of direct exposure may burn your basil plant.
Works Best: If you plan to grow basil indoors under fluorescent lights or LED lights, you should place your lights about 3-4 inches directly over your plant(s), and do not allow your basil leaves to touch the light as they will burn.
Bay Leaf, Chives, Mint, or Parsley
All of these herbs grow perfectly well indoors or outdoors with the right lighting conditions:
- If they’re kept outdoors in pots, you’ll need to with their at least 6 hours of sun per day. If they are in part shade you may look at about 8 hours of light each needed.
- If they’re going to be potted indoors, you’ll need to figure out a position where they can receive some direct sun.
- If you intend to grow them under artificial light, you will need a light that has full-spectrum light (like these LED lights).
- They will require approximately 12 hours daily from a grow light.
Conclusion
Cultivating herbs throughout the entire year can be fun and incredibly rewarding; there’s nothing better than cutting fresh herbs to use for food.
It also does not require a lot of money and is relatively simple to do once you set yourself up with the right light or placement outside.
A major suggestion is to use good quality fluorescent or LED grow lights and place the lights properly to allow enough red and blue light absorption for photosynthesis to occur.
In general, most herbs require an average of 6 hours of sunlight or equal to 12 hours of man-made light daily.