It seems a simple question: ‘What herbs should I grow?’
But, as with many things, the answer is ‘it depends’.
A little more helpfully, we can give you a few pointers to decide which herbs could be right for you, a little guidance as to which herbs are likely not to disappoint, and a little steer as to the most reliable methods to establish your chosen herb.
Herb garden
While we may dream of a garden full of herbs, or at least a bed packed with handy plants to take us through the seasons, in reality just a handful of different herbs will provide variety and be more manageable.
Location
The first thing you need to decide is, where will you grow your herbs. This may be indoors on a windowsill, in smallish pots or a trough, outdoors in pots (that you may be able to move around), or planted into the ground – with other herbs, or interspersed among flowers and shrubs. Make it a space that is accessible to you, especially if you’re thinking of using herbs for cooking, you don’t want to have to go far to fetch them while you’re in the middle of preparing a meal.
Location
Once you know your location, consider what this offers to the plants. How much sunlight will they get? Will you see them often enough (so you notice when they need watering), what else is around and how does that grow during the season, will it crowd the herbs or shelter them?
Location
As a general rule, herbs will want free draining soil and good air and light around them. They don’t have to have full sun or very fertile soil (sometimes they prefer not), but they will need water, especially as they first get established. Give them space and they’ll soon grow to fill it. Most herbs aren’t very long-lived, you’ll find they benefit from being replenished every few years, and of course there are some annuals that you’ll want to sow anew each year.
What do you want to do with your herbs?
With a space ready for your herbs, think about what you will want to do with them. Is your primary interest in cooking? Decorative or craft uses of herbs, or are you looking for a medicinal garden, or somewhere you can gather herbs to make teas and infusions. Or do you want a herb garden that looks and smells inviting, somewhere to relax and savour?
Thankfully, many herbs have multiple purposes, so you can find that even a small range of plants give you so many benefits as you learn more ways to incorporate them into life.
Top Ten Starter List
Here are my top ten that you could establish this Spring to give you herbs through the year for use in cooking, teas, crafting and skincare that will look beautiful and provide scent and calm. They can all be grown in pots or directly in the ground and can be maintained at a compact size, with a little attention. Feel free to select from this list or choose your own, however the plants call you.
As plants can often be called by multiple folk or common names, some of which are shared across species, it can get a bit ambiguous. Checking the latin name (in italics) ensures we’re talking about the same thing. See how many of the latin names below have ‘officinalis’ as their second part, that’s an indicator of their traditional use as a medicinal herb.
Sage Salvia officinalis
Why have I chosen this?
There’s an age old saying that suggests anyone with sage in their garden has no need to be ill, a little sage each day is said to ward off illness. It creates a compact bush that you can pick fragrant, soft leaves from throughout the year, and even its purply flowers are edible.
How would I go about growing it?
The simplest way to start sage is to buy a plant or get a cutting from a friend. You can also grow it from seed. There are many different types of sage from green/grey to golden or purple leafed, they can all be used in a similar way.
What would I use it for?
Sage is great added to many dishes, including quiches, oatcakes, stuffing and stews, it’s a classic to go with pork, and can be used in sweet dishes, like baked apple or even eaten as a leaf in a sandwich. I’ll also drink cooling sage tea, and an infusion of sage can be used as a rinse to even the colour of grey hair. Sage is the classic herb used for smudge sticks and purifying the air.
Feverfew Chrysanthemum parthenium
Why have I chosen this?
Feverfew is such a friendly, cheerful herb and, indeed, it is associated with curing migraines.
How would I go about growing it?
Feverfew can be grown from seed – but they need light to germinate, so scatter them on the surface of the soil and don’t cover them. Once it’s in your garden it will likely self-seed itself too so you’ll have plants to give to friends. It disappears over winter.
What would I use it for?
I gather feverfew to create a balm that can be used to deter migraines. It also makes a good lotion for evening the complexion.
Lemon balm Melissa officinalis
Why have I chosen this?
The lovely lemony smell is enough to want this herb in your garden. It also has a long season, going right through to the frosts and is happy to be cut back as needed.
How would I go about growing it?
Similar to feverfew, lemon balm needs light to germinate. It’s a perennial so once established it will rejuvenate each year.
What would I use it for?
Lemon balm makes a lovely summer cordial, perfect for warm days. It also earns its keep as an insect repellent. It’s known as the herb for broken hearts and can help improve mood, relieve anxiety, lessen headaches and promote sleep. Use it in teas, dried in herb pillows, scatter shredded leaves on salads, mix with cream cheese to fill a sandwich.
Calendula Calendula officinalis
Why have I chosen this?
Calendula’s colourful blooms deserve to be tucked into any garden, so long as you keep picking them – about every third day – they will keep flowering for about nine months of the year (or all year round in their mediterranean homeland).
How would I go about growing it?
Grow from seed, sowing in situ (i.e., where you want them to grow). As they grow, pinch out their tips to keep them bushy. This is an annual so you’ll need to resow each year – but you can gather your own seed in the autumn from those plants you don’t deadhead, then sow directly or the following spring. Or let them self seed.
What would I use it for?
Calendula oil is made by packing the flowers into a jar and covering with oil to macerate. This infused oil is wonderful as a skin oil being healing, soothing, softening and brightening. You can use it as an oil or make a salve by combining the oil with beeswax. Calendula is also beautiful added to teas, baths and the petals can be scattered over salads and desserts.
Lavender Lavandula augustifolia
Why have I chosen this?
Lavender is a quintessential part of a herb garden, or any garden. Though some have become a bit ‘sniffy’ about it, possibly due to its ubiquity and over-use for applications associated with maiden-aunts. But it’s a favourite for a reason as it offers colour, scent and attraction for pollinators. There are many types to choose from, why have just one?
How would I go about growing it?
To keep things simple it’s best to buy small lavender bushes ready to plant out into your garden. You can grow it from seed but the seed will need stratification (scrubbing with sandpaper) first as it has a hard coating. Lavender does prefer a light soil so add sand and grit if your soil is heavier.
What would I use it for?
Lavender is mostly used for its scent, which can be captured in infusions and macerations, or retained in dried lavender to be used in sleep pillows and herb sachets or pot pourri. You can also eat lavender, it’s added to cakes and biscuits as well as other desserts and teas, but you don’t need too much as the flavour is strong. Lavender’s properties are well know for their calming and mood elevating effects, wonderful to help sleep but also uplifting.
Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus
Why have I chosen this?
Rosemary holds her own so well in a garden, her shrubby form may be either upright or spread, depending on the variety and her flowers range from white through pinks to blue. And she’s so versatile – leaves and flower are both edible and a sprigs of rosemary are perfect for garnish or adding to a bouquet, garland or buttonhole.
How would I go about growing it?
A cutting of rosemary will often take quite well, and you can take many from one plant so ask a friend or find a local rosemary bush to take a snipping from. Or buy a small bush and it will soon grow quite large.
What would I use it for?
There are so many uses for rosemary from incorporating it in cooking and teas to creating hair rinses to stimulate growth, or making perfumes and vinegars or stimulating balms that help circulation and relieve pain. It’s said to be good for enhancing the memory so often chosen by scholars and included in wedding bouquets or scattered at funerals.
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Why have I chosen this?
It’s lovely to be able to snip a few chive leaves into a salad, or over a jacket potato with cream cheese for that oniony freshness, without the tang. The purple globes of chive flowers are also pretty in the garden, and scattered over salads.
How would I go about growing it?
Chives are easy to grow from seed, once established they will regrow each spring and quickly create a lovely edge to your herb bed or border.
What would I use it for?
As mentioned above, they’re great with cheese as a milder alternative to onions (they’re from the same plant family) and also good with egg. So add them to sandwiches and scatter over savoury dishes. Best enjoyed fresh from the garden. You can get fancy and use the long delicate blades and flowers decoratively – say to tie up a bundle of steamed asparagus – whatever takes your fancy.
Mint Mentha
(Spearmint – Mentha spicata & Peppermint – Mentha x piperita)
Why have I chosen this?
Mint is an absolute go-to herb for teas, cooking and feel-good scent. There are many varieties but do look to have at least one of each – peppermint and spearmint.
How would I go about growing it?
Many will warn you about mint in the garden saying it will spread, if you’re at all worried about this, grow it in a pot (and you’ll be able to observe how it never grows quite to the edge of the pot, it doesn’t like to be kept in check!). Root cuttings are a good way of getting new mint plants when needed.
What would I use it for?
Primarily for mint tea – there’s nothing quite like your own blend from your own grown plant(s), a combination of two parts peppermint to one part spearmint is recommended, but experiment to find your preferred brew. Mint sauce and/or jelly are an essential accompaniment to lamb and roast potatoes, and mint is great scattered over salads (especially fruit salads) and added to cocktails or cordials.
Marjoram Origanum vulgare
Why have I chosen this?
Marjoram, along with sage, is such a health bestowing plant, its recommended that a little should be eaten every day. Marjoram and oregano are interchangeable, both add a deliciously aromatic herbyness to anything you cook with them.
How would I go about growing it?
Marjoram can be grown from seed, or buy a small pot and it will happily self-seed itself. Altenatively, cuttings will usually take well. Wild marjoram can be prolific once established so you’ll never be short of it. But do gather supplies in spring and early summer (before it flowers) and hang to dry so you can have it to hand all year round.
What would I use it for?
Anywhere you want a herby flavour in a dish, add marjoram, give it time to infuse the dish. It’s also lovely added to baths and massage oils helping muscular pain and joints. Or enjoy its scent added to a herb pillow.
Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile)
Why have I chosen this?
As well as being a very pretty addition to the herb garden with its feathery leaves and bright buttons of yellow white flowers, chamomile has beautiful scent many skin and hair care uses, as well as making the most calming tea.
How would I go about growing it?
Chamomile can be grown from seed, but does need a bit of special care – press the seeds well into the soil and don’t cover so they have light to germinate. Once it’s established, don’t let it get too wet.
What would I use it for?
Chamomile is best used in infusions (i.e., steep the flowers in hot water). This can be drunk as a tea, added to a bath or used to rinse hair (it does really work to make fair hair lighter). It’s also good made into lotions and cleansers which can be cooling, calming and softening. The gentle apple-like smell of chamomile is very soothing and has been used as a strewing herb and in sleep pillows.
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