Herbs, especially fresh, enhance the flavor of foods as well as offer loads of health benefits. While you can find them year-round in grocery stores or farm markets, wouldn’t it be great to just walk out your door and cut what you need when you need it? If you are passionate about cooking and have been wanting to start a garden, then getting started with herb gardening is a great first step. With the right amount of sun, water and organic soil, they are easy to grow. Here’s everything you need to know about Getting Started with Herb Gardening.
Getting Started – What to Plant
First up is to decide what herbs you want to grow in your kitchen garden. Start with what you use most frequently, either fresh or dried. For me, my go-to herbs are basil (lots!), oregano, dill (lots!), thyme, tarragon and a bit of rosemary. I determine how much to plant based on how much I use. PLEASE read my article about mint before deciding to grow it!
I use a lot of basil and dill in particular, so I usually start with 2-3 plants of each. Be aware that there are several types of both herbs. In fact, basil has over 150 types. But, the most commonly grown and eaten basil is Sweet Basil. Dill also has many varieties, and which to plant depends on how you plan to use it. If you’re looking to pickle things, aim for a Bouquet dill. these have stiff stems, and create blossoms up top. Stems, leaves and blossoms can all be used in pickling. In fact, if you dry a blossom, you’ll have “dill seed” that’s terrific in salads and cooking! Fernleaf Dill is delicious in salads, dips, and the like. The “leaves” are more like super fine grass growing from the stem. Yum!
Where to Plant – Outdoor/Indoor
Next, you’ll need to decide if you want to tend an in-ground garden, or have a potted garden. If you’re gardening in-ground, you’ll want to be very aware of little critters who visit. My neighborhood chipmunks and squirrels LOVE herbs…apparently they enjoy a flavorful meal, too! With in-ground, you may want to consider a sturdy fencing tall enough critters can’t jump over, and with narrow enough openings they can’t wiggle through. Another option is to hammer three to four garden stakes around your plants and drape with garden netting to protect them.
I love making herb pots that I can move around outside to take full advantage of the sun. I found a plastic “half barrel” pot many years ago that I use strictly for herbs on my deck. It’s too big to bring inside in the winter, but I grow herbs all summer then do a final pick before the snow flies, and dry them out for use all winter. Homemade dried herbs even surpass what you get in the store! You can choose to do individual pots for each herb, or make one large pot like mine. Remember, you can always start inside and move pots outside, too!
If you’re planning to keep your garden in pots indoors, you’ll need to make sure you have a spot with great direct sunlight. Herbs love the sun, and like to be warm to grow well. Aim for a window with at least 6 hours of strong sunlight each day. Be sure you have a spot that’s sturdy, and can handle watering without getting damaged. Window sills are great, if they’re deep enough to accommodate pots. Other alternatives could be a pretty plant stand, baker’s rack, sofa table near a window, end table, and the like. They really make pretty, and useful, decor!
A Word about Pots
Be sure whatever pots you choose have really good drainage. The worst thing in the world for herbs is too much water. While you want to keep them evenly moist, you never want them soaking wet. Your plants will rot in no time! I can’t count the times I’ve had my husband drill holes in pots for me.
I like to use lightweight pots so they’re easy to move around. For me, plastic or resin is the way to go. It also helps my wonky back to not have to hoist and move heavy pots. This is especially important if you’re going to pot in a large outdoor pot, like my half barrel pot. I use wheeled platforms that get my pots up off the deck or patio, and make them easy to move around. Most pot caddies allow for good drainage.
You’ll want your pot bigger than your potential plant size so your plant isn’t cramped. A basil plant, for instance, can get three to four feet tall and wide when tended well. You’re going to want a pot that’s tall and wide to accommodate that growth.
Gimme the Dirt
Is it absolutely necessary to have organic dirt? No, but why not? Organic dirt, frankly, is just as cheap as any other potting soil. And, since plants take up whatever is in their dirt, why not grow “clean” plants? You should be able to find bags of dirt at big box stores, garden centers, and really anywhere you can buy plants and seeds. Ya kinda need dirt for the plants and seeds, so it’s kinda logical to sell at the same place, yes? There are brands of dirt available that are specifically formulated for use in pots. It’s typically lighter and fluffier than a topsoil, and usually contains vermiculite or perlite. Both are naturally occurring substances (vermiculite is a mineral; perlite is volcanic ash), and help dirt in pots retain moisture better.
I know…you’re saying, “Barb, you just said to make sure pots drain and plants don’t get too wet. Now you’re saying retain moisture. What gives?” (how’s that for mind-reading). Dirt in pots dries out much faster than ground dirt. Ground dirt tends to draw from its surroundings and from depth. Pot dirt is limited to what’s in the pot, both the dirt itself and how much moisture the plant takes up. Hence, why you need to water pots more often than in-ground plants.
Whether you’re planting in the ground or in a pot, just make sure the dirt is not “heavy”, meaning it holds too much water. Again, herbs are not great “swimmers.” The dirt at my home happens to be heavy on the clay side. I’ve been amending it for 20 years, literally, with compost, sand, and other add-ins to try to loosen it up. It’s been looking good probably the last 10 years.
Plants or Seeds?
I cheat….there, I said it….I cheat. I buy plants instead of starting from seed. First, I’m not patient. Second, I’m not patient. I want those suckers growing as quickly as possible so that I can start using them. And frankly, with our funky winter/spring here in Wisconsin, it’s a total crapshoot when we can actually get planting every spring. I don’t have the space to seed start, so…plants it is with no time to waste!
I get my plants at a favorite local garden center. Because most herbs are considered “tender” plants, I wait until Memorial Day weekend to make sure weather is on a consistent warm trend. They always have a great variety, but more importantly, they grow super hardy plants. I look carefully at the plants I’m choosing to ensure they’re sturdy and growing out proportionately. There’s nothing worse than a cockeyed plant growing crooked. Ya can’t fix crooked and eventually the plant will topple and die. I also want to make sure they look like they’ve been consistently watered and that they’ve been getting good sun. I shy away from anything that looks spindly, or has brown leaves. That usually tells me a plant has been crowded and competing for sun and water, so it’s probably weaker than others. Am I picky? You bet I am!
Start from Seeds
If you decide to grow from seed, you can get seed packets online or in garden centers, big box stores, or even home improvement stores. I recommend sticking with name brand seeds – Burpee, Park, or Gurney. You can also check out a local organic gardening club. Sometimes they offer seeds for sale as well. You can find great kits that are ready to go….just add water. I’ve not had luck with them myself, but they’re a fun family project to do with kids! What a great way to teach them how to grown their own food.
You’ll want to read the seed packet closely to know how to best plant – distance, depth, sun and water requirements, and how long until germination. Instructions are important or you may be waiting a “lifetime” for your seeds to produce (this is where the patience comes in).
And Away You Go!
So, those are my key steps to getting started with herb gardening. Not hard, is it? The only remaining things you need are your hands, and a will to learn how to do it. It may take some practice to get it right. Believe me, I’ve killed my fair share over the years. But, growing your own herbs at home is a wonderful way to brighten up your cooking.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary…how does YOUR herb garden grow? I’d love to hear what you’re cookin’ up…comment below!
