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Wondering how to grow herbs? All it takes is a sunny ledge for pots or a little yard space, and you’ll have fresh herbs for your cooking all summer long.
One of the best tips for delicious and healthy food? Cook with fresh herbs. Why? Herbs add extraordinary flavor to dishes—all without adding calories or sodium. Buying lots of fresh herbs at the store can get expensive, so every year we grow an herb garden!
Even if you don’t have a yard with garden space for herbs, you can grow them in pots on a sunny front step, porch, or ledge for growing herbs in pots.
Why grow your own herbs?
Alex and I been growing our own for years. Not only do they provide great flavor, but they are cost-efficient as well. One basil plant costs less than a single-use package from the grocery, and it provides basil throughout the entire summer (and pesto for the winter!).
We also grow a few perennial herbs in our garden, which can survive the winter and start thriving as early as March here in Indiana. We absolutely recommend growing a pot of kitchen herbs, even if you only have a tiny spot of sun.
The best herbs to grow
Are you just starting out and not sure what to grow? Here are my top herbs to grow (in order of priority):
- Basil
- Oregano
- Mint
- Tarragon
- Dill
- Thyme
- Chives
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Lavender
As a note, we haven’t had good luck growing cilantro and parsley. We prefer to buy the large bunches at the store and store them in an herb saver. See How to Store Fresh Herbs.
How to Grow Herbs
Buy herb plants, pots or raised beds, and soil
- Buy herb plants. We buy our herbs from starts, or plants that have already been started. You can grow herbs from seed, but that involves a bit more time and energy. For beginners, we find it easier to begin with starts. You can find starts at your local nursery or farmer’s market.
- Buy pots. Any pots will do; they can be clay or plastic. Important: Look for pots with drainage holes at the bottom. If the pots do not have holes, you can also drill holes.
- Or, get planter boxes or raised beds. This is another great option if you have the space! We use these wooden raised beds.
- Buy soil and lava rocks. Purchase a potting soil mix. If your pot does not have drainage holes in the bottom (and even if it does), it’s nice to have some rocks in the bottom of the pot for good drainage.
Pot the plants
- Fill pots to nearly full with soil, then make wells for the plants you plan to add. Do not overcrowd the herbs; leave plenty of space for growth.
- Loosen the roots of the herb plants to allow them to take root easily, then slide them into the wells.
- Cover with remaining dirt, up to the top of the pot.
- Place the pots in a sunny place, on a deck or front steps, or even a sunny ledge.
Water regularly and harvest often
- Water the pots every few days, making sure that the soil does not dry out.
- Harvest the herbs as much as necessary. The herbs will continue regrowing throughout the summer. For basil, regularly pinch off the tops (where four leaves have formed). Two stems will grow in its place and allow for a large, bushy plant (don’t be shy!).
- Eat! There’s nothing better than a pizza margarita or caprese salad with fresh basil from the garden.
Related: How to Compost
How to grow basil
Basil is one of the most popular herbs to grow! It has some specific care instructions, so we have an entire article devoted to it! See How to Grow Basil.
Basil also has a specific way to harvest it to make it into a large, bushy plant. See How to Harvest Basil.
Once you’re ready to harvest it, we have a great method for how to keep it fresh for 3 to 5 days: see How to Store Fresh Basil.
Favorite recipes with fresh herbs
Now that you’ve mastered how to grow herbs, here are a few of our favorite recipes with fresh herbs!
- 30 Fresh Basil Recipes
- 10 Top Parsley Recipes
- 12 Mint Recipes to Try
- 10 Best Dill Recipes
- 10 Tasty Thyme Recipes
- 10 Chives Recipes
- 10 Rosemary Recipes
Love this! There’s nothing quite like that accomplished feeling you get when you put together a meal using ingredients from your own backyard. Thanks for encouraging people to get out and play in the dirt!
Those pots are so cute!! I love how they’re labeled. I have about four basil plants in my back yard, I think it’s time to switch it up LOL
Planning to get starter plants at this Sat’s Farmer’s Market!!! Looove my fresh herbs :) We’ll grow some outdoors, and some inside, fingers crossed.
Ive always wanted to grow my own herbs! I use a selection of different herbs in all my recipes – they bring out the flavour of dishes in such a natural and delicious way! But I’ve never known how to grow my own – always just bought them form local stores. So thank you for the advice!
I love planting herbs in pots on the deck. It’s right off of my kitchen and makes it so handy to run out and snip as I’m cooking. I have whatever the opposite is of a green thumb, but herbs are plants I’ve always had good luck with. Love your tips! Especially the one about adding lava rocks at the bottom! I need to try that! Thanks for sharing!
Would you consider a follow up on harvesting herbs? I’ve learned how to pick basil to encourage growth but cilantro is another matter.
This is perfect! I’ve been wanting to plant a little herb garden on my deck and didn’t know where to start. And those pots are adorable! I will literally be going to the store after work today – thanks :))
My DREAM is to have a nice backyard where I grow my own herbs. Maybe I should move out of the city….
I love growing herbs, but mine are usually relegated to a sunny spot on my windowsill (until my cat decides to knock them down, that is…). I continue dreaming about a beautiful herb garden like you guys have. One day!