Vegetables Herbs Growing Guides

The Ultimate Guide to Growing Herbs

Why You Should Grow Own Herbs for Optimal Herbs

Why Grow Your Own Herbs?

There are countless reasons to cultivate your own herb garden. Here are just a few:

1. Easy to Grow:

• Low-Maintenance: Herb plants are remarkably easy to care for, requiring minimal attention.
• Versatile Growth: They thrive in various conditions, from small containers to spacious garden beds.
• Quick Rewards: Enjoy fresh harvests soon after planting.

2. Superior Flavor and Nutrition:

• Peak Freshness: Homegrown herbs offer unparalleled flavor and aroma.
• Nutrient-Rich: By harvesting and drying your herbs, you preserve their maximum nutritional value.

3. Sustainable and Rewarding:

• Continuous Harvest: Many herb plants produce multiple harvests throughout the growing season.
• Eco-Friendly: Reduce your environmental impact by growing your own food.
• Therapeutic Benefits: Gardening is a relaxing and fulfilling hobby.

Ready to start your herb garden? Let’s dive into the details!

Looking to bring a touch of nature’s flavor to your meals? Starting an herb garden is the perfect way to do it. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, growing your own herbs is a rewarding experience. From fresh basil to fragrant rosemary, herbs can elevate your dishes and add a burst of flavor to your cooking. And the best part? They’re surprisingly easy to grow, even for those with limited gardening experience.

In my early gardening days, herbs were my gateway to successful plant cultivation. Many of my clients have also found success starting with herbs before venturing into other plants. But where do you begin? Let’s dive into the world of herbs and learn a bit about these versatile plants.

Best Herbs to Grow in an Herb Garden

Here is an extensive list of our top herbs to cultivate in your herb garden for their beauty, nutritional value, and flavor.

• Anise Hyssop
• Basil
• Bay Laurel
• Calendula
• Chamomile
• Chives
• Cilantro/Coriander
• Dill
• Echinacea
• Feverfew
• Lavender
• Lemon Balm
• Marigold
• Marjoram
• Mint
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Summer Savory
• Tarragon
• Thyme
• Winter Savory

Most of these plants are from four distinct plant groups. By studying these groups, you’ll gain a deeper insight into the specific needs for growing these plants in your garden. Fulfilling these basic requirements will lead to a steady supply of produce.

Let’s explore these different families.

The Mint Plant Family

How to Identify the Best Cut-and-Come-Again Varieties

This family is formally called the Lamiaceae family, and it includes anise hyssop, basil, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, and summer and winter savory. Oh, and of course, mint!

Most of the herbs here are from Mediterranean-type climates and prefer dryer conditions, so you can do more harm than good by having a heavy hand with the watering can. Their shallow roots make them ideal for growing in containers only six inches deep.

The members of this plant family are incredible. The more you cut from them, the more they give you. You cannot start an herb garden without including your favorite members of this family.

Carrot Plant Family Vegetables

The Carrot Family: A Guide to Most Common Kitchen Herbs

The Apiaceae family, also called the umbellifer family, is characterized by its members’ large taproots. Herbs like cilantro, cumin, dill, fennel, and parsley thrive in this family. To ensure optimal growth, provide these herbs with at least a foot of soil for their roots to grow deep.

These herbs prefer cooler weather and moist soil conditions compared to those in the mint family. As the weather warms, the Apiaceae herbs transition into their flowering stage, attracting butterflies with their blooms.

The Daisy Plant Family

Most Flowering Herbs Belong to the Daisy Family

Chamomile, calendula, echinacea, marigolds, feverfew, and dandelions belong to this family. Their flowers are both edible and medicinal, having been used in teas and remedies for centuries. But if flower harvesting is your goal, you’ll need to wait a bit longer, as they tend to bloom later than the leaves.

The Onion Plant Family

The Easiest Herb to Grow Comes from the Onion Family

The Amaryllidaceae family, while not strictly herb-focused, offers us the versatile chive. Often overlooked as a true herb, chives are culinary workhorses, adding flavor to dishes with ease.

They thrive alongside rosemary, oregano, and thyme, sharing similar care requirements. My personal gardening journey began with the success of chives & I continue to be captivated by their beautiful spring blossoms.

What’s the Definition of an Herb?

While opinions may vary, we define an herb as any plant that has parts such as seeds, flowers, or leaves that can be utilized to enhance the flavor or nutritional value of food and medicine.

Moreover, herbs typically exhibit certain common traits, including:

• occupying a relatively small area in your garden
• thriving with only 2 to 4 hours of sunlight each day
• being ready for harvest quickly, often immediately after planting

Although most herbs are cultivated for their leaves, some are grown for their flowers (such as echinacea, calendula, chamomile, and marigold), while others are cultivated for their seeds (like coriander).

Annual vs Perennial Herbs

Which Herbs Are Annuals?

Soft herbs, also known as annual herbs, complete their life cycle within a single growing season. These plants require yearly replanting from seeds.

The Apiaceae family includes many annual herbs, such as dill and cilantro. An exception is parsley, which is a biennial plant that can survive for two years before producing seeds.

Although basil is technically a perennial in warm climates, it’s commonly cultivated as an annual in regions that experience cold winters.

Which Herbs Are Perennials?

Perennial herbs are woody plants characterized by their ability to survive in diverse climates. In moderate regions, they maintain continuous growth throughout the year. In colder environments, these herbs retreat to their roots during winter and regenerate when temperatures rise.

Climate significantly influences perennial herb growth. In warm locations like Houston, these herbs can develop into substantial bushes or even small trees, with bay laurel serving as a prime example. Conversely, in frost-prone regions, the same herbs typically reach only about a foot in height during the growing season before entering dormancy.

The mint family predominantly consists of perennial herbs, including popular varieties such as rosemary, oregano, and thyme. Interestingly, even basil can potentially survive multiple seasons under optimal climatic conditions.

Which Herbs Are Easy to Grow?

Basil is among the simplest herbs to cultivate from seed. Similarly, thyme and oregano are both straightforward to grow and maintain throughout the year. However, herbs like sage and rosemary may present a bit more of a challenge.

In general, herbs are remarkably easy to grow and manage compared to other garden plants. For this reason, it’s often recommended that novice gardeners begin with herbs, followed by salad greens, before progressing to more demanding plants like tomatoes and eggplants.

Setting Up an Herb Garden

How to Create a Growing Space for Herbs

After gaining basic knowledge about herb plant families and their requirements, the next step is designing a specialized growing space. The primary objective is to simulate a natural habitat that closely mimics the herbs’ native conditions.

Most herbs are not indigenous to your specific region, so gardeners must carefully recreate their ideal growing environment. This approach is crucial for ensuring the successful cultivation of herbs and maximizing their growth potential.

From personal experience, raised gardens or containers prove more effective for herb cultivation than direct ground planting. This method is particularly beneficial in areas with challenging soil conditions, such as heavy clay. A raised garden with well-draining soil provides herbs with a more comfortable and hospitable growing environment, closely resembling their original native landscapes.

What Type of Container Is Best for Growing Herbs?

Most herbs have compact sizes and shallow root systems. When selecting a container for herb cultivation, opt for one that’s at least 5 inches deep, though a depth of 15 inches is ideal. This is particularly important for herbs in the Apiaceae family, such as parsley and cilantro, which develop substantial taproots. A container width of at least 15 inches is recommended to accommodate multiple herb varieties.

While individual pots for each herb are possible, they require more frequent attention and watering due to rapid soil drying. If past attempts with this method were unsuccessful, consider growing herbs together in a larger container. This approach provides herbs with more space to access necessary resources and offers several benefits:

• Easy relocation indoors or outdoors
• Simultaneous watering for all herbs
• Efficient leaf production in a compact area

For those preferring individual pots, frequent soil moisture monitoring is crucial. Terra cotta pots are a recommended choice due to their moisture-regulating properties, adequate drainage, and attractive appearance at an affordable price point.

I cultivate herbs in my raised beds, but I also use a rollable steel planter for additional growing space. Assembling it was incredibly simple, and its mobility allows me to move it around my deck to maximize sunlight exposure.

To ensure proper drainage and prevent waterlogging, I drilled holes in the bottom of the planter. Although it measures just 2 feet by 6 feet, making it relatively small compared to my raised beds, you’d be surprised at how much I can grow in this compact 12-square-foot area.

The Best Soil Mix for Growing Herbs

Choose a coarse sand, typically found in the construction section of hardware stores. This type of sand is crucial for drainage, especially for Mediterranean herbs that thrive in sandy environments.

Fill your container with equal parts topsoil, compost, and sand. Use your hands or a gardening tool to thoroughly mix the ingredients. The goal is to create a light, well-combined soil that provides structure for herb roots while offering essential nutrients.

Enhance your soil mix with a nutrient-rich amendment like earthworm castings. Sprinkle a small amount on top of the soil, then level the mix using a hand rake or gardening tool. This extra step provides a nutritional boost for your herbs as they establish themselves in the container.

What Herbs Can Be Planted Together?

When selecting herbs for container gardening, water needs are crucial. Mint family herbs thrive in drier conditions, making the outer edges of raised beds or planters ideal. Mint, anise hyssop, and lemon balm, however, can spread aggressively.

Mint, a personal favorite, can be grown in containers with other herbs, but its rapid growth and spreading nature might require careful monitoring. For those who prefer a less hands-on approach, growing mint in a separate container is recommended.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a joyful herb garden, so choose what brings you the most pleasure.

The best herbs to plant together

Woody herbs like rosemary, oregano, marjoram, lavender, sage, and thyme prefer their soil to stay dry and thrive when grown together.

You can still grow them alongside dill, cilantro, and parsley, but place the moisture-loving herbs near the middle of your container, where they’ll dry out more slowly.

How Close Together Can You Grow Herbs?

Herbs have a predominantly vertical growth pattern, allowing for dense and efficient planting. This unique characteristic means you can maximize your garden space by strategically arranging different herb varieties.

Rosemary and sage are more spread out, recommending no more than two plants per square foot.

Cilantro, parsley, and dill, with their vertical growth, can be densely planted at four to six plants per square foot.

Flowering herbs are best spaced at one to two plants per square foot.

As you pack herbs closer together, frequent harvesting becomes crucial. Regular leaf collection ensures each plant receives adequate sunlight and air circulation, promoting healthy growth and preventing overcrowding.

How Much Sunlight Do Herbs Need?

Herbs thrive in ample sunlight. While they can tolerate lower light conditions, optimal growth occurs with 4-8 hours of daily sunlight. Rosemary, oregano, and basil are particularly sun-loving herbs and should be planted in locations with maximum sun exposure.

Herbs that grow in shade

Sage, thyme, and mint can tolerate partial shade. Dill, cilantro, and parsley require only a few hours of sunlight and can thrive in lower-light areas. Flowering herbs and chives can also grow in partially shaded environments.

When Is the Best Time to Grow Herbs?

Herbs in the mint family thrive in long, warm days with temperatures of 75°F and above. Basil, in particular, flourishes in hot conditions and cannot survive cold weather. While other mint family herbs are more cold-tolerant, briefly enduring freezing temperatures, perennial varieties typically die back in winter and regrow in spring.

Cilantro, parsley, and dill prefer cooler temperatures between 45°F and 75°F, excelling in spring and fall gardens. These herbs can be sown outdoors once the soil is workable, even if frost is still possible. However, they tend to bolt and flower when exposed to excessive heat.

Most flowering herbs are also cool-season plants but can thrive throughout summer. They are, however, vulnerable to hard frosts.

Herbs You Can Grow Indoors

You can cultivate any herb from the mint family inside if you have a window sill that gets plenty of sunlight, ideally facing south.

I prefer to maintain my garden outdoors, trusting the elements to assist in the survival of my plants, yet I relocate my herb garden to the indoors during the harsh winters of Chicago. It’s not worth the trouble for me to transplant annuals such as cilantro or dill (Their deep roots don’t appreciate being moved), however, I do relocate my herbs from the mint family. I’ve had the greatest success with sage, rosemary, thyme, and lavender when transitioning them indoors.

Herbs brought indoors may not yield as many leaves as they did when they were outside, but they will still grow at a moderate pace.

In the spring, I bring my herbs back outside.

Which Herbs Should Be Started by Seed?

Annual herbs possess delicate roots that might suffer damage when moved, so it’s advisable to plant their seeds directly in the garden where they will flourish.

Herbs to sow seeds directly in the garden:

• dill
• cilantro
• parsley

Other herbs are less delicate and can be sown indoors to extend their time in the garden once the climate becomes warmer.

Herbs to sow seeds indoors:

• marigolds
• calendula
• chamomile
• basil

Flowering herbs germinate rapidly and should be sown indoors approximately 45 days before the last frost. If your growing season is longer, you can plant these herbs in the ground after you’re no longer expecting cold temperatures.

When purchasing herb seeds, ensure they come from a reputable source that offers organic, non-GMO seeds. Some of my preferred suppliers include Botanical Interests, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure, and High Mowing. A single packet of each variety is sufficient to populate your herb garden with an abundance of fresh herbs.

Which Herbs Should Be Grown Through Propagation?

Evergreen herbs from the mint clan often thrive when their roots are allowed to grow after being removed from a fully grown plant. Inquire with pals, relatives, or even amiable neighbors to see if you can obtain a tiny piece from their plant to cultivate a new one. You’ll likely find that most gardeners are eager to part with a piece.

Herbs to begin from cutting

• African blue basil
• oregano
• rosemary
• sage
• thyme
• mint

Propagation is truly enchanting (after all, who doesn’t adore getting plants for free?) & certain herbs prefer this method over sowing seeds.

Which Herbs Should Be Bought From the Store?

You can derive greater pleasure from certain herbs by purchasing them from a nursery or a nearby farmer. This applies to numerous mint varieties and a variety of flowering herbs as well.

Herbs to consider purchasing:

• oregano
• calendula
• rosemary
• chamomile
• thyme
• sage
• chives

Steer clear of purchasing herbs from large chain stores. The majority of these herbs have been transported over long distances and are likely coated in fungicides or synthetic fertilizers to maintain their vibrant appearance upon arrival at the store. If you don’t continue to use the same fertilizers or fungicides on these herbs once you bring them home, they may either fail to grow or lose their green color entirely. From my personal experience, herbs from local nurseries tend to be of higher quality.

Basil is quite simple to cultivate from seed, but if you opt to purchase a basil plant from a store, you might end up with as many as 10 to 20 plants. Growers often seed these pots excessively to make them appear fuller and more attractive to customers. Check out this guide on how to delicately separate these small plants to ensure they have the room to flourish to their full extent. Although buying fully grown plants is pricier than purchasing seeds or receiving them for free from a friend, these herbs should hopefully endure in your garden for an extended period and more than justify the cost of your investment.

How Often to Water Herbs

Mint plants in the mint family like soil that drains well and dislike getting too much water. It’s important to water your herb patch regularly but allow the ground to partially dry out before watering again. Insert your finger into the soil to check if it’s dry about an inch or two down. If it’s still moist, wait a bit before watering.

Parsley, dill, cilantro, and the herbs that bloom like parsley and dill need more frequent watering but need their pots to drain properly. Try to give them about an inch of water every week.

How to Fertilize Herbs

Plants cultivated in soil abundant in organic content need minimal additional care to thrive. To enhance the development of a plant’s foliage, incorporate a fertilizer rich in nitrogen.

Refreshing a Small Herb Garden Each Season

If you’re using small pots and containers for your plants, you can keep your herbs alive through the winter indoors.

If you’re transferring a beloved herb plant to a new container, it’s simple to get it ready for another batch of herbs—you don’t have to start from scratch with the soil.

Begin by removing any dead or spent herbs. Chives often come back from their roots in the spring, and cilantro can spread by seed. If your parsley is still in good shape, it can survive another year. You decide if you want to remove the herbs that return or leave them be.

Next, use a rake to clear away some of the leaf litter from the previous plants.

Then, spread a few inches of new compost and mix it in. Your container is now ready to receive your new herbs!

Herb Harvesting Guide

How to Harvest Herbs

Maintaining a consistent habit of trimming the outer and lower foliage of your herb plants is crucial for boosting leaf growth (and for enjoying tasty leaves for indoor consumption). Frequent picking also aids in reducing the risk of pest infestations and discourages the spread of diseases. It’s a beneficial practice in every sense.

When picking, begin by snipping from the branches closest to the trunk and progress inward. However, basil requires a slightly different approach to encourage fuller growth.

How to Save and Store Herbs from Garden

A significant benefit of cultivating your own herbs is the ability to preserve and stockpile sufficient quantities to endure the colder seasons. Discover our top methods for drying, freezing, and extending the shelf life of your preferred herbs.

The best herbs to grow

Chives

Chives are a versatile perennial herb known for their delicate, onion-like flavor, making them an excellent addition to salads, garnishes, and soups. They are also easy to grow indoors, providing a boost of self-esteem for gardeners due to their low maintenance requirements.

Cilantro

I’m aware that some individuals dislike its taste, but I have a fondness for cilantro. I take pleasure in cultivating cilantro during my two cool seasons and appreciate how its vibrant flowers attract pollinators, especially when it’s in full bloom alongside my thriving tomato plants.

Basil

Basil is simple to begin from seeds and can also be grown from cuttings. This herb thrives in the sun and warmer climates. There are countless varieties of basil, but my personal favorite for its flavor is Sweet Basil. I also enjoy Thai Basil for its lovely flowers and Purple Basil for its aesthetic appeal.

Sage

This attractive herb, with its soft gray-green leaves, is surprisingly simple to grow in a garden. As the temperature rises, sage produces stunning light pink or purple flowers that draw in pollinators and also contain hidden seeds that are perfect for starting new plants.

Dill

Dill not only adds a zesty flavor to your homegrown meals but is also a favorite among swallowtail butterflies, which is a reason I choose to grow it in my raised beds and pollinator garden. Dill is adaptable to various gardening conditions and grows quickly, often reaching heights of several feet.

Mint

Mint is the herb that perfectly captures the essence of “how refreshing!” Try growing spearmint, peppermint, or even chocolate mint, ensuring to space each variety a few feet apart to preserve their distinct scents and flavors.

Calendula

This versatile herb flourishes in my in-ground pollinator garden and is effortless to germinate from seeds. Its flowers lend a charming cottage feel to my garden. Additionally, calendula has been shown to be beneficial for the health of my organic kitchen garden as a trap crop.

Oregano

Originating from the Greek hillsides, oregano has been utilized for its earthy flavor in cooking for centuries. It’s often referred to as the “pizza herb” due to its prominent role in Italian and other Mediterranean dishes. This hardy herb is a perennial that can last for years in your kitchen garden. In fact, oregano is so robust it can spread rapidly, making it an excellent ground cover. When oregano begins to flower, it produces stunning purplish white flower spikes that are attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Marigolds

This beautiful and simple-to-grow herb adds bright pops of color to your garden for an extended period, attracts helpful insects, and even protects nearby plants by deterring pests. It’s true: the roots of marigold plants secrete a chemical that stops nematodes from reproducing and feeding on your cherished lettuce plants. An added perk: marigold blossoms are edible.

When Is the Right Time to Start a Herb Garden?

You’re definitely going to achieve great things with your herb garden. Growing herbs is one of the easiest and most rewarding activities for your kitchen garden. The key to success, however, isn’t to rush to the plant nursery or hardware shop.

Instead, take your time to learn. Find out which plant family each herb you’re interested in belongs to and make a cozy spot for your herbs that feels like it’s their own. Only after that should you think about going to the plant nursery… but choose one that’s close by. By learning before you buy and shopping locally, you’ll save a lot of money and avoid unnecessary hassle. Plus, the plants that were on the verge of dying won’t get that chance.

By learning before you buy, you’re setting yourself up for a successful herb garden.

Wishing you the best of luck with your herb garden!

(By the way: Don’t forget to save our useful little infographic below to guide you through your first herb garden!)