How to Start an Herb Garden: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide

Although growing your own herbs can feel a bit intimidating at first, herbs are generally easier to keep and less demanding than most vegetables; they’re small, space-friendly, and can even be grown indoors year-round. If you dream of harvesting your basil for pesto-making or mint for loose-leaf teas, this step-by-step guide will teach you everything you need to know to design, plant, and grow your very first herb garden!

Which Herbs Should You Grow? Start with What You Love to Eat!

Before you can start planting your herb garden, you’ll need to select the types of herbs you want to grow. This should be primarily based on the herbs you actually cook with the most and the herbs you like eating. After all, there’s no point in growing herbs that you don’t like the taste of! 

Once you’ve made a list of the herbs you purchase the most at the grocery store, do a bit of research to make sure these herbs can grow in the light levels and amount of space you have available in your garden. For example, sage plants grow large and are best suited for roomy herb gardens, but chives and parsley grow well in pots, and cilantro and dill tolerate lower light levels than most other herbs.

Annual herbs such as dill, basil, cilantro, and summer savory are easy to grow from seed. The plants last for one season only, so grow plenty of extra to dry or freeze for use over the winter. Once you get used to their flavors, you won’t want to cook without them.

Biennial herbs such as parsley and caraway can be started from seed also. They will grow well the first year and come back the second year, when they will bloom and set seeds. Then, the original plants will die.

Perennial herbs include Greek oregano, thyme, sage, winter savory, chives, and mint. Once established in your garden, these plants will increase in size and come back every year.

Tender perennial plants such as tarragon, rosemary, and stevia need to be grown in pots so they can spend the winter indoors. Put the pots outside as soon as the weather warms in the spring.

Where (and How) to Grow Herbs: Beds, Pots, or Kitchen Windowsills?

After narrowing down the types of herbs you want to grow, it’s time to consider how you want to grow and tend your herb garden. If you have ample space, you can potentially create a dedicated herb bed in a raised or in-ground garden. However, if you’re gardening in a small area or indoors, you can also grow most herbs in well-draining terracotta, ceramic, or plastic pots that are at least 8 to 12 inches wide.

Standard potting mixes intended for veggies are suitable for most herb plants. Still, you may want to amend the potting mix with a bit of sand before planting lavender and other Mediterranean herbs that prefer drier conditions. If you’re growing herbs in in-ground or raised beds, blend a bit of compost or aged manure into your soil before planting to give your herbs a little boost. 

While you’re at it, take some time to do a bit of garden planning and sketch out the layout of your garden before you starting planting. Since most herbs grow best in full sun, you can maximize light exposure by locating taller plants towards the back or north side of your garden and shorter herbs towards the front or south. Planting herbs that prefer drier conditions on one side of your garden and moisture-loving herbs on the other side can make watering a lot easier, too!

Planting Herbs: Seeds, Starts, or Cuttings?

Gardeners have a few options when it comes to planting herbs. You can either grow herbs from seed, from potted plants, or cuttings taken from healthy herb plants, or fresh herb stems from the grocery store!

Growing herbs from seed tends to take the most time and is best-suited for fast-growing, tender-stemmed herbs like parsley or cilantro. These herbs are typically planted either indoors or directly in the garden or pots in spring, and may be succession-sown every few weeks thereafter for an extended harvest. If you start herb plants indoors, you can transplant them outside once the risk of frost has passed.

Growing herbs from nursery starts can be a little pricier, but it will allow you to harvest herbs earlier, and it’s the easiest way to grow woody-stemmed herbs, like lavender and rosemary. When it’s time to plant, dig a planting hole that’s as deep as your plant’s root ball. Amend the excavated soil with compost if desired. Then, locate the plant in the hole at the same depth it was growing in its nursery pot, and fill the hole with the amended soil.

Growing herbs from cuttings doesn’t work well for all herbs, but it can be a great way to repurpose freshly cut herbs from the grocery store and grow a few plants on a budget. Tender-stemmed herbs are usually easiest to propagate in water, while woody-stemmed herbs tend to root best in soil with a touch of rooting hormone. After planting, keep the cuttings well-watered and in bright, indirect light until they root, and then treat them just like nursery-started plants.

Herb Planting Calendar

Caring for Herbs: Light, Water, and a Little Love

Herbs are generally resistant to most pests, and they don’t need as much attention as your average veggie plant. However, even low-maintenance herbs need a little TLC and the right growing conditions to thrive!

Sunlight

The majority of herbs are full-sun plants that require at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. The exception to this rule is some tender-stemmed herbs, like dill and cilantro, which actually do better and are less likely to bolt in partial sun locations. If you’re growing herbs indoors, locate your plants in the sunniest window you can find, or supplement their lighting with an LED grow light. 

Watering

Herbs with tender stems require more water and should be provided with approximately 1 inch of water per week. Woody-stemmed herbs prefer slightly drier conditions, but they still should be watered when the top 2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Keep in mind that potted herbs dry out faster than plants in in-ground gardens and may need to be watered daily in summer!

Fertilizing

Compared to vegetables, herbs are light-feeding plants that often don’t need much supplemental fertilizer. To keep herbs looking lush, just amend your soil with compost before planting and then feed your plants with a monthly dose of diluted liquid organic fertilizer from spring through early fall.

Overwintering

Succession sowing dill and cilantro can extend your harvest window, allowing you to gather fresh herbs for a little longer. However, these plants are true annuals, and they won’t survive the winter no matter how you tend them.

Perennial herbs, on the other hand, can potentially grow for years. But they may need a bit of help weathering the winter!

• Cold-hardy perennial herbs, such as oregano, will typically thrive outdoors, even in areas with cold winters. Just layer some mulch over their roots in fall and stop harvesting or pruning their stems a few weeks before frost is expected.
• Heat-loving perennial herbs like rosemary only grow perennially in warm climates and are often treated like annuals in cooler areas. However, you can grow these plants for years if you move them indoors in winter.

When and How to Harvest Herbs Properly

Herbs can be harvested little by little as needed for recipes, or they can be harvested in larger quantities for freezing or drying. But it’s important to never harvest more than 1/3 of an herb plant at once, as overharvesting can damage or even kill your plants.

To harvest, cut stems off at a leaf node, avoiding the woody sections of Mediterranean herbs, such as lavender. Cutting these plants back too far can cause them to stop growing.

After harvesting, you can keep herbs fresh in the fridge for a few days by storing their cut stems in a glass of water or wrapping them in a damp paper towel in a Ziplock bag. For longer storage, you can also dry herbs via hang-drying or with a food dehydrator and store them in your spice cabinet. Or you can freeze them, whole or chopped, in ice cube trays filled with oil or water!

Yellow Leaves? Bolting Basil? Here’s What’s Really Going On

As with any plant, herbs can sometimes struggle with pests or other issues. But your plants are much more likely to recover if you take action at the first signs of trouble. Here are a few common issues you may encounter when growing herbs, along with simple solutions to help your plants thrive.

Pests

Although pests usually leave herbs alone, spider mites, aphids, thrips, and other destructive insects will sometimes feed on herb plants. This is more common in indoor herbs and plants that are stressed by environmental factors and can often be avoided by providing your plants with the right balance of light, water, and care. If pests do occur, treat your plants with a weekly application of organic soap spray until the pests have vanished. Here are 5 homemade solutions to deter pests.

Root Rot

Overwatering herbs or growing plants in poorly draining soil can lead to root rot and plant death. If you catch root rot early, you can often reverse it by watering your plants less and, potentially, repotting them. However, if root rot has progressed, the best way to salvage your plants is through stem propagation.

Yellowing Leaves

Herb leaves may turn yellow if your plants don’t receive enough light or fertilizer, or if they’re overwatered. Assessing your plant’s growing conditions will help you determine what your plant needs to recover.

Slowed Growth

Low light, insufficient fertilizer and water, or cool temperatures can cause herb growth to slow. Herbs may also grow slowly if they’re kept in undersized pots.

Flowering

Flowering isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and allowing herbs to flower can attract more pollinators and beneficial insects to your garden. However, some herbs won’t taste as good or continue to grow after they bloom. Pinching flowers back can keep your herbs growing a bit longer, but cool-season herbs like dill will inevitably bolt when summer hits.

With the right light, care, and a little patience, an herb garden can reward you with fresh flavor all season long. Still got questions? We’ve got answers!

Tips to Growing Herbs

Herbs are forgiving plants and will grow in less-than-ideal conditions.

• Drainage is the most important thing to consider since many herbs do not like wet feet.
• The soil does not have to be overly fertile. In fact, if herbs are over-fertilized, they tend to be less flavorful.
• Most herbs grow best with at least six hours of sun a day.
• When planting, give the perennial herbs room to grow. It may look a little bare at first, but they will expand to fill the space. Crowded plants compete with each other for nutrients and water and can be difficult to harvest. Air circulation is important for healthy growth, especially during humid weather.
• Herbs respond well to regular pruning, and when you clip them often, you’ll be encouraging fresh new growth.

The season for bumper crops of fresh produce is approaching fast! Be ready by growing the herbs necessary to flavor your world and spice up your life!

See our Herb Growing Chart and our indivdual Herb Planting Guides for our more popular herbs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I grow herbs indoors?
A: Yes! Many herbs do well on a sunny windowsill or under a grow light. Choose compact herbs like thyme, basil, or chives for indoor success.

Q: Do herbs need full sun to grow?
A: Most herbs prefer 6–8 hours of sunlight daily. However, cilantro, parsley, and dill tolerate partial shade and cooler spots.

Q: How often should I water herbs?
A: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Potted herbs may need daily watering in summer, while woody herbs like rosemary need less frequent watering.

Q: How do I keep my herbs from bolting?
A: Keep herbs like basil, cilantro, and dill well-watered and pinch off flowers early. Grow cool-season herbs in spring and fall to avoid heat stress.

Q: Can herbs survive the winter?
A: Annual herbs won’t survive frost, but some perennials like oregano or thyme can with mulch. Tender herbs like rosemary need to come indoors in cold climates.