Start Easy With an Herb Garden
One of the easiest ways to get started with growing food is to start with an herb garden. It can be one herb or multiple herbs. It’s up to you. Cultivating your very own herb garden (indoors or outdoors) can be rewarding and very beneficial, especially for a beginner gardener.
How to Start an Easy Herb Garden
Start with herbs that are easiest to grow.
As long as you’re willing to try, you can reap all sorts of yummy herbal goodies from your own hands. I always suggest starting with herbs that have been proven easiest to grow. In addition, consider starting with small plants or seedlings from a reputable store, nursery, or farmer’s market. Once you see growth and progress, it will be a confidence booster.
Take advantage of their multiple uses.
Growing herbs is great because they are both edible and pretty, adding to the aesthetics of any home. In addition, herbs add lovely fragrances and can transform your kitchen to an herbal oasis, hands down. Herbs boast of numerous health benefits and can be used in many ways. They can be used in teas, tinctures, foods and drinks.
Herbs are re-emerging as medicines, aromatherapy, salves, balms, and essential oils. As far as the garden they are a win, win because they can also act as insect repellants. We all know herbs are super fantastic as staple seasonings. The usages are endless.
Growing herbs requires low maintenance.
Because you determine how much you grow, the maintenance can be low to medium. Herbs need to be watered consistently so the soil remains moist but not drenched or soggy. Also, keep herbs near or under the window with the most light or if outdoors – keep in a sunny spot, preferably nearest to your home.
Your plants should get at least six hours of sun per day for robust growth. Outdoors could mean a porch, balcony or deck. This would be great so that the plants get adequate sun and some shade as to not wilt them. Gentle reminder, water your herbs the same as you do regular plants. Aim to water them either in the early morning or later in the evening before dark, this reduces the chances of scorching your herbs in the heat of the day.
Herbs can be very fun to watch as they grow especially because they are relatively low maintenance if you follow these simple suggestions.
Consider starting with seedlings.
Starting with seedlings can be advantageous because you save on time in terms of growing from seed. When you get seedlings, you can also get more bang for your buck because often they can be separated into more plants. So instead of planting a cluster of them together in the same pot, you can separate them into a few plants and have more herbs.
I am very careful about where I get seedlings from. Typically, I shop small reputable nurseries, family-owned feed supply stores or farmers markets. Sometimes I may go to the larger big box stores depending on my previous experience. Also feel free to ask around, I have friends who garden and often they will give me cuttings or share what they have. This can be true for you, especially if they know you are trying something different.
Tips for Starting Herbs from Seeds
For those who prefer to start herbs from seeds, here are a few tips:
Go for Heirloom (not terminator) Seeds
Look for organic, heirloom seeds, those that have not been compromised. What I mean by that is sprayed with chemicals and/or unnecessary coatings and colors. By all means, please stay away from terminator seeds. Terminator seeds, to the best of my knowledge are modified so that they do NOT reproduce. This means you may not be able to save the seeds and then use them to regrow more food/herbs. Bottom line, you’ll always have to repurchase the seeds. This is something you can look into for yourself if you need a better understanding.
Start in Small Growing Trays
When growing herbs from seeds, I suggest starting them in small growing trays of individual cells. There are kits that have the cells and the seed starting mix included. These are great, you just follow the directions. If you get the trays that don’t have seed starting soil, always get soil that’s “seed starting” specific, this is important for your seedling to get the proper nutrients it needs.
Think of a baby and all he or she needs to get a healthy start in life, the same goes for your seeds. Starting from seed will require a bit more patience but your technique will improve over time, it’s just about starting. Once you have seedlings ready to re-pot into a bigger pot, refer back to my previous posts about how to do this.
If you plan to keep your seedlings indoors you just plant them and that’s that. If you plan to transfer them outside – go through the hardening off process found in my previous blog post. Just go back a few posts.
20 Best Herbs for Beginners
Finally, here’s a list of twenty herbs that I’m familiar with. I’ll list the easiest in my experience to grow first. Disclaimer: I have not grown all of these herbs myself, yet.
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Grass
- Lemon Verbena
- Elderberry (also a bush)
- Rosemary
- Cilantro
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Dill
- Parsley
- Mint
- Chives
- Sage
- Lavender
- Fennel
- Chamomile
- Sorrel
- Comfrey
- Echinacea
- Sweet Marjoram
Happy herb growing! I’d love to hear what you want to try. All the best.
Produce not just consume.
