An herb garden can be an affordable way to incorporate fresh ingredients into your meals and to gain enjoyment by working with plants.
Think of an herb garden as an on ramp to foraging. You will use herbs more frequently just because you already have them conveniently on hand. Adding a sprig of mint to some tea or sparkling water makes it not only aesthetically pleasing, but also a bit more enjoyable.
Herb gardens take minimal planning to get started, and they are easy to maintain given the right conditions.
My first herb garden was in a few plastic containers and terracotta pots a few years ago. I started it in quarantine on my apartment patio to get some fresh air and focus on something I could control. Caring for plants can be therapeutic in that way.
From there, I found it especially convenient to just head outside and grab a few sprigs of thyme for a recipe or a cocktail. Fresh herbs have great health benefits and add another layer of freshness to a dish or beverage.
This year I took my herb garden idea up a notch when I saw these large galvanized metal stock tanks at Home Depot. I wanted one large planter for my herbs rather that multiple individual pots. This stock tank was large enough to grow many different herbs. Also I could decide to reuse the stock tank to grow something else in a different season. The stock tank was quite large!
Sometimes I forget that I drive a sedan! Thankfully we were able to call a friend to bail us out with his pickup truck.
Here are a few tips for starting an herb garden:
Choose a location in your yard or patio that gets several hours of direct sun
Like all plants, you are positioning them where the light will benefit them the best. Secondarily, choose a location that is practical for you to care for the herbs. While I love the look of herbs growing in a kitchen window, I never have had much luck growing herbs indoors because they get leggy searching for the light if they do not have bright sun.
Pack the bottom of the container with organic materials and then fill with organic soil
To the bottom of the metal planter we added cardboard and yard debris so we weren’t wasting soil (and money) filling the tin completely to the brim.
You need way more soil than you think. Even though we thought we had enough soil, we had to make another trip to the hardware store for more.
Unlike when I am a purchasing soil for my house plants, I wanted to feel safe consuming the plants grown in this soil medium. I recommend using an organic potting mix to minimize exposure to pesticides.
I chose not to use a fertilizer, but there are organic fertilizers that will work well to provide more nutrients to the plants.
Choose to grow herbs you already enjoy
Before purchasing your herbs, consider the food and beverages you consume. I chose herbs that I find tasty and that are easy to add to meals or beverages. I used the following herbs in my garden:
- Mint
- I planted the spearmint variety
- Use in mojitos or soda with lime
- Thyme
- A sprig of thyme provides good flavor on roasted salmon
- Rosemary
- Use 1:1 ratio of boiling water and sugar to make a simple syrup and then add a few stems of rosemary
- Rosemary simple syrup is great for lattes and cocktails
- Sage
- Pairs well with savory meats like porkchops
- A little goes a long way when cooking with sage
- French Lavender
- Aromatherapy
- Add a few stems while making fresh simple syrup
- Parsley
- Very versatile
- Great to mix in to sauces and dressings
- Adds color and flavor as an ideal garnish for meats, vegetables, and soups
- Oregano
- I use a combination of dry and fresh oregano in tomato sauces
- Basil
- Plant basil generously!
- Pesto dishes
- Italian dishes like pastas and pizzas
- Caprese salads
- Spicy Basil
- Use in Thai inspired dishes
- Kale
- Not an herb, but it was cute and I wanted to see how it would do
Local nurseries are great places to purchase fresh herbs
I purchased my herbs at a local nursery, but grocery stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s often have them outside the entrance as a seasonal item. Sometimes I have to go to more than one place to get all of the herbs on my list. Make sure to look for the organic varieties.
I only planted one or two of each plant knowing they would grow and get larger. Mint can be purchased sparingly since it grows quickly. You might want to buy several large basil plants if you want to make pesto.
In theory these herbs have different water requirements, but watering them together was not too much of an issue. I watered a few times per week throughout the summer. It is fall now here and they are all still alive.
Mint is an herb that may take over the garden
Mint is such a hot topic in herb gardens because it grows aggressively. It grows extremely fast and has runners that shoot out from its root system. For instance, I had my mint near the parsley and over the summer I found a new stem of mint on the other side of the parsley due to these runners.
It is recommended that mint be planted by itself, but I decided to keep it together with my other herbs. To control its growth, I periodically cut runner roots as I saw them grow in. I also frequently trimmed up the mint. Plant the mint by itself if you do not want to risk the mint overgrowing the other herbs.
Make sure the pot or planter is well draining
The stock tank I used had a drainage hole, but having the filler yard debris and cardboard underneath helped the soil drain well.
Especially in drought, herbs need frequent watering. I hand watered my herbs a couple of times a week as the soil was dry to touch during the summer. Now that the temperatures are cooler, I water just once per week as needed.
Be sure to water thoroughly immediately after you get the plants in to the soil.
If you are new to herb gardening, be sure to label each herb so you can quickly identify each plant and its needs. I used the grower tag, but you can get creative with labeling such as with popsicle sticks .
An herb garden is a fun way to get started gardening. If you are interested in learning about incorporating more indoor plants into your space check out this post on houseplants for beginners. Let me know in the comments what you plant in your herb garden or if you are looking to start one soon!
