Tips to Start Your Own Herb Garden

As you embark on your journey to growing more food from home, you might also want 
to be able to season your food. This is where herbs come in. Having fresh herbs on 
hand is a great way to be encouraged to cook more at home and experiment with 
different flavors. You can start your own herb garden with these easy tips.

Choosing Your Herbs

When you want to start an herb garden, the first thing you will do is choose the types of 
herbs to grow. While technically you can choose any herbs you want, there are a few 
things to consider. First, you want to think about the herbs that are easier to grow, such 
as basil, chives, dill, and oregano. These are good for beginners because they are 
simple to grow, even for black thumbs. Then there are the herbs that are good to get as 
young plants. That way, you don’t have to start them from seeds. Herbs that are often 
available as young plants from nurseries are sage, thyme, rosemary, and basil. Of 
course you should also think about the herbs you will use most in your cooking. 

Preparing the Soil

The next decision to make is whether you want to grow them in the ground or in 
containers. Both options work, so it really depends on the amount of space in your yard 
and your own personal preferences. If you are going to plant them in the ground, you 
should make sure your soil is ready for planting. You want it to be dug and tilled, so that 
the soil isn’t too compacted. You should have proper drainage in the soil as well. 
Compost is good to add to the soil to help your herbs grow.

Consider Using Jars or Containers

If you would prefer, you can also plant your herbs in containers. You can do this from 
the seed or the young plants you got at the nursery, though of course the plants are 
much easier to work with. What you need is a good pot or container for keeping the 
herbs in, from a clay pot to a mason jar. If using a mason jar, make sure it has holes 
drilled in it for drainage. Then you need some potting soil to put in the container or pot, 
and some organic herb fertilizer. 

As long as you know the amount of sun that is required, you can plant a lot of container 
herbs right in your home, close to a window sill.
