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Do you enjoy cooking? Do you love fresh herbs in your recipes? If so, then this article is for you! We’ll help you pick the best herbs to grow in your garden!
We’ve all been there. You’re making a homemade dish, and you realize you don’t have the herb that your favorite recipe is calling for.
Sure, you could drop what you’re doing and make a trip to the grocery store, but how about just grabbing those culinary herbs from your own backyard? Or from your indoor herb garden?
If you’re already an expert with growing your herbs and looking to make some money, check out our article on How to Start A Profitable Backyard Nursery.
Keep in mind that you should consult your physician before using herb plants for medicinal purposes. See more.
Best Herbs to Grow
Growing herbs is a great way to add some fresh zing to your meals in the kitchen. Herbs can also deliver a variety of health benefits.
We’ve put together a list of our 5 favorite herbs to grow to help you get started. We’ve handpicked these herbs for their versatility and ease.
1) Oregano
Oregano is a perennial herb, meaning it has multiple growing cycles and often lasts more than two years after initial planting. Oregano typically grows with pinkish or purplish leaves.
The oregano plant thrives under warm weather. Therefore, spring is the ideal time of the year for you to grow oregano.
When the plant reaches a height of around 4 inches, remove the vertical tips. Once you do this, you’ll be able to shape the plant to grow wider, which will result in additional oregano yield.
While oregano plants prefer to grow under the direct sun, they will grow indoors as long as they get enough sunlight. You need to ensure you have well-drained soil to ensure good growth.
Oregano is versatile but is most commonly dried before consumption. There are several methods to dry out the oregano, including air drying, microwaving, and baking it.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions to learn a little more about drying herbs at the end of this article.
One major benefit of oregano is that it acts as a strong antioxidant. As a result, this herb can help protect your body against the damaging effects caused by free radicals.
These herbs can also offer the chance to fight against bacteria. For example, some research has shown that oregano oil can be effective against E. coli and can be effective as a natural antibiotic.
If you’re looking to buy some seeds to get started, check out Amazon and eBay below:
2) Parsley
Parsley is a biennial herb, which means that it lives its life cycle during one growing season. So it’s great if you’re looking to freshen up your dish.
Parsley is a fairly easy herb to grow, but germinating the seeds takes longer relative to many other herbs—sometimes taking up to 3 weeks to sprout. However, you can speed up the parsley seeds’ growth by soaking them in water overnight on the day before you plant.
You can plant them in spring, and you can get a healthy plant by summer. However, if planting from seed, it’s recommended that you plant approximately 3 weeks before the year’s last frost.
By planting in spring, you’ll have a full parsley plant by summer.
While growing, you should have well-drained, moist soil. Then, you can expose parsley plants to the sun partially or fully and grow them either indoors or outdoors. If growing them indoors be sure to place them along a sunny windowsill.
You can find several recipes online that use parsley as an active ingredient. People typically consume parsley fresh, and many like to sprinkle chopped parsley on top of their food to finish their dish.
Parsley is filled with antioxidants. It also supports bone health and enhances your ability to fight certain cancers.
See prices for seeds below.
3) Mint
Mint is a perennial herb and is one of the most popular herbs you can grow in your garden. You can, of course, use it for culinary purposes (as it is a culinary herb), or even for herbal teas! Mint is also a deterrent for many pests and unwanted insects.
Before you plant mint, keep in mind that mint can grow very rapidly. If left unmaintained, mint can take over your gardening area.
Use small pots for mint plants to keep the growth under full control. You can keep the mint plants under partial shade or full sun to bloom.
It is possible to grow mint plants on clay, sand, loam, or chalk soil. Similar to parsley, you must keep the potting soil moist but well-drained. You can plant mint in either spring or summer.
Mint is another nutrient-rich herb that has many forms of consumption. While it can be used in cooked food, many people have found other creative ways to consume mint.
Many like to use mint leaves for tea or other drinks; some will even chew on the raw leaves for their fresh and minty flavor.
In terms of health benefits, mint is most commonly known for its ability to aid in digestion. In addition, there is also ongoing research that identifies that mint may stimulate the brain and help you focus.
And of course, with all the mint-flavored gum products you see at the market, you know that mint can help alleviate bad breath.
See prices for seeds below.
4) Cilantro (Coriander)
Cilantro (also known as coriander or chinese parsley) is my favorite herb since I’m constantly making salsas and guacamole.
Cilantro is a biennial plant that blooms slowly and is short-lived. So, if you want to have a constant supply available, you must plant some cilantro seeds every couple of weeks to stagger their life cycles.
Cilantro is an herb that bolts (ends its life cycle) when stressed by heat or other elements.
These plants, after bolting, do not provide tasty leaves but will provide seeds and flowers. Therefore, you need to ensure that you keep the plants well-watered and in semi-cool conditions to get the best results.
You can plant cilantro seeds throughout the entire year. Plant this herb in chalk, sand, or loam soil.
Cilantro, among other benefits, is an excellent herb for reducing blood sugar levels. In addition, cilantro offers many antioxidants and strengthens your overall immunity.
See prices for seeds below.
5) Basil
Among the most popular herbs in the world, people have cultivated basil for thousands of years. You can use basil for preparing a variety of drinks and dishes.
The basil plants prefer to grow under full, direct sun. You can plant this herb in well-drained sand or loam soil.
Basil performs best when planted in spring when the weather is getting warmer. Basil can be planted indoors during the winter, but it will need special care to ensure proper temperatures and lighting exposure.
You can trim the tip of the plant when it reaches a height of around 6 inches to promote bushier growth.
Basil contains vitamins like Vitamin K and Vitamin A, which are essential for the proper functioning of the body.
Many also use extracted basil oils to help heal cuts and skin infections.
See prices for seeds below.
Easiest Herbs to Grow For Beginners
If you’re a beginner, you’ll want to start with herbs that are easy to grow and easy to care for. Keep in mind that some herbs grow better in certain climates.
Some herbs need more sun and moisture than others, so do some research to find out the best herbs to grow in your specific climate and the best time of the year to grow them.
Here is a list of the easiest herbs to grow for most people:
- Mint
- Oregano
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- French Tarragon
- Chives
- Dill
Most Difficult Herbs to Grow
Most herbs are fairly easy to grow, but some herbs are more difficult to grow than others and require more proper care to ensure that they grow well.
While they are fantastic, here are a few herbs that may be a little more difficult for beginners:
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Thyme
Conclusion – The Best Herbs to Grow
Grow herbs! Growing your own herbs is a simple way to make sure you have the freshest ingredients at your fingertips.
We hope you found this list of the best herbs to grow in your garden helpful.
Whether you plan to grow herbs indoors in your kitchen garden or you plan to take your herb gardens outside, you’ll want to first make sure your herbs will thrive in your current climate.
Furthermore, you’ll need to make sure you have healthy soil (try using compost!), a proper watering schedule, and the right amount of sunlight to ensure the optimal conditions for your herbs.
If you fall in love with growing your own herbs, you may even consider creating a raised bed kitchen garden to continuously grow all your herbs in one place!
If you have any questions about these plants or other ones that we did not mention, let us know!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Herbs Can Be Planted Together?
If you have limited space at your property, you can consider planting herbs together. There are certain herbs you can grow together without encountering a problem.
Different herbs have different requirements. So, you need to understand those exact requirements and group your herbs with similar needs.
Some herbs that can be grown together include sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and basil.
What Herbs Go with Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Salmon?
See below for some recommendations to match with different meats/fish.
- Beef: basil, rosemary, thyme.
- Chicken: cilantro, oregano.
- Pork: oregano, sage, rosemary, thyme.
- Fish: dill, cilantro, rosemary, sage, thyme, fennel.
Note: many of the more earthy and robust herbs will pair well with meat dishes. in
Why Are Herbs Essential?
People have been cultivating herbs for food, drink, and health for thousands of years. All cultures around the world have used different herbs for different reasons.
Herbs can provide excellent nutritional value. They can also help people avoid health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases.
Some herbs offer anti-inflammatory properties and can help people reduce the formation of blood clots. Different herbs each offer unique benefits for the people.
Can Herbs Survive in Winter?
Certain herbs can survive mild winters (called cold-hardy herbs). Some of the best examples of cold-hardy herbs include oregano, mint, chives, thyme, and sage.
Herbs such as basil, cilantro, and parsley are cold-sensitive and have a harder time surviving chilly winter months.
Are Herbs Vegetables?
Herbs are a subset of vegetables. However, when you deep dive and consider the herbs, you will see they are nutritionally, biochemically, and physically similar to leafy greens.
Herbs can also pack lots of nutrition, just like vegetables do. Typically, you’ll gain more nutrition from consuming your typical vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, etc.) simply because you consume a larger volume of vegetables compared to herbs.
How To Dry Herbs?
Herbs with solid and large leaves such as rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage, and basil can be dried more easily, but you can dry mostly any herb.
You can follow the traditional drying method, where you take your herbs, hang them upside down in one of the dark places around your home. However, more contemporary methods include using microwaves, ovens, air fryers, and dehydrators.
Unless you have space and time to hang all your herbs from dry lines, we recommend using your oven to dry your herbs. It’s quick, easy, and safe.
You can place almost any herb on a baking sheet and bake at your lowest temperature (170°F – 200°F) for 45 minutes to an hour. GardenBetty.com has a fantastic article on How to Dry Oregano (and Other Herbs) Fast — Use the Oven! – Check it out!
Disclaimer
This article’s content and information are only for informational and educational purposes, not meant as medical advice. All readers are urged to consult with a physician before beginning or discontinuing any herbs for self-treatment. If you are taking any medication, do not take any vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other supplements without consulting your doctor. No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition. Any statements or claims about the possible health benefits conferred by any foods or supplements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. All information gathered in this article is based on research from other sources.