How to Start Your Dream Herb Garden Today

Starting an herb garden will take your cooking to the next level—one that’s full of flavor, fragrance, and a little bit of green-thumb magic. Whether you have a sprawling backyard, a tiny balcony, or just a windowsill that desperately needs some green, growing herbs is a fun and rewarding way to spice up your cooking and your life. So, grab your gardening gloves, and let’s dig in to how to start your very own herb garden!

Why Start an Herb Garden?

1. Fresh Ingredients at Your Fingertips

Imagine this: you’re whipping up a delicious pasta dish, and just as you reach for the dried basil, you remember you have a whole basil plant outside. You stride out to your herb garden, snip off a few leaves, and voilà! Fresh basil. Your pasta is now officially a gourmet experience: fresher taste, gorgeous looking and smells amazing! Did you just become a culinary wizard? Heck yeah, you did!

2. Health Benefits

Herbs aren’t just pretty little aromatic green things; they’re also health powerhouses. Many herbs are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and essential oils. For example, rosemary might not actually give you superpowers, but it is known to help improve memory. Eat rosemary and never forget why you walked into a room again…sign me up for that superpower!

3. Cost-Effective

Let’s face it: buying fresh herbs at the grocery store can make you feel like you’re being robbed—10 mint leaves for $6? Sure I have money to burn…..NOT. Growing your own herbs is like having a money-saving secret weapon, a delicious secret weapon. A single plant can yield a bounty of fresh herbs, allowing you to cook like a pro without emptying your wallet. Taking your mixed drinks from ehhh to OHHHH can be achieved with some fresh herbs as well!

4. Eco-Friendly Choice

By growing your own herbs, you’re giving Mother Nature a helping hand. You reduce your carbon footprint (and save so much time) by cutting down on trips to the store and avoiding plastic packaging. Plus, herbs attract beneficial insects, which can help all the other plants in your garden.

5. Therapeutic and Relaxing

Gardening is a great way to unwind. Tending to your herb garden can reduce stress and improve your mood, all while giving you a sense of accomplishment. There’s something incredibly satisfying about getting your hands dirty and watching your herbs grow. If you enjoy drama, you may also enjoy the cliffhangers gardening provides: will your basil survive the first frost? Were your efforts to repel the rascally rabbits successful? Stay tuned to find out!

How to Prepare Garden Beds

1. Choose the Right Location

Most herbs are sun worshippers, needing at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. If you’re short on space, container gardening is a great option. Just make sure to place those containers where they can soak up the rays—your herbs will thank you! If you live in an excessively hot climate, like me, you should try to find a spot where your herbs will get morning sun and afternoon shade. Even sun worshipping herbs are no match for the all-day summer sun in southern Arizona!

2. Garden Beds or Containers?

You can plant your herbs in traditional garden beds or opt for container gardening. Here’s what to know:

• Garden Beds: If you have the space, create raised garden beds. They’re like luxury accommodations for your herbs—better drainage and more control over the soil than in ground beds.
• Containers: If you’re working with limited space, choose pots that are at least 6 to 12 inches deep. Make sure they have drainage holes, or your herbs will end up drowning instead of thriving. My favorite containers are GrowBox containers. I love them for so many reasons but the water reservoir is my favorite feature! Your plants roots won’t be soaking in water, but they can uptake water as they need it from the reservoir.
• Vertical gardening: GreenStalks are one of my very favorite vertical garden setups! They’re simply amazing and so easy to care for. I’ve had mine for years and have had several very successful gardens in it. My other favorite vertical garden is the Tower Garden. I have one inside and one outside. Every single garden I’ve ever planted in them has been incredibly successful and that’s saying a lot in my crazy climate. Gardening is tough in the Sonoran Desert but both of these vertical gardens have provided me with massive harvests! They both work great for herbs too!

3. Prepare the Soil

Herbs like a good quality soil, although many of them can tolerate less than ideal conditions—they prefer soil that is well-draining and rich in organic matter. Here’s how to prepare your garden beds:

• For In-ground Beds: Clear the area, remove any weeds, rocks, or debris.
• For Raised Beds: Remove any weeds or expired plants. Add new, good-quality soil if the soil level has sunk down.
• For GreenStalks and Containers: Add new good quality, preferably organic, soil if your soil is more than a few years old. Add your old soil to your compost pile. If your soil is still fairly good, you can add amendments like organic fertilizers, compost and worm castings. Make sure you follow directions on any fertilizers so you don’t over fertilize! Many plants don’t survive being over fertilized.
• Test the Soil: If you can, test your soil’s pH. Most herbs thrive in slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0 to 7.0).
• Amend the Soil: Add homemade organic compost, organic mushroom compost, or well-aged manure. I also always add a good amount of worm castings before I plant and during the growing season as needed.

4. Buying Seedlings or Starting Seeds?

If you want to start from seeds, you’ll need some additional supplies, but it’ll save you some money in the long run. It will also give you a much broader variety of plants to choose from. You can buy the exact seeds that do well in your climate or grow well in containers.

If you choose to purchase plants from your local nursery or home improvement center, you’ll get a bit of a head start. I’m not gonna lie, I like buying transplants, planting them in my garden, watering them in and then taking a step back to see my “instant garden”.

It’s totally up to you! I do both every season because there are a few varieties of herbs that I like that I can’t find already started. I do like to save money by starting my own; but I don’t have room to start dozens and dozens of garden plants so I have to pick and choose what I’ll buy at the nursery and what I’ll start from seed.

5. Watering and Maintenance

Once your garden beds or containers are ready, and planted, establish a watering routine. Herbs generally prefer to dry out slightly between waterings. Water thoroughly, and then let them soak in some sunshine before the next drink. Containers will need to be watered more often than raised beds. Check them daily until you figure out what your herbs need in your climate and season. Mulching around your plants can help retain moisture and keep those pesky weeds at bay. If you want to sing to them and tuck them in at night, that’s your business and I won’t judge…mostly because I sorta kinda do that too.

What Kinds of Herbs to Plant

When starting your herb garden, grow what you like and what you’re excited to use. Here are some popular options to consider:

Culinary Herbs

1. Basil: The superstar of Italian cuisine, basil is perfect for pesto, salads, and sauces. It thrives in warm weather and requires plenty of sunlight. I use it in eggs, sandwiches, pastas…so many things!
2. Cilantro: Known for its vibrant flavor, cilantro is essential in many Mexican and Asian dishes. It grows best in cooler temperatures and can bolt faster than you can say “guacamole” if it gets too hot. Growing the slow-bolting varieties of cilantro will help, but nothing can stop the bolting if it get’s too hot. I know I say this about all the herbs, but this one really is my favorite.
3. Parsley: This versatile herb can be used as a garnish or flavor enhancer in a variety of dishes. It prefers well-drained soil and partial shade. Plus, it’s a great way to make your plate look fancy without actually cooking anything special.
4. Thyme: A hardy herb, thyme is great for seasoning meats, vegetables, and soups. It requires full sun and well-drained soil. I grow both lemon thyme and English thyme, both are delicious and versatile.
5. Rosemary: With its fragrant leaves, rosemary is perfect for roasting meats and potatoes. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and can be grown as a perennial in many mild climates. Plus, it makes you feel like a gourmet chef every time you use it. Where I live, it’s a very common landscape bush. I have some that are 15 years old! They still taste great.

Rosemary lovers pro-tip: Add 4-5 sprigs of rosemary, a few slices of lime and a teaspoon of vanilla to a medium pot of water and simmer gently on the stove. Your house will smell heavenly! Just be sure to set timers or keep an eye on it to make sure all the water doesn’t simmer away!

Medicinal Herbs

Here are a few medicinal herbs that are easy to grow in a herb garden:

1. Basil – Known for its anti-inflammatory properties and rich in antioxidants.
2. Chamomile – Often used for its calming effects and as a digestive aid.
3. Peppermint – Great for soothing digestive issues and relieving headaches.
4. Echinacea – Commonly used to boost the immune system and fight colds.
5. Lavender – Known for its calming properties and can help with anxiety and sleep.
6. Thyme – Has antimicrobial properties and is often used for respiratory issues.
7. Rosemary – Known for its antioxidant properties and can aid in digestion.
8. Sage – Often used for its anti-inflammatory benefits and to improve memory.

It’s Time To Get Your Hands Dirty

Starting your own herb garden is a rewarding and fulfilling endeavor that not only enhances your culinary creations but also brings a touch of nature into your life. By selecting the right herbs, preparing your space thoughtfully, and nurturing your plants with care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest right at your fingertips. Whether you have a spacious backyard or a small balcony, there’s always a way to grow your own herbs. So gather your supplies, get your hands in the soil, and happy gardening!