How to Start an Herb Garden
Ready to bring fresh, flavorful herbs into your kitchen? Starting your own herb garden is easier than you think, and it can transform your cooking and home with just a few simple steps.
Are you dreaming of fresh and delicious homegrown herbs? Starting an herb garden is simple, even for beginners. Today I’m sharing practical tips about how to start an herb garden, and I just know you’ll be harvesting and using fresh herbs in your kitchen in no time.
My herb garden is pretty small but I want to continue adding to it over time. This year I’ve especially enjoyed my basil and chives!
What Are the Benefits of an Herb Garden?
There are several reasons to consider growing your own herbs:
- Fresh, vibrant flavor
- Enhanced well-being
- Attractive but functional landscaping
- Low maintenance
- Cost savings
Fresh herbs provide the best flavor and potency, making them ideal for anyone who enjoys cooking from scratch or brewing herbal teas, or home remedies.
Beyond the great taste, spending time in nature often brings a sense of calm, joy, and emotional well-being. Even a small herb garden can help create a meaningful connection to the outdoors. Being outside is so important for your health. I often think of how when God created Adam and Eve he placed them in a garden!
Expect to see butterflies and bees as regular visitors since flowering herbs naturally attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Your garden not only enhances your landscape but also contributes to the surrounding ecosystem, supporting diverse life.
Moreover, herbs adapt well to different environments and are typically easy to grow, making them an ideal choice for beginners.
In addition, growing your own herbs saves money by eliminating the need to buy them at the store. Perennial herbs will last for years, while annuals provide continuous harvests throughout the season.
Herbs are far more than just a garnish; they can be used in everything from marinades to herbal teas. Additionally, you can dry or freeze them to preserve their freshness for later use.
How To Plan an Herb Garden
Follow these three steps to successfully plan, plant, and care for your herb garden.
#1 Prepare by selecting your space, gathering materials, and choosing the herbs you want to grow.
#2 Plant your herbs.
#3 Focus on nurturing and maintaining your garden. This phase requires the most attention, but you’ll enjoy the outdoor time, exercise, and regular harvesting.
Identify the Best Growing Location
Herbs thrive in various settings, whether on a balcony, patio, window box, or in the backyard. You can even grow some indoors near a sunny windowsill.
Most herbs thrive with plenty of natural light, with Backyard Garden suggesting around six hours of sunlight per day for optimal growth. However, some herbs are more sensitive and do better in partial shade with about four hours of daily sunlight. If you’re worried about the intense summer sun damaging your plants, start by growing them in containers. This allows you to test different spots and move them as the season progresses.
Planting herbs in containers makes it super easy to adjust the sunlight your herbs get. For instance, if your cilantro starts to droop, you can move the pot into a cooler shadier spot, extending its lifetime.
— Renee Gardner, Renee Nicole’s Kitchen
Water is crucial, so choose a spot near a water source or be ready to fill a watering can and transport water to your plants.
Positioning your herb garden near the kitchen is practical for cooking, making it easy to grab fresh dill for homemade Tzatziki Sauce. Plus, having the garden in sight increases the likelihood that you’ll care for it regularly and keep an eye on its progress.
Choose Materials for Your Garden Style
Common garden styles and designs include:
- Direct planting in the ground
- Raised beds
- Vertical gardens
- Containers
- Windowboxes
If your backyard has excellent sun exposure and rich, loamy soil, planting your herb garden directly in the ground is ideal.
However, if any of these factors are less than optimal, consider using raised beds or containers for better results.
Starting with a few containers is a simple and low-pressure way to begin. It provides the herbs with what they need while giving you time to figure out how they best fit in your space.
If you’re unsure about digging or not ready to commit to building raised beds, containers provide a flexible alternative. Place them in the spot you’re considering and observe how they perform. If things go well, you can plan a more permanent setup for the next growing season.
In addition to materials for raised beds or containers, be sure to purchase quality all-purpose potting or raised bed soil from a local nursery or online. You’ll also want to have basic tools on hand, such as a shovel, trowel, garden shears, watering can, and gloves.
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Select the Right Herbs for You
Start by thinking about the flavors you enjoy most. What are your go-to dishes, and which herbs do you use regularly? Make a list of these herbs and prioritize them for your garden.
When starting an herb garden, begin with just a few herbs you already use and love. It is much easier to devote yourself and maintain the time and attention needed for a successful garden when you are already passionate about the plants. Start small and go from there!
— Kristen Wood, Schisandra & Bergamot
Common culinary herbs include:
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Sage
- Chives
- Stevia
Common herbs for tea include:
- Peppermint
- Lemon balm
- Lemon verbena
- Chamomile
- Tulsi basil
My first tip for starting a herb garden is to plant herbs you use in your cooking. Second, some herbs are easier to grow than others. Parsley, basil, and sage are good beginner herbs. Mint is another good one, but beware, it spreads like crazy!
— Sarita Harbour, An Off Grid Life
Keep It Simple: Buy Seedlings
For your first herb garden, buying seedlings from a nursery is a simpler and more convenient option than sprouting seeds. When planting, follow the instructions on the tags or labels for each herb.
Nursery tags include details like:
- Light requirements
- Watering needs
- Size and shape
- Hardiness zones
- Care and use
- Special features
Gently hold the plant at the base of the stem and loosen the roots before placing it into a hole slightly larger than its original container. Fill the hole with soil, but avoid packing it too tightly.
After planting, water the herb, targeting the root area rather than the leaves. Check the location to ensure proper water flow, and monitor the plant over the next few days as it adjusts.
TLC Growing Tips for Herbs
While easier than raising a puppy, herbs still require regular and consistent care until they establish roots and settle into your garden.
Applying mulch helps reduce weeds and retain soil moisture.
Check your plants daily for the first few weeks. After two or three days, they should look perky and vibrant.
Before long, your daily check-ins will include harvesting the flavorful leaves. For best results, avoid picking more than one-third of a plant at a time to keep it healthy.
Herbs thrive with frequent picking, so feel free to enjoy their bounty regularly.
Starting an herb garden is a rewarding and straightforward way to enhance your cooking, connect with nature, and add beauty to your space. With the right preparation and care, your herbs will thrive, providing fresh flavors and health benefits for months to come.
Whether you’re planting in containers or directly in the ground, remember that consistent attention will help your garden flourish. I hope you enjoy starting your own herb garden this year!
This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.
