Herbs and botanicals have been used for centuries to treat health ailments, boost the flavor of food, and attract friendly pollinators.
Don't you love it when things play a vital role in your kitchen but also in our larger ecosystem? Thankfully, they’re also one of the easiest things to grow at home! With a bit of care, herb gardens can easily be sustained throughout the year.
By no means exhaustive, here are a few tips to starting and maintaining your own herb garden:
If you’re new to gardening, I recommend you begin your herb garden with starter plants. No shame in that game! Many herb varieties have super finicky seeds and require very specific conditions to germinate. Potted starter herbs reduce the waiting time, guarantee healthy and strong plants, and can be easily propagated.
Choose herbs that you like. This one sounds obvious, but seriously. All of those fun varieties look tempting but if you don’t know how to use the herb, it essentially goes to waste. Think about the meals that you cook most often and select herbs that pair well with the cuisine you already eat. Basil, parsley, mint, thyme, and rosemary are pretty standard options for a variety of cuisines.
If you plan to harvest only moderate amounts of mint, plant it in a separate container or a raised bed intended just for your mint! Do not plant mint directly in your garden ground. You will regret it. If you take nothing else from this post, take this: mint SPREADS. Like, really really spreads. It will take over your entire garden. You will need a GPS to navigate through the jungle of mint. Your neighbors will report you missing, while every single person in your town and their mother will be setting up in your backyard drinking mojitos with plenty of mint to spare. Just don’t do it. With that being said, a well-contained garden of mint is a wonderful thing to have! Mint can deter pests (rodents and insects), you can steep it in tea, press it for oil, or even dry it out and sprinkle it as a garnish.
Be mindful of pets. While herbs are beneficial to the ecosystem and several types of herbs are safe for pets, always do your research before planting. Ensure that your animals will not have unsupervised access to herbs that are toxic to them. Don’t forget about other neighborhood animals. That stray cat on the block, your neighbor’s dog who always gets out....though they aren’t your responsibility, please try to be mindful. If you decide to plant something that you think a neighbor’s pet might access, it’s generally a good practice to build a small barrier around your garden or let the neighbor know what’s in your backyard.
In general, harvest herbs right before they flower. They typically have the most flavor at this stage. Also, though some herbs like rosemary are perennial, they tend to lose flavor after the first season. It’s best to harvest at their prime for optimal flavor and then propagate to create new plants so you always have the freshest herbs.
Propagate herbs by cutting off newer, green, baby stems (vs. the harder, brown, wood-like stems) and soaking in water. Keep the water clean by changing frequently. I typically use a mason jar because the clear glass makes it easier to see when the water is dirty. The leaves should not be submerged, and the stems should remain in a few inches of water at all times. In 3-4 weeks, the cut stems will develop their own roots at which point they can be potted. Voila! A new, fresh plant to continue your herb garden legacy!
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