How to Prune Every Indoor Herb

Basil

Soft-stemmed annual · mint family

• Growth habit: A tender annual (Illinois Extension) with opposite leaf pairs on a square stem, like the rest of the mint family (LSU).
• Where to cut: Just above a pair of leaves. New growth starts at the cut point and should show within a week (UMN Extension). For the first harvest, clip above the second set of leaves from the bottom (UC Master Gardeners).
• How much at once: Iowa State says leafy annuals like basil can be cut back severely, leaving about 4 to 6 inches of stem (Iowa State, indoor guide). AeroGarden recommends pruning only about 1/3 of a plant at a time in its gardens (AeroGarden). In a mixed smart garden we follow the 1/3 limit; a lone windowsill pot can take the harder cut.
• When to start and how often: Wait until the plant is 6 to 10 inches tall (dwarf types excepted), then clip about twice a month (UC Master Gardeners). On a windowsill, Illinois says harvesting can begin in about 4 to 5 weeks (Illinois Extension).
• Flowers: Pinch off flower buds as soon as you see them (Illinois Extension). If a stalk is already budding, pinching the tip just makes way for the next one; cut it at least four leaf nodes down instead (UC Master Gardeners). Flowering makes basil woody, lowers yields and turns the flavor bitter (UMN Extension).
• Pinch or harvest: Pinching tips makes a bushy plant (Illinois Extension). When you harvest, take whole stems at a node rather than a leaf here and there (UMD Extension).
• Indoors: Even indoors, basil will flower and die eventually (UMN Extension). Keep it off cold winter windowsills: Penn State notes basil cannot survive below 50°F (Penn State). In a smart garden, prune basil from the top so the light can stay at its lowest setting for slower herbs (AeroGarden).
• Mistakes to avoid: Picking single leaves, letting buds open, and keeping a crowded supermarket pot as-is (RHS says these are packed with thin seedlings that soon flower unless divided and repotted) (RHS).

Our step-by-step basil pruning guide walks through the first cut in more detail.

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Mint

Soft-stemmed perennial · mint family · spreads by underground stems

• Growth habit: A very hardy perennial that spreads aggressively by underground rhizomes (Illinois Extension), with square stems and opposite leaves (LSU).
• Where to cut: Take the young shoot tips (RHS), cutting just above a leaf or pair of leaves (Iowa State, indoor guide).
• How much at once: Indoors, Iowa State says to remove the top one-third of growth on perennials like mint (Iowa State, indoor guide). Garden advice goes much harder: Iowa State's outdoor herb table says to cut mint near ground level (Iowa State), and RHS cuts the whole plant to about 2 inches (5 cm) after it flowers (RHS). For a pot on the counter, we stick with the one-third guideline during regular harvests.
• When to start and how often: Harvest as needed: the more often stems are cut, the more new growth you get (Illinois Extension). Clemson also advises frequent harvesting to encourage growth and prevent flowering (Clemson HGIC).
• Flowers: Remove flower spikes as they appear to keep the leaf flavor (Illinois Extension). If it does flower, RHS cuts it down to about 2 inches; fresh shoots follow within a few weeks (RHS).
• Indoors: Bring a pot in for winter and keep it on a sunny windowsill (RHS). Indoors, give each herb species its own container (Iowa State, indoor guide); Illinois strongly suggests growing mint in containers because of how it spreads (Illinois Extension).
• Mistakes to avoid: Sharing a pot with other herbs, and leaving flower spikes on.

More on pots and light: how to grow mint indoors.

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Parsley

Grows from a crown · biennial grown as an annual

• Growth habit: A biennial: leaves in year one, flowers and seed in year two. Most people grow it as an annual (RHS; Illinois Extension).
• Where to cut: Take a few leafy stems from the outside of the plant, snipping near the base (RHS). Iowa State says to snip just above ground level (Iowa State).
• How much at once: RHS says you get repeated harvests by taking just one or two stems from each plant at a time (RHS). Iowa State's indoor guide is more relaxed and lists parsley with the leafy annuals that can be cut back severely, leaving 4 to 6 inches (Iowa State, indoor guide). We take outer stems a few at a time so the center keeps producing.
• When to start and how often: Any time once the plant is large enough (Illinois Extension). Picking regularly encourages more leaves (RHS).
• Flowers and bolting: A plant kept into its second season sends up a seed stalk, and the leaves turn tough and bitter (Illinois Extension). RHS says it is not worth keeping plants into year two (RHS).
• Indoors: Parsley can be grown indoors over winter (Illinois Extension). Supermarket pots are packed with thin seedlings meant for short-term harvesting (RHS).
• Mistakes to avoid: Snipping leaf tops off every stem instead of taking whole outer stems, and expecting a second-year plant to keep giving good leaves.

Sowing, light and watering: how to grow parsley indoors.

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Cilantro (coriander)

Grows from the base · fast annual that bolts

• Growth habit: An annual that bolts quickly in heat (Clemson HGIC) and dies after it sets seed (RHS).
• Where to cut: Cut individual leaves or whole plants (Illinois Extension). RHS treats it as cut-and-come-again: take only a few leaves from each plant, then let them recover for a couple of weeks (RHS).
• How much at once: "A few from each plant" (RHS). None of our sources gives a fraction for cilantro.
• When to start and how often: Sources agree closely here: 4 to 6 inches tall (Iowa State; RHS) or about 6 inches (Illinois Extension). RHS says you should get several pickings before it flowers.
• Flowers and bolting: Remove flower stems as soon as they start, or the plant puts its energy into seed instead of leaves (RHS). Hot, dry conditions speed up bolting (RHS).
• Indoors: Here the sources disagree. RHS says cilantro does not last long as a windowsill herb, going pale in low light and bolting (RHS), while Penn State lists it among herbs that tolerate lower light (2 to 6 hours of direct sun) (Penn State). Either way, sow small batches every few weeks for a steady supply (RHS).
• Mistakes to avoid: Expecting one pot to last for months. Plan on resowing instead.

Sowing and bolting tips: how to grow cilantro indoors.

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Chives

Grows in a clump · perennial

• Growth habit: A hardy perennial that grows in clumps from small underground bulbs, with round, hollow leaves (Illinois Extension).
• Where to cut: Cut leaves toward the base, about one inch above the soil (Illinois Extension). RHS says to snip just above the base (RHS), and Iowa State says close to the ground (Iowa State).
• How much at once: Iowa State's indoor guide lists chives with the perennials where you remove only the top one-third of growth (Iowa State, indoor guide), which sits oddly beside the advice to cut near the base. We cut some leaves near the base and leave the rest of the clump growing. After flowering, RHS cuts the whole clump to about 2 inches (5 cm) for a fresh flush (RHS).
• When to start and how often: Harvest throughout the season so leaves don't turn tough (Illinois Extension). The more often you harvest, the more new leaves grow (RHS).
• Flowers: The flowers are edible. Snip finished flower stalks right at the base (RHS), and remove flowers before they fade if you don't want self-sown seedlings (Illinois Extension). NC State notes flowering can give the leaves an off-flavor (NC State).
• Indoors: RHS suggests potting up a clump for a sunny windowsill over winter (RHS). Illinois cautions that clumps potted in fall for indoor growing don't perform as well and tend to get leggy, and mentions 'Grolau' as a strain bred for indoor growing (Illinois Extension).
• Mistakes to avoid: Leaving tough flower stalks in the clump.

More on regrowing chives: how to grow chives indoors.

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Thyme

Woody perennial · mint family

• Growth habit: A low, wiry-stemmed perennial, 6 to 12 inches tall, with stiff woody stems (Illinois Extension).
• Where to cut: Snip sprigs of the soft green growth. RHS lightly trims shrubby thymes in mid to late spring and/or soon after flowering (RHS).
• How much at once: Indoors, remove the top one-third of growth (Iowa State, indoor guide).
• When to start and how often: Seed-grown thyme may take about a year before you can harvest (RHS). Because it's evergreen, you can snip year-round, and regular harvests keep it compact (RHS).
• Flowers: The sources disagree on timing: Illinois says thyme is best cut just before it starts to flower (Illinois Extension), while Iowa State's table says to cut stem ends and flowers at the full-flowering stage (Iowa State). The flowers are edible either way (RHS).
• Older plants: Another disagreement. Illinois renews old woody thyme every few years by cutting it back severely in spring (Illinois Extension). RHS warns that cutting back hard into old wood is risky because stems may not reshoot (RHS). On a small indoor pot we would rather trim lightly and start a new plant from a cutting.
• Indoors: Thyme does best in direct sunlight (Penn State).
• Mistakes to avoid: Shearing into bare, woody stems.

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Oregano

Perennial · mint family · stems firm up with age

• Growth habit: A loose, open perennial from 6 inches to 2 feet tall (Illinois Extension). UC Master Gardeners group it with the woody-stemmed herbs (UC Master Gardeners, Sonoma).
• Where to cut: Remove the stem tips, leaving 4 to 6 pairs of leaves on the plant so it sends out side shoots (Illinois Extension).
• How much at once: Indoors, the top one-third of growth (Iowa State, indoor guide).
• When to start and how often: Harvest sprigs of young leaves regularly to encourage bushy growth (RHS). Iowa State says to clip back periodically to promote new growth and reduce flowering (Iowa State).
• Flowers: The flavor is best before the flowers open (RHS), and letting it flower can reduce or stop growth completely (Illinois Extension). Cut faded flower stems back (RHS).
• Indoors: Plants moved indoors in autumn can stay productive if they get enough warmth and light (RHS). Illinois mentions Turkestan oregano as good for indoor culture (Illinois Extension).
• Mistakes to avoid: Cutting stems down to bare stalks with no leaf pairs left.

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Sweet marjoram

Tender perennial grown as an annual · mint family

• Growth habit: A very tender perennial usually grown as an annual, low and spreading (Illinois Extension), about 6 to 9 inches tall (Clemson HGIC).
• Where to cut: Prune it back when it is 6 to 8 inches tall to make it bushier (Illinois Extension).
• How much at once: Marjoram is the exception to the gentle rules. Iowa State cuts it back to 1 inch above the ground just before flowering, and a second crop forms (Iowa State). Illinois cuts plants close to the ground when they start to bloom, and says the second flush is often the better crop (Illinois Extension).
• When to harvest: When the ball-like tips appear at the ends of the stems (Illinois Extension).
• Indoors: Easily grown in a container indoors in a sunny spot (Illinois Extension).
• Mistakes to avoid: Letting a low, spreading plant sprawl without that early pinch.

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Rosemary

Woody evergreen shrub · mint family

• Growth habit: A perennial evergreen shrub in warm zones; in cold climates it is treated as a tender perennial and brought indoors for winter (Illinois Extension).
• Where to cut: Cut the tender tips as needed (Illinois Extension). Trim lightly each year after the flowers fade, but avoid cutting back into old wood (RHS).
• How much at once: None of our sources gives a rosemary-specific fraction. For perennial herbs in general, Iowa State says to remove no more than about one-third of the top growth at a time (Iowa State). RHS is clear about the downside: old plants don't usually recover from heavy pruning, so replace straggly ones with cuttings (RHS).
• When to start and how often: Harvest year-round; the soft new growth has the best flavor (RHS). Seed-grown plants take several years to reach harvest size (RHS).
• Flowers: Give it an annual trim after flowering (RHS).
• Indoors: Rosemary prefers a cool, sunny spot with high humidity indoors, and dries out quickly, which shows up as brown leaf tips and die-back (Illinois Extension). That browning is a water and air problem, not a pruning one.
• Mistakes to avoid: Cutting into the brown, bare wood at the base; left unpruned, rosemary gets leggy and bare there (RHS).

Keeping it alive through winter: how to grow rosemary indoors.

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Sage

Woody perennial · mint family

• Growth habit: A shrubby perennial about 2 to 3 feet tall that turns woody with age (Illinois Extension).
• Where to cut: Harvest young leaves regularly to encourage bushy growth (RHS). Prune back in spring just as new growth resumes (Illinois Extension); RHS says to prune lightly every year in mid to late spring (RHS).
• How much at once: Lightly. RHS warns that pruning hard into bare wood is risky because older stems may not reshoot (RHS). The general one-third guideline for perennials applies (Iowa State).
• When to start and how often: Seed-grown sage takes at least a year to reach harvesting size (RHS). After that, harvest leaves as needed through the season (Illinois Extension).
• Flowers: Trim back faded flower stems in late summer (RHS).
• Older plants: Sage gets woody and straggly after six or seven years, so RHS suggests propagating replacements (RHS). Illinois agrees woody plants are best replaced (Illinois Extension).
• Indoors: Summer cuttings root easily and can be potted for indoor use over winter (Illinois Extension).
• Mistakes to avoid: Hard pruning into old wood, and keeping a tired old plant instead of rooting a fresh cutting.

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Dill

Soft-stemmed annual · feathery leaves

• Growth habit: An annual that produces leafy harvests for several weeks until it flowers (RHS).
• Where to cut: Harvest shoot tips regularly, or pinch them out, for bushy, leafy growth (RHS). Arizona Extension says to harvest leaves by cutting back to the main stalk (Arizona Extension).
• How much at once: Snip just a few from young plants and always keep at least one-third of the plant in place (RHS).
• When to start and how often: About six weeks after sowing (RHS). Regular picking encourages more leaves and delays flowering (RHS).
• Flowers and bolting: Cut back flower stems as they form if you only want leaves (RHS). Hot, dry conditions make dill bolt (RHS), and plants decline soon after flowering, so Illinois resows every two weeks (Illinois Extension).
• Indoors: Dill can be sown indoors year-round for a sunny windowsill, though plants are bushier when light levels are higher (RHS). Illinois lists 'Ella' and 'Monia' as compact varieties for containers (Illinois Extension).
• Mistakes to avoid: Stripping more than two-thirds of a young plant, and relying on a single sowing.

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Lemon balm

Soft-stemmed perennial · mint family

• Growth habit: An upright, bushy herbaceous perennial, about 10 to 24 inches tall, that spreads by setting lots of seed (Illinois Extension).
• Where to cut: Cut stems as needed, ideally before flowering (Illinois Extension). Fresh leaves can be picked any time (Iowa State).
• How much at once: Lemon balm takes a harder cut than most: Illinois says it can be cut back to about half its height for fresh, vigorous growth, then watered to help it recover (Illinois Extension). That goes past the one-third guideline other sources use for perennials (Iowa State; Clemson HGIC), so we save it for an overgrown plant rather than routine harvests.
• Flowers: Cut flowering stalks before they set seed to stop it spreading (Illinois Extension); Clemson notes it self-sows readily (Clemson HGIC).
• Thinning: In midsummer, thin out stems to open the plant up to air (Illinois Extension).
• Indoors: Penn State lists lemon balm among herbs that tolerate lower light, needing 2 to 6 hours of direct sun (Penn State).
• Mistakes to avoid: Letting flower stalks go to seed.

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French tarragon

Perennial · not in the mint family

• Growth habit: A loose, open perennial, 2 to 3 feet tall, with narrow leaves. True French tarragon has sterile flowers, so it comes from cuttings or divisions, not seed (Illinois Extension).
• Where to cut: Harvest young stem tips and leaves (Illinois Extension; UMD Extension). RHS pinches out shoot tips to prolong leaf harvests through summer (RHS).
• How much at once: Utah State notes a sprig is typically one-third the length of the stem (Utah State). Bigger cuts appear in garden advice: NC State shears plants to half their height after an early-summer flower harvest (NC State), and Arizona says established plants can be cut back completely twice a season, but to harvest sparingly in the first year (Arizona Extension).
• When to start: Cut plants back in spring just as growth resumes (Illinois Extension).
• Indoors: Small pots can be grown where there is very bright light. Indoor plants won't match outdoor quality, but you can harvest small amounts for fresh use (Illinois Extension).
• Mistakes to avoid: Heavy cuts on a first-year plant.

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