Herb Gardening Guide for Beginners

Herbs are plants grown for culinary, aromatic and medicinal uses. Some, like rosemary, have woody stems. Others, like cilantro, have tender stems. Gardeners grow herbs for their leaves and flowers. These contain oils that flavor food and repel insects. The words "herb" and "spice" are not the same. Herbs are the green, leafy parts of certain plants. Spices are the dried seeds, stems, barks or fruits of specific plants. Popular spices include cinnamon, nutmeg and peppercorns.

Herbs are adaptable and grow in many conditions. They grow well in average soil as long as it drains well. Growing herbs at home is budget friendly and you can try a few in an outdoor herb garden or grow them in pots.

Give herbs the right light. Most herbs like full sun but will tolerate light shade. Think about their country of origin when you’re looking for the right spot to plant. Lavender and rosemary grow in Mediterranean climates. Basil thrives in hot, sunny tropical conditions. Check plant tags to ensure you choose varieties that will thrive in your planting location.

• A spacious, sunny outdoor herb garden is ideal. Soil is just as important as sunlight for growing herbs. Amend your garden soil with organic compost to improve soil health and drainage.
• Spring is a good time to start herb gardens in most regions. Many herbs will also thrive as summer plantings if water is plentiful enough for plants to establish roots.
• In winter, gardeners in cold zones can bring pots of tender herbs inside and treat them like houseplants. They will grow on a kitchen windowsill through the colder months and can return outdoors in spring.
• Many herbs like full sun, which means six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Others prefer part sun, which is four to six hours of direct sunlight.
• Keep herbs near the kitchen door or window for easy access when cooking. Plant them in an attractive container near your house, so fresh herbs are only footsteps away. Place pots filled with herbs near your kitchen door for easy access to fresh leaves.

Tips: Label your seeds and seedlings to add personality to your garden and help identify plants. Cilantro and parsley look similar. Paint rocks with herb names or use a permanent marker on craft sticks.

When planting herb seedlings outside, wait until the soil temperature reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Check your area’s average last frost date in spring as a guideline. Pay attention to plant tag recommendations for spacing. Rosemary, for example, “sleeps, creeps, then leaps.” In zones where it’s perennial, rosemary grows from a seedling to a sizable shrub in a few years.

• Dig a hole the size of the plant pot.
• Gently pull seedlings from the pot and break up the roots.
• Settle the plant in the soil and cover it with a light layer of soil, compost or mulch.
• When seedlings grow their second, or true leaves, thin them so they have room to grow.

Below are popular herbs to grow from seedlings.

• Basil
• Bee balm (monarda)
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Chive
• Cilantro
• Citronella
• Dill
• Lavender
• Lemon balm
• Lemongrass
• Marjoram
• Mint (chocolate, peppermint, spearmint, sweet mint)
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Tip: Plant basil in a vegetable garden with tomatoes and peppers. Or add bee balm and parsley to your flower garden to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects.

Growing herbs from seed lets you try many varieties and is a budget-friendly way to grow herbs. Start growing your herb seeds indoors four to six weeks before the last frost date in your area. If you don’t have a greenhouse, set up a grow light station.

To grow seeds outdoors, directly sow herb seeds in sunny garden spaces. Wait to sow herb seeds outside when soil temperatures warm in spring. For example, plant cilantro seeds when soil temperature is at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow basil seeds when the soil reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow seed packet instructions.

Below are excellent herbs to grow from seed:

• Basil
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Fennel
• Lavender
• Marjoram
• Mesclun (salad)
• Mustard (greens use seeds)
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Tip: Add two inches of compost before planting to give herbs a nutrient boost. New to gardening? Try a herb starter kit with everything needed to grow herbs.

When planting herbs in containers or planters, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• For container herb gardens, start with a planter that is big enough for the number of herbs you want to grow. An 18-inch container can hold up to five herbs. A 14-inch container fits three.
• Make sure the pot has drainage holes and fill it with good quality soil.
• Don’t crowd herb plants into containers. They will grow and fill in during the season.
• Find a sunny spot for your containers and fill them with potting mix before adding your favorite herbs. Water well to help them get off to a good start. Don’t crowd herb plants into containers. They will grow and fill in during the season.
• Give herbs the right light. Most herbs like full sun but will tolerate light shade.
• Harvest or prune herb plants often, especially in summer heat. Cutting back new growth keeps plants from bolting or flowering.

Tip: Nursery pots of herbs contain multiple seedlings. Gently separate the seedlings and plant them, following spacing guidelines on the plant tag.

Heat-loving herbs tolerate drought and can handle high temperatures well. Most of these types of herbs prefer slightly alkaline soil, around a pH of 7. Before planting them outdoors, test your soil’s pH with a pH tester. If your soil is too acidic, add lime to raise the pH and test again. Below are popular herbs and tips for helping them thrive:

• Basil, rosemary, thyme, and oregano thrive in full sun and warm conditions, making them ideal for sunny home gardens.
• Lavender and sage flourish in sunny, dry environments and are easy to maintain.
• Chives and cilantro grow well with plenty of sunlight, though cilantro may bolt quickly in extreme heat.
• Lemongrass and tarragon are tropical and heat-loving herbs that thrive in sunny, warm climates. Use well-draining soil to grow heat-loving herbs. They don’t do well in wet conditions.
• For containers, pick an all-purpose potting mix and make sure the pots have drainage holes. Water deeply but less often.
• Slow-growing, full-sun herbs like rosemary need less fertilizer.
• Fast-growing, heat-loving herbs like basil may need monthly feeding.

The right tools can make gardening herbs easier.

• Use a transplant trowel to move delicate seedlings into soil. Use a garden trowel to dig a hole wider and deeper than the seedling.
• A garden knife, like a Hori Hori, is excellent for digging small planting holes. Look for one with a serrated edge to break up soil clods.
• Protect your hands with well-fitting garden gloves.
• Use a watering can for small containers or a garden hose with a gentle spray nozzle for in-ground gardens. A hose timer lets you water on a consistent schedule.
• Good-quality garden snips or pruners are perfect for harvesting. Use sharp pruners for woody herbs like rosemary and lavender.

Once their roots are in place, herbs are carefree garden plants. If they’re in good soil, they won’t need much fertilizer or extra water.

• Add organic soil when needed to keep herbs thriving.
• Fertilize with an organic product mixed at half-strength if needed.
• Check herbs daily for damage from aphids and caterpillars and other pests. If you can’t pick pests off the plant, use an organic solution.
• For potted plants, make sure the container has drainage holes and fill it with good quality soil. Move them into bigger pots or plant them in-ground as they grow.
• Always direct water at the base of your plants, not the leaves. Follow the guideline for vegetable gardens: 1 inch water per week, by rain or garden hose.

Prune or pinch herbs regularly to keep them productive, especially in summer. Harvesting prevents bolting, or flowering, which mostly happens in hot weather.

• High temperatures can reduce the oils that give herbs their flavor. Harvest herbs after the morning dew dries but before the hottest part of the day.
• Prune herbs every week during the summer but stop about eight weeks before frost. Remove only up to one-third of the plant when pruning.
• For flowery herbs like lavender, harvest when buds appear but before they open.

If you’re not using your fresh herbs right away:

• The best time to cut is in the early morning before it gets hot ouside. This is when their oils are at their peak.
• Store herbs with delicate leaves like cilantro, parsley, mint and dill in an inch of water in a glass jar in the fridge.
• Wrap herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage and chive in a damp paper towel. Store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Tip: Grow kitchen favorites like chives, mint and thyme near your kitchen for quick snips for salads and soups or to add to cut flower bouquets.