The Best Beginner’s Guide to Growing an Herb Garden

If you’re desiring a more sustainable and garden-to-table lifestyle, one of the easiest ways to accomplish that is with an herb garden. You can start and indoor herb garden or plant herbs in decorative pots or in a garden. This guide is perfect for an experienced or new gardener.  It will highlight the benefits and growing needs of each herb. 

Benefits of Having an Herb Garden

Having an herb garden offers a variety of benefits. Benefits of herbs can come from cooking, to the health of the environment, your mental health, and more.

Having an herb garden provides easy access to fresh, flavorful herbs that can elevate your cooking. Medicinal herbs can also serve a purpose of healing from your medicine cabinet. Fresh herbs have peak flavor and nutrients when picked compared to seasonings or other packaged herbs found in the grocery store.

Need a garden-to-table recipe for using your fresh herbs?

Growing your own herbs is environmentally friendly by eliminating the packaging and transportation associated with the food chain and grocery stores. Herbs environmentally friendly by helping the pollinators.

Dill is a host plant for swallowtail butterflies.

Herb gardening can be a calming and therapeutic activity. Gardening is a known stress reliever by lowering cortisol levels that promotes mindfulness and reduces stress.  By working with your bare hands in the soil. Research suggests that soil contains beneficial bacteria that can boost the immune system and even increase serotonin levels, which helps regulate mood and reduce stress. So ditch those garden gloves and get dirty!

Overall, they support a healthier, more sustainable, garden-to-table lifestyle.

Why You Should Grow Your Own Herbs

If you want to start gardening, herbs should be the first thing you start planting. Herbs are low maintenance, space-savers, and provide quick bountiful harvest.

Low Maintenance – herbs are easy to grow. Some varieties of herbs grow back year after year.

Space Saver– herbs can grow in a limited space like in a container on a sunny windowsill, or in a raised bed. Herbs can even be interplanted with vegetables, without competing for needs, as companion planting to attract beneficial insects.

Quicker, Bountiful Harvest – When you harvest most herbs you harvest a few leaves as you need them. You don’t have to wait for full maturity to enjoy your harvest. Snipping a few leaves or sprigs provides a quick harvest without the long wait for growing a ripe tomato. By making the most of your garden, herb plants can provide continuous yields throughout the season.

Types of Herbs

There are two main types of herbs to grow: Perennials and Annuals

Perennial herbs come back each year after a frost and go dormant or continue to grow throughout the entire year in certain climates.

Annual herbs are herbs that do not survive the winter and need to be planted again by seed each year.

There is a smaller category of herbs that have a 2-year life cycle. These are called biennial. They grow in the first year and produce seeds in the following year.

Your climate or growing zone can determine which herbs fall into either category.

For example, in warm climates, basil is grown as a perennial but in colder climates it is an annual.

The Herbs’ Benefits and Growing Needs

Before you decide what to plant, you have to ask yourself what you want out of your own herb garden.

Do you want culinary herbs? Do you want medicinal herbs? The best herbs to grow as companion plants for your garden? Or do you want flowering herbs?

Here is a comprehensive list of our favorite herbs to grow, separated by life span. It is a mix of culinary and beautiful medicinal herbs with a brief description.

Disclaimer: I am not stating these herbs treat any medical conditions. Speak to your doctor before seeking out herbs as a remedy.

Perennial Herbs

Herb	Benefits	Growing Needs
Rosemary	Supports memory, improves digestion, repels pests	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; drought-tolerant
Oregano	Antibacterial, supports immune health, rich in antioxidants	Thrives in full sun; well-drained soil; tolerates dry conditions
Thyme	Antimicrobial, supports respiratory health, attracts pollinators	Needs full sun; well-drained soil; drought-resistant
Lemon Balm	Calming effects, supports digestion, repels mosquitoes	Prefers full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Lemon Verbena	Supports digestion, rich in antioxidants, aromatic	Needs full sun; well-drained soil; tolerates dry conditions
Mint	Aids digestion, freshens breath, repels pests	Prefers partial shade to full sun; moist soil; spreads aggressively
Echinacea	Boosts immune system, supports skin health, attracts pollinators	Thrives in full sun; well-drained soil; drought-tolerant
Catnip	Calming effects, repels insects, supports digestion	Prefers full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Lavender	Promotes relaxation, repels pests, supports skin health	Needs full sun; well-drained soil; drought-resistant
Chives	Supports digestion, rich in vitamins, attracts pollinators	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; tolerates various conditions
Green Onion	Supports heart health, rich in antioxidants, aids digestion	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; regular watering
Stinging Nettle	Supports joint health, rich in iron, boosts circulation	Thrives in partial shade; moist, fertile soil
Yarrow	Supports wound healing, attracts pollinators, anti-inflammatory	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; drought-tolerant
Comfrey	Used for external wounds	Prefers full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil; drought-tolerant
Feverfew	Supports migraine relief, anti-inflammatory, repels pests	Needs full sun; well-drained soil; tolerates dry conditions
Sage	Supports memory, aids digestion, antimicrobial	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; drought-resistant
Bay Laurel	Supports digestion, aromatic, repels pests	Needs full sun; well-drained soil; tolerates dry conditions
Marjoram	Supports digestion, calming effects, rich in antioxidants	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; tolerates dry conditions
Rue	Repels pests, supports circulation, antimicrobial	Needs full sun; well-drained soil; drought-tolerant

Annual Herbs

Herb	Benefits	Growing Needs
Basil	Rich in antioxidants; supports digestion; boosts immune health	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; regular watering
Marigold	Repels pests; attracts pollinators; improves soil health	Thrives in full sun; tolerates poor soil; drought-resistant
Dill	Supports digestion; rich in vitamins A and C; attracts beneficial insects	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; self-seeds easily
Calendula	Anti-inflammatory; promotes skin healing; attracts pollinators	Prefers full sun; tolerates various soils; moderate watering
German Chamomile	Calming effects; supports digestion; anti-inflammatory properties	Thrives in full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil; drought-tolerant
Fennel	Supports digestion; rich in fiber and antioxidants; attracts pollinators	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; tolerates dry conditions
Cilantro/Coriander	Detoxifying properties; supports heart health; rich in vitamins	Prefers full sun to partial shade; well-drained, moist soil; cool temperatures

Biennial Herbs

Herb	Benefits	Growing Needs
Parsley	Rich in vitamins A, C, and K; supports immune health; aids digestion; freshens breath	Prefers full sun to partial shade; well-drained, fertile soil; regular watering
Mullein	Supports respiratory health; anti-inflammatory; expectorant properties; soothes sore throats	Thrives in full sun; tolerates poor, dry soil; drought-resistant
Caraway	Aids digestion; rich in antioxidants; supports heart health; helps regulate blood sugar	Prefers full sun; well-drained soil; grows best in temperate climates
Clary	Used in herbal medicine; supports relaxation; beneficial for skin health	Needs full sun; well-drained soil; tolerates dry

Want to read more about a specific herb’s benefit? My resource

Select a Location

Once you have selected the type of herbs you want to grow, you need to find a place to plant them. Maybe you are limited on how much space is available and your location will determine what you can plant. A kitchen herb garden will still produce herbs you can use every day.  

The type of herb is still important to keep in mind when planting. Different herbs have different growing needs. It is important to do your research on what the growing requirements are for herbs you want to plant.

Herbs that require a sunny location might not pair well with herbs that like or shade. The watering needs of specific herbs can affect their growth differently. Some plants spread or grow rapidly and can block slower-growing herbs, making them compete for resources.

The quality of soil used for growing your herbs, determines the quality and nutrients of herbs you will receive.

Things to Consider When Selecting an Herb Garden Location:

• Hours of direct sunlight – can change if plants need full sun or partial shade.
• Type of soil you are working with- clay soil holds moisture, and sandy soils provide good drainage
• If using pots- make sure your pots have drainage holes

Raised Garden Beds or In-Ground?

The answer to planting your herbs in a raised garden bed, pots, or in the ground will depend on the time, effort and resources you want to spend on your own herb garden.

If you put herbs in small pots, you can easily transfer inside during the winter season to keep your herbs all year long.

An excellent space saver option for growing herbs is a vertical container garden. The options with a vertical garden are endless with a stackable tower and vertical planter boxes.

The garden bed vs in the ground garden is a toss-up and personal preference. The pros and cons to each are listed below:

	Pros	Cons
Raised Bed	less weeds, more soil control	expensive set up, lots of garden soil needed
In Ground	simple set up	lots of possible soil amendments

Warning: Mint plants spread uncontrollably. It is recommended to only plant mint in a raised bed or pot for this exact reason. You will end up with more than you know what to do with and won’t be able to get rid of it.

Herb Garden Layout

Not every herb grows well with others. It is important to consider your herb layout before planting because some herbs can inhibit other’s growth. The differences in the plant’s growth habits, nutrient needs, or pest-attracting tendencies make for some specific plant pairing. Some pairings can be used for good like within a vegetable garden via in companion planting.

Here’s a list of common herb combinations to avoid planting together and why

Herb	Avoid Planting With	Why
Basil	Rue, Sage	Rue can stunt basil’s growth; sage prefers drier soil than basil.
Fennel	Most herbs (especially cilantro, dill, caraway)	Fennel secretes compounds that inhibit growth of nearby plants.
Cilantro	Fennel, Lavender	Competes poorly with fennel; dislikes dry conditions preferred by lavender.
Dill	Carrots, Fennel	Cross-pollinates with fennel; can stunt carrot growth.
Chives	Beans, Peas	Can inhibit legume growth due to sulfur compounds.

Herbs from the same plant family often have similar growing requirements, making them great companions in the garden.

Mint Family (Lamiaceae): Basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and sage all thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.

Carrot Family (Apiaceae): Dill, fennel, parsley, and cilantro prefer moist, fertile soil and cooler temperatures.

Aster Family (Asteraceae): Chamomile and calendula enjoy moderate watering and sunny spots.

How to Preserve Your Harvest

You will quickly start to find out that new growth will rapidly appear when harvesting your herbs. You might end up with an overabundance. Dealing with abundance can look like sharing with friends and neighbors, or preserving it.

There are many ways to preserve herbs. For the best results of drying herbs, use a freeze dryer. This removes all of the moisture from the herbs and retains almost all of the nutritional value. A dehydrator uses low heat to remove moisture. Dehydrators can slightly change the color or the final product. The lower the heat, the better.

If you do not have a freeze dryer or dehydrator, a simple way to dry herbs is to use a paper bag. The paper bag method prevents dust or dirt from settling on the herbs while it is drying out.

How to Dry Herbs Using a Paper Bag

• Cut a few clippings of your herbs
• Tie the ends with a string
• Place inside a brown paper bag
• Secure the paper bag with more string around the existing string
• Either hang or place in a dry place
• Let sit for a few weeks to a month or 2.

My favorite and easiest herbs are Rosemary plant, oregano plants, Stinging Nettle, and Echinacea. What are yours?

Did you want an all in one place with the herbs and their benefits?  

Happy Growing!