Discover the Best Herbs for Your Garden with These 5 Must-Know Tips

5 Must-Know Tips for Growing an Herb Garden! Herb gardens require little effort and high reward! Whether you have a garden space dedicated just to herbs, or have them mixed into veggies and flower beds, you’ll fall in love with these easy to grow plants!

Creating a herb garden can provide a wonderful opportunity to engage with nature and cultivate a deeper understanding of the plants you use in your cooking. To get started, consider choosing a variety of culinary herbs such as basil, thyme, oregano and rosemary, and experiment with different planting techniques. By incorporating various types of herbs into your garden, you can enhance the flavors of your dishes and enjoy the aromatic scents that fill the air as you tend to your garden. Additionally, herb gardens can attract beneficial insects, such as pollinators, which can contribute to the overall health and vitality of your garden. So, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or new to the world of green thumbs, consider delving into the world of herb gardening and discover the joy of growing your own fresh, flavorful herbs at home!

1. Choose the right herbs: are you growing for culinary purposes, fragrance, or attracting pollinators? Consider the specific needs of each type of herb and how they can enhance your garden.

2. Know what type of herb you are growing: annual, bieannial, perennial

Here are a few favorites of mine, listed below!

Annual:

Basil

Chervil

Cilantro

Dill

Fennel

Lemon verbena

Marjoram

Nasturtiums 

Biennial: 

Parsley 

Lovage

Perennial: 

Chives

Lavender (depending on type)

Lemon balm

Mint

Oregano

Rosemary

Safe

Thyme 

Savory 

3. Understand light requirements. Most herbs thrive in sunshine but some will do well in part shade. It’s important to consider the specific light needs of each herb you are growing. For example, basil and mint typically prefer full sun, while parsley and cilantro can tolerate some shade. Additionally, understanding the sunlight patterns in your garden or indoor space can help you determine the best locations for planting different herbs. By knowing the light requirements of your herbs, you can create an environment that supports their growth and enhances their flavor.

Best herbs for sun:

Basil

Chives

Cilantro/Coriander

Comfrey

Dill

Fennel

Lavender

Oregano

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

Best herbs for part shade:

bee balm

chervil

lemon balm

mint (can tolerate sun and shade)

lovage 

4. Low care required + the more you use them….

• most herbs are low maintenance requiring low water, little to no fertilizer, tolerate poor soil, and thrive when cut for use. Most of them can be easily grown in small pots on a sunny windowsill, making them perfect for indoor gardening. They can be grown in ground and in pots outside too! They also attract beneficial insects to your garden, contributing to a healthy ecosystem.

5. Growing herbs in ground vs containers 

• Plant herbs that like similar conditions together. This can help you create thriving microclimates within your garden, as well as make maintenance and care more efficient.
• Remember perennial herbs will get bigger with age as their root systems develop and they have more time to establish themselves in the garden.
• Plant thriller/filler/spiller in different layers to create visual interest and depth in your garden design. Mix tall, eye-catching “thriller” plants with mounding “filler” plants and trailing “spiller” plants for a dynamic and cohesive look.

!!WARNING!! One herb to never plant directly in your garden is mint. Although it’s a wonderfully fragrant and versatile herb, it has a notorious reputation for its aggressive and invasive nature. Once it takes hold in your garden, it will spread rapidly, outcompeting other plants and asserting its dominance. Its vigorous growth habit means that it will pop up all over the place, even in areas where you didn’t originally plant it. If left unchecked, it can quickly become a nuisance and is almost impossible to get rid of. The best course of action is to plant it in a pot, which will contain its rampant growth and allow you to enjoy its aromatic leaves and refreshing flavor without the risk of it taking over your garden.

Find my other article plus TV segment on KSL Studio 5, Here.

XO, Carly