It’s no secret that gardening isn’t exactly my strong suit— I just can’t seem to keep plants happy! Nonetheless, I still try to grow things that I can use in my kitchen. Fresh produce just makes a great recipe so much better. A vegetable garden is a big commitment, so I started small with an herb garden. After some trial and error, I have found a few herbs that even the worst gardener can grow. If you’ve been dreaming of an herb garden, you should consider starting here!
5 Herbs Anyone Can Grow
1. Mint
Mint is so easy to grow and spreads like a weed. You can grow it in a pot to keep it under control, but I’ve just embraced its wild ways and let it take over. It smells heavenly and is useful for so many things. Plus, it comes back every year. If you’re an absolute beginner, you might consider starting here. You just can’t mess it up!
Try mint in a summer salad or my Grilled Lime Cocktails.
2. Basil
Is there anything better than fresh basil?! From pasta to lemonade, it makes just about everything better. Plus, it’s super simple to take care of. You can either plant it in the ground or in a pot inside. You just need to give it water if you see it start to wilt. If you want the plant to live longer, snap off the white flowers that it grows. But, if you want to keep things easy, don’t be afraid to let it bloom. The bees and butterflies will love it! This annual plant only lives for one year, so it’s a very low commitment.
Try basil on your pizza, in your pasta and in a gimlet.
3. Chives
Chives are easy to keep happy and are great for everyday dishes like scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes and even quesadillas. They are hardy perennials, so I keep mine in a pot and it comes back every spring. It doesn’t get easier than that!
Try fresh chives in my Herbed Butter and on your roasted veggies.
4. Parsley
So many recipes call for parsley, and it always goes bad so quickly when you buy it at the store. Plant parsley in the ground if you can. It will be the happiest there, and, as a biennial plant, it will live for two years. I even had a parsley plant stay green all through winter once! You might even see caterpillars on it in the spring.
Try fresh parsley on pasta, in your salads and to spice up your sheet pan dinner.
5. Sage
Sage is new to me, but so far so good! It’s a perennial evergreen, meaning it will still be thriving when it’s time for those cozy dishes that it pairs so well with. Sage likes a dry place, so plant it in plenty of warm sun or a pot that drains well.
Try sage in recipes that call for butternut squash.
There you have it! My foolproof herb garden. What should I plant next?
[Photos by Emily Steward]