How to create a herb garden (2024)

Herbs are a must in any garden – not only can they be used in cooking, teas, co*cktails or herbal remedies, but they have beautiful foliage and flowers, many of which are attractive to pollinators. Growing your own herbs, from seeds or ready-grown plants, is much more economical than buying packets of cut herbs from the supermarket, and you can cut them as you need them, so they'll always be fresh. You'll enjoy a much wider range of flavours, too.

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You can grow herbs in a dedicated part of your garden but if space is limited, you can create a herb garden in a raised bed, large container or even a window box.

More on growing herbs:

  • Evergreen herbs
  • Top 10 herbs for wildlife
  • 10 unusual herbs to grow
  • 10 ornamental herbs to grow
  • Healing herbs to grow

How to create a herb garden

Choose your spot

How to create a herb garden (1)

It's often said that you should position your herbs as close to your kitchen as possible, so they're readily available to pick when you're cooking. But the main thing to remember is that most herbs grow best in a sheltered, sunny spot. Some herbs, however, will grow happily in shade and are listed below. You can also plant herbs near entertaining or seating areas, where the aroma of their leaves can be enjoyed.

Choose your herbs

How to create a herb garden (2)

Herbs can be broadly grouped according to their growing requirements. For easy growing, group those that have similar requirements together.

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Mediterranean herbs
Many perennial herbs, such as rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano hail from the Mediterranean, where they thrive in sun and poor soil. They therefore need plenty of sunshine and light, well-drained soil. If you're gardening on heavy clay, you will need to add plenty of organic matter and horticultural grit to loosen it up. Most Mediterranean herbs come back year after year, and many are evergreen.

  • Six essential perennial herbs

Annual and biennial herbs
Many annual and biennial herbs, such as basil, parsley, coriander, dill and purslane, prefer a more rich, moist soil. If they are too hot and dry, they may bolt (run to seed). They are quick to grow from seed – treat them as you would salads, sowing them little and often for frequent picking until the first frosts.

  • How to grow annual herbs

Shade lovers
No sun in your garden? No problem – many herbs, including chervil, dill and parsley, will tolerate some shade.

  • Eight herbs for shade

Invasive herbs
Some herbs, such as mint and lemon balm, have a tendency to spread if grown in the ground. Give them a dedicated area in which to spread freely without mixing with other herbs, or grow them in large pots.

  • 10 varieties of mint to grow

Tender perennials
Some herbs, such as African blue basil, lemon verbena and lemongrass, are not hardy, so are best grown in pots that can be moved to a frost-free spot over winter.

  • How to sprout supermarket lemongrass

Advice on buying herbs

  • You can grow herbs as small plug plants online in spring, or buy them as ready-grown plants at the garden centre, in small 9cm pots or larger, 2L ones
  • It's more economical to grow annual and biennial herbs, such as coriander, basil or parsley, from seed
  • Check that you have the right conditions for the herbs you want to grow

Where to buy herbs online

How to plan your plot, raised bed or pots

The most important thing to remember when designing a herb garden is that it has to be easy to harvest from – you have to be able to reach the herbs you want to pick. If your plot is wide, use stepping stones to give access to the herbs in the centre. Round or oval-shaped herb gardens allow you to walk around or through them, while a triangular bed is good in a corner of a smaller garden. Divide your herb garden into different areas for herbs that have similar growing requirements – try a cartwheel or a chessboard layout using bricks, bark chippings or gravel to divide the sections.

A raised herb bed means you can influence the composition of the soil, adjusting it so that you can grow the herbs you want. It also adds another level to the garden, and makes harvesting easier.

As a general rule, taller herbs such as bronze fennel work best near the centre of a bed. Try contrasting leaf shapes and colours – dark-leafed herbs look lovely next to golden-leafed ones. LOw growing curly-leafed parsley and chives make great edging plants.

How to plant herbs

How to create a herb garden (4)

Most culinary herbs need a well-drained soil to thrive. If you have heavy clay, you will need to lighten the soil. Dig in some well-rotted compost if you're growing annual herbs, and add horticultural grit in areas where you want to grow Mediterranean herbs. If you're growing herbs in a raised bed, fill it with topsoil and horticultural grit from the garden centre.

If you're growing in pots, put some crocks at the bottom and use good peat-free, multipurpose compost, with some horticultural grit or perlite added for extra drainage.

Place the plants before you plant them – this allows you to check that you've got their position right. Research the eventual height and spread of each herb, so that you give it enough space to grow. Plant at the same depth as the root ball, and water in well.

How to care for your herb garden

How to create a herb garden (5)

Water your new herb garden regularly until the plants have established, especially in hot weather.

To ensure a steady supply of fresh annual herbs, sowing a new batch once you’re halfway through your current crop. Sprinkle seeds thinly over the surface of a pot or tray of multi-purpose compost, or direct into the soil when the weather is warm enough.

Boost perennials growing in pots by scraping away some of the compost and replacing with fresh in spring, or repot them in fresh compost. Divide chives and tarragon each second spring, and top dress or re-pot woody Mediterranean herbs, such as rosemary.

Herbs like mint and chives die down in winter, so need cutting to the ground in late autumn. Woody, evergreen herbs like rosemary and sage become straggly with age, so prune into shape after flowering or in spring.

  • How to protect herbs in winter

How to harvest herbs

How to create a herb garden (6)

Culinary herbs are the original cut-and-come-again crop, and benefit from regular pickings. Annual herbs in particular need picking regularly, so that they do not go to seed.

Feed herbs after you have picked them – a seaweed feed or comfrey feed is ideal. A high-potash tomato feed in midsummer helps to toughen up Mediterranean herbs so they can withstand hot dry spells.

  • How to pick herbs

Container herb garden ideas

How to create a herb garden (7)

You can use pretty much any container for growing herbs, as long as it has some drainage holes and crocks at the bottom for drainage. You can buy herb planters online, or get creative, upcycling old tin baths or wine boxes or anything else you can get your hands on. Just remember to grow herbs with similar needs in the same pot.

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  • Growing herbs in containers
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How to create a herb garden (2024)

FAQs

How do you start a simple herb garden? ›

Simple Steps to Create Your Own Small Herb Garden
  1. Step One: Pick a Container for Your Herb Garden. ...
  2. Step Two: Add Drainage Holes to Your Container. ...
  3. Step Three: Put a Weed Barrier Cloth at the Bottom of the Container. ...
  4. Step Four: Fill Your Container with Soil. ...
  5. Step Five: Plant Herbs.
Jun 20, 2022

What is the best layout for an herb garden? ›

Plant short, shade-tolerant plants beneath taller, bushy plants. When you mix sun-loving plants, put tall ones at the north end of the plot and small ones at the south end, so all will get needed sun. Plant herbs throughout the garden, especially basil, mint, sage, and dill. EXCEPTION: Keep dill away from carrots.

What herbs should not be planted together? ›

Which Herb To Avoid Growing with Others?
  1. Mint. One of the avoidable plants is mint. ...
  2. Fennel and cilantro. This combo can not grow well if planted as companion plants. ...
  3. Dill and lavender. This combination can not be grown together as the growing conditions of both plants differ from each other.
  4. Rue, sage, and basil.
Jul 4, 2023

What herbs go well planted together? ›

In this article, we'll explore some of the herbs that can be planted together and the benefits of doing so.
  • Basil & Oregano. Basil and oregano can be planted together in a garden bed or container garden. ...
  • Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, & Lavender. ...
  • Cilantro & Parsley. ...
  • Mint. ...
  • Dill & Chives.

What are the easiest herbs to grow for beginners? ›

Which herbs are easiest for kids to grow? The easiest herbs to grow are perennial herbs you can buy in pots – these include rosemary, mint, chives and oregano. Chives are also easy to grow from seed (see below) and one of the fastest-growing herbs is cress.

Is it better to grow herbs in pots or ground? ›

Level one: grow herbs in pots

Be sure to check on your herbs frequently since the soil in a small pot will dry out much faster than the soil in a raised bed or the ground. I like terra cotta pots because they help regulate the moisture level and come with a nice, big drainage hole.

What not to plant with basil? ›

Plants to Avoid Growing With Basil

Basil grows well next to many plants, but there are a couple of plants to avoid growing near basil. Herbs. While you can plant basil next to chamomile, oregano, and chives, basil generally prefers the company of vegetables over other herbs, and should not be planted near rue or sage.

Can I plant rosemary and basil together? ›

In summary, basil and rosemary can be planted together as long as their individual needs are considered. Provide well-draining soil, full sun exposure, and appropriate watering and spacing to ensure both herbs thrive.

What herbs go well together? ›

Oregano blends well with basil, bay, chives, cilantro, garlic, marjoram, mint, parsley, savory and thyme. Rosemary goes well with bay, garlic, marjoram, oregano, parsley, sage, savory and thyme.

Can I plant cilantro and basil together? ›

They grow beautifully together in both large herb gardens and small patio planters. These two herbs are top choices for small-space growers and urban gardeners since basil and cilantro don't take up a lot of space, and they're easy to fit into balcony gardens and windowsill herb gardens.

Can I plant dill and basil together? ›

Dill and basil are great companion plants, because of their many similarities. Not only do they benefit from similar soil components, but they also attract many of the same beneficial insects and deter destructive pests. 1 If you're building an herb garden, be sure to plant these nearby.

Can you start an herb garden any time of year? ›

If you plan to grow and maintain your kitchen herb garden indoors, you can start at any time of the year. But if you're thinking about creating a little herb corner in your garden or outdoor planter, then the best time to start planting herbs is spring, once the danger of frost has passed.

What is the best potting mix for herbs? ›

To do so, gardening expert Tony O'Neill of Simplify Gardening recommends combining good-quality compost, coir, and perlite or vermiculite. Keep the ratios roughly equal. 'Compost acts as a slow-release fertilizer, providing essential nutrients as it breaks down,' he says.

What is the best way to grow herbs outside? ›

Almost all herbs require a sunny location, but some herbs, such as chives, chamomile and bay, can tolerate partial shade. Herbs generally prefer loose, well-drained soil with a slightly acid pH around 6.5. If you are planning on growing your herbs in the garden, a soil test is highly recommended.

Can I plant herbs directly in the ground? ›

If your yard offers rich, well-draining soil in a sunny space free from competing trees and shrubs, planting an herb garden in the ground should work beautifully.

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