Best Herbs to Grow in Hydroponic Gardens for Beginners

Discover the easiest and most rewarding herbs for new hydroponic growers.

Starting with herbs is one of the best ways to begin your hydroponic journey. They grow quickly, bounce back from beginner mistakes, and give you harvests you can actually use in the kitchen. Whether you're steeping mint in tea or layering basil onto fresh pasta, herbs are the easiest way to build your confidence while learning to grow food indoors.

But not every herb is ideal for your first round. The four listed below are truly beginner-friendly. They are fast to sprout, easy to care for, and hard to mess up. If you're looking for early wins and low-maintenance plants that still deliver big flavor, these are the ones to start with.

Basil: The Fastest-Growing Hydroponic Herb for Beginners

Why it’s great for beginners:

 Basil is one of the fastest-growing herbs in a hydroponic system. It usually germinates in 5 to 7 days and takes off quickly if it gets enough light. Once it reaches 6 to 8 inches tall, you can begin harvesting, and it will keep producing new leaves every week. It's also one of the most forgiving herbs when it comes to small mistakes like inconsistent pH or slightly low nutrients. As long as you don’t let it sit in darkness or forget to add water completely, basil will keep pushing out fresh, flavorful leaves.

What to use it in:

 Pesto, pasta, pizza, Thai curries, caprese salads, infused oils.

Quick tip:

 Always harvest from the top two sets of leaves, not the bottom. This encourages bushier growth and prevents it from growing tall and leggy.

Mint: Low-Maintenance Hydroponic Herb That Grows Like Crazy

Why it’s great for beginners:

 Mint practically grows itself once it’s rooted. It doesn’t care if your light is a little too weak or your water is a little cool. It has strong, fast-growing roots that take hold quickly and spread aggressively. In hydroponics, that means mint will fill its space fast and keep going. It handles minor fluctuations in nutrients, temperature, and water level without missing a beat, making it ideal for new growers who are still getting the hang of things.

What to use it in:

 Teas, mojitos, fruit salads, tabbouleh, spring rolls, sauces like chimichurri.

Quick tip:

 Mint can handle lower light than most herbs, but the flavor is strongest when grown under bright conditions. If your mint starts tasting weak or bitter, check your lighting and move it closer to your grow light if needed.

Dill: Easy Hydroponic Herb with Big Flavor and Aroma

Why it’s great for beginners:

 Dill is a soft, leafy herb that grows well in most hydroponic setups. It germinates in 7 to 10 days and doesn’t require a lot of light or fancy nutrients to thrive. It’s great for systems where you’re growing a mix of leafy greens and herbs because it doesn’t compete too hard for space or resources. Dill doesn’t bolt quickly indoors, and it responds well to regular harvesting, producing new fronds as long as you keep it trimmed. If you’re growing for smell, dill is one of the best—your entire tower will smell like a pickle garden in the best way possible.

What to use it in:

 Pickles, dressings, tzatziki, seafood, potato salad, and fresh herb dips.

Quick tip:

 Start harvesting early, even when it looks small. This keeps it from getting leggy and encourages more side growth.

Parsley: Resilient and Productive Hydroponic Herb

Why it’s great for beginners:

 Flat-leaf parsley is a slower starter, often taking up to three weeks to germinate, but it makes up for it in long-term consistency. Once it’s going, parsley is rock-solid. It tolerates cooler rooms, doesn’t bolt easily, and thrives in moderate lighting. If you're setting up a system in a basement, kitchen corner, or somewhere without full sun-like lighting, parsley won’t complain. You can harvest it over and over for weeks, just by trimming the outer stalks and letting the center continue to grow.

What to use it in:

 Tabbouleh, soups, sauces, chimichurri, herbed butters, hummus toppings.

Quick tip:

 Don’t pull the whole plant. Cut the outermost stems at the base and let the inner ones keep growing. Parsley grows back fast when harvested this way.

Final Thoughts: Start Your Indoor Garden with These Easy Herbs

Basil, mint, dill, and parsley are the backbone of a beginner-friendly hydroponic garden. These herbs grow quickly, forgive beginner mistakes, and give you harvests that are actually useful in your kitchen.

If you want to grow all four in one system with perfect spacing, easy watering, and minimal maintenance, the Eden Tower was designed for exactly that. It’s compact, simple to set up, and gives your herbs the perfect environment to thrive indoors.

Ready to keep going? Check out our blog
Start Your Hydroponic Garden the Right Way: 6 Essential Habits Every Beginner Should Know to build strong habits that will set up your system for long term success.