Growing Herbs in the Garden:
Your Complete Herb Guide
★ SaveGrowing herbs in the garden is one of the most rewarding things a home gardener can do. Herbs are easy to grow, take little space, and give you fresh flavor all season, far better than dried herbs from the store.
A small herb bed by the kitchen door keeps basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and dill close at hand. Many herbs also attract helpful insects and make good companions for your vegetables.
From My Garden
We have a large in-ground rosemary plant, and I have sometimes grown parsley in our vegetable garden.
But be careful with mint! We had a mint plant take over a whole round flower bed that was nicely landscaped. The mint spread when we weren't watching, and choked out all but one or two of the other plants.
Mint should definitely be kept in a container, unless you have an out-of-the-way area where you don't mind having only mint growing.
Charlotte
No garden bed?
Many herbs grow beautifully in pots on a porch, patio, or windowsill.
Growing Herbs in PotsOn This Page
Free Herb Garden Charts and Plans
Click a picture to see it full size, then print it or save it to Pinterest.
Herb Growing Guides
Each herb has its own needs when growing herbs in the garden. Basil wants heat and full sun; parsley and chives like cooler weather and handle light frost. See our guides:
| Herb | Type | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Annual | Full sun, warm weather, steady moisture; pinch often |
| Thyme | Perennial | Full sun, dry soil; great for edges and between stones |
| Sage | Perennial | Full sun, well-drained soil; drought-tolerant |
| Rosemary | Woody perennial | Heat and dry soil; protect in cold winters |
| Parsley | Biennial | Sun or part shade; cool weather and steady moisture |
| Cilantro | Annual | Cool weather; sow every few weeks |
| Dill | Annual | Full sun; loved by pollinators; great for pickles |
| Fennel | Perennial | Full sun; tall and feathery; give it its own spot |
| Chives | Perennial | Sun or part shade; pretty purple flowers |
| Mint | Perennial | Sun or part shade; always grow it in a container |
Planning for Growing Herbs in the Garden
Many popular herbs fit in a bed about 10 by 3 feet, small enough to reach every plant without stepping on the soil.
- Group herbs by their needs. Rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano like dry, well-drained soil and full sun. Parsley, cilantro, and dill like more moisture and some afternoon shade in hot areas.
- Start small with a few herbs you know you'll use, and add more later. Growing herbs in the garden is easy to expand each year.
- Keep spreaders contained. Grow mint and lemon balm in pots, or sink pots into the bed up to their rims.
- Plan for size. Tall herbs like lovage, angelica, and fennel can crowd a small bed; put them at the back or in their own spot.
- Tuck herbs into flower borders and vegetable beds. Marjoram, savory, and thyme make pretty edgings.
Ask neighbors which herbs thrive in your area. See our companion planting chart too.
Herb Garden Designs
Herb gardens can be formal or relaxed.
- Cartwheel or fan: wedge-shaped beds around a center point. Easy to reach and very pretty.
- Checkerboard: square beds of different herbs alternating with paving stones.
- Knot garden: in Tudor times, gardeners copied embroidery patterns into low hedges of herbs.
- Potager: a French-style kitchen garden mixing vegetables, salad greens, and herbs. Great for small spaces.
- Cottage garden: parsley, sage, chives, and dill mixed freely with flowers.
- Rock garden or dry bank: perfect for thymes, oregano, and other sun lovers. Let creeping thyme spill over a path.
Sun, Soil, Water, and Harvest
- Sun: for growing herbs in the garden, most herbs need at least 6 hours of direct sun; 8 is better. In shade they get leggy and lose flavor.
- Soil: well-drained is a must. In heavy clay, raise the bed or work in compost. Herbs don't need rich soil; too much fertilizer means less flavor.
- Water: water deeply but not often, and let the soil dry a bit between waterings. Basil is the exception; keep it evenly moist.
- Harvest often: pinch the tips to keep plants bushy, and never take more than a third of the plant at once. Flavor is best just before flowering, picked in the morning.
Herbs in Pots and Indoors
Herbs are perfect for containers. Use pots with drainage holes and good potting mix. Small herbs like thyme and chives fit a 6-inch pot; rosemary, dill, and fennel need 12 inches or more. Feed every 2 to 3 weeks with a half-strength liquid fertilizer.
Indoors, give herbs a sunny south-facing window or a grow light for 14 to 16 hours a day. Basil, chives, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and mint do best. Overwatering is the most common problem; empty saucers after watering.
See growing herbs in pots and indoor vegetable gardening.
Herbs as Companion Plants
Many herbs help the vegetable garden by attracting helpful insects and confusing pests.
- Basil is a classic tomato companion, said to help keep aphids and whiteflies away.
- Dill attracts tiny wasps that prey on aphids and caterpillars. Plant it near cabbage-family crops.
- Rosemary and sage may help deter cabbage moths.
- Chives are a good neighbor for carrots and roses.
- Fennel slows the growth of many vegetables; give it its own corner or a pot.
Tuck in a few pots of dill, borage, and marigolds to fill gaps in the garden as the season goes on.
Herb Garden Questions
- What are the easiest herbs to grow?
- Chives, mint (in a pot), parsley, thyme, oregano, and basil.
- How much sun do herbs need?
- At least 6 hours of direct sun for most herbs. Parsley, chives, mint, and cilantro handle some shade.
- Should I fertilize herbs?
- Lightly. Rich soil and too much fertilizer make herbs grow fast but lose flavor. Herbs in pots need a little more feeding.
- Which herbs come back every year?
- Thyme, sage, oregano, chives, mint, and (in mild areas) rosemary are perennials. Basil, dill, and cilantro are annuals.
- How do I keep mint from spreading?
- Grow it in a pot, or sink a bottomless pot into the ground around it.
More: The Herb Society of America.
More Herb Guides
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