I recently decided to start a small herb garden in my apartment since I cook daily and thought fresh herbs would be a game changer. My kitchen has a south-facing window sill that gets about 6 hours of direct sunlight, but it’s pretty narrow - only about 8 inches deep. I tried using some small pots I already had, but the basil and parsley seemed cramped and wilted quickly. I’m also worried about overwatering since the pots don’t have great drainage. I want to keep it low-maintenance since I’m still figuring out a good watering schedule, and I’d love to have enough space to grow a few different herbs like thyme, rosemary, and chives without the window sill looking cluttered. Has anyone managed a similar setup with limited depth and decent sunlight? What containers or soil mixes worked best for you? Also, any tips on keeping herbs healthy without turning the kitchen into a jungle?

Sounds like you’re on the right track with the south-facing window - 6 hours of sun is solid for herbs! Since your sill is narrow, have you thought about using those slim, rectangular planter boxes designed for balconies? They fit nicely in tight spaces and give roots more room to spread sideways instead of deep, which might help with your basil and parsley feeling cramped.

Also, definitely grab pots with drainage holes or add a layer of small stones at the bottom to avoid overwatering. I’ve had good luck with a light, well-draining potting mix made for herbs or succulents - keeps the soil from staying soggy. For low maintenance, watering when the top inch of soil feels dry usually works well. Rosemary and thyme are pretty drought-tolerant, so they’ll forgive a missed watering better than basil.

One more thing: rotating your pots every few days helps all sides get sunlight evenly, so no sad, leggy herbs