Bring flavor to your life by growing these simple herbs at home!

Practical Planting

Whether or not you consider yourself to have a green thumb, arguably one of the easiest ways to give your home a little natural life is to plant some herbs! Herbs are typically hearty, meaning they’ll withstand a little neglect, they’ll germinate fairly quickly, and they’ll provide your dishes and drinks with a bit of homegrown flavor. So even if it’s just a windowsill, a few inches on your kitchen counter, or a scrap of dirt in the yard, giving space for a few potted herbs may be just the thing you need to spruce up your lifestyle this summer. 

Pick What You Like to Pick

Rosemary is ideal for pastas, proteins and even summer lemonades.

Starting out with just a few herbs is the way to go, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience or space. Think about what you enjoy using the most because the more you cut the herbs for use, the larger and stronger they grow. Think about the dishes you love to cook weekly. Rosemary is ideal for pastas, proteins and even summer lemonades. Mint grows quickly and is flavorful for iced and hot teas, desserts, and cocktails. Trailing oregano is pretty in pots and beds and seasons spaghetti and pizzas. Basil grows large and plentiful easily and can be used in summer favorites like pesto, caprese salad, and margherita pizza.

On the other hand, some herbs can be finicky. Lavender can be difficult to maintain, but may be worth the effort if you love it. Parsley is useful, but takes up a lot of space without packing much flavor. Choose three or four of your favorites and find a spot in your home or yard with some direct sunlight. 

Basil grows large and plentiful easily and can be used in summer favorites like pesto, caprese salad, and margherita pizza.

How to Plant

There are so many easy ways to grow herbs and chances are, with a little effort, they’ll provide a bunch of joy. You can seed herbs inside in small mason jars or terra cotta pots indoors. They typically sprout quickly and there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of watching a plant grow from seed. But you can also buy small plants already started from most hardware stores, nurseries, or grocery stores. For best results, repot the plant in a good terra cotta pot (large enough for growth) with drainage holes and set on a windowsill. Consider “companion planting”...placing herbs that grow well together close together. Examples are thyme, sage, rosemary, and parsley. Basil and Oregano also grow well together and if you’re extra ambitious, they encourage growth in tomato plants. You can plant a marinara sauce right in your own kitchen or garden!

If you’re planting outdoors, you’ll need to be prepared for your herbs to spread. Some herbs can be invasive and pop up as perennials (year after year) even if you don’t expect them to! You may consider keeping mint contained in a pot since it can take over a yard very quickly. Rosemary plants will become the size of a small bush when planted in the ground and need a bit of space to grow. They’ll produce most of the year and you’ll love having fresh rosemary for your own dishes and to share even into early winter. Lemon balm grows quickly when planted outside as well. It needs to be pruned and shared often but it also helps control mosquitos and is a good companion plant for other herbs and vegetables.

Mint grows quickly and is flavorful for iced and hot teas, desserts, and cocktails.

Tiny Gardens

One of the most exciting ways to plant herbs and other small plants is with a tabletop garden tower. A little bit of interior space can provide room for up to 15 different plants and you’ll have a daily chance to watch them grow and thrive. Easy to water, easy to plant, and easy to harvest from, a tabletop garden tower can also add some beauty to a corner of your kitchen or living room. 

Trying your hand at herb gardening is the perfect way to hone a green thumb and bring some natural beauty into your life. And who knows where it may lead next year…

If you don’t have available outdoor space, try growing some herbs in pots inside your home!