For some cooks, having an outdoor herb garden is the ultimate in luxury.
Not only will everything be beautiful, but it’ll taste delicious too. Good cooking relies on good ingredients that inspire you to cook at a whole new level. An outdoor herb garden can make all the difference. What’s more, it’s not hard to do.
Location – The location of your herb garden is very important. You want it to be close to your kitchen, so you can easily go out and get some for dinner.
Consider using pots so that you can easily move them inside if needed for inclement weather. If you do that, you can grow herbs right on a trolley in pots and move it around where you want it.
Prepare The Soil – You can simply buy a premixed soil for herbs and edible gardens. You can get that soil from any garden store including Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Walmart. It’s easy to find and easy to use. You can also mix your own if you compost. However, you’ll need to know what each plant needs to ensure that you get it right.
Choose Your Herbs – Determine which herbs you want to plant. If you use the pot method instead of putting them directly into the ground, you can plant anything you want.
Otherwise, you need to learn which herbs should be planted together and which shouldn’t. Planting herbs as companion plants with the rest of your garden can work wonders too.
Start from Seeds or Plants – If you’re starting from seeds, you’ll probably need to get them started inside to baby them a little. If you’re starting with plants, just plant them in the spot you’ve set up for that plant.
Water – Of course you need water. Make sure you have good water. If your water has a lot of minerals in it or smells a lot like bleach, you may have issues. You may need another way to water your plants such as rainwater catchment or water that is filtered without added minerals.
Prune/Trim/Pinch – Each type of herb is a little different regarding its care. Research your herb so that you know how to prune it properly as it’s growing to get the most from it. Also, learn how to properly harvest herbs from your plants so that you can keep them growing for a long time.
Finally, enjoy your efforts with your first harvest. Start looking up recipes that use more herbs so that you can get the most enjoyment out of your outdoor herb garden. You can even dry them or freeze them so that you can easily use them all year long.
To freeze, add to an ice tray, then add water. To add to soups and stews, just add an ice cube. To dry, hang upside down in an airy place and store in a cool, dry place.

Herbs To Grow In Your Spring Garden
If you are looking for an affordable, easy and great way to enhance the flavor of your foods, then start an herb garden. Herbs take little effort and do not need much space.
In fact, it’s best to plant herbs in containers to keep the soil well drained. This way you can bring them inside during the cooler months too.
Basil – Basil has a warm and spicy flavor that pairs perfectly with soups and sauces. The best way to use up basil is to make pesto. Basil can be seeded directly into the garden during late spring and needs lots of sunlight.
Chervil – Chervil is an herb that has a similar flavor to anise seeds. It’s an uncommon herb that won’t traditionally be found in grocery stores, but it adds great flavor to your morning eggs. Plant chervil when there are no signs of frost to come, because it’s sensitive to cold temperatures.
Cilantro – Cilantro is a great herb to add a fresh flavor to guacamole and salsas. Cilantro aids digestion and is high in potassium. Make sure to keep your cilantro and parsley separate to not confuse the two. Pick a spot in the garden that offers the most sunlight and well-drained soil. Cilantro is sensitive to drought, so make sure to keep the soil moist.
Epazote – If you enjoy cooking Mexican food then you need epazote in your garden, because it is unlikely you will find it in a grocery store. It has a peppery and minty flavor that is often found in beans and stews at Mexican restaurants. Once the danger of frost has passed, plant epazote in well-drained soil with access to full sun.
Dill – Dill is widely used in Europe to enhance the flavor of fish, potatoes, and dairy. It is most commonly known for pickling. It has an earthy flavor and aroma similar to fennel. You will want to sow dill seeds directly into your garden because they do not grow well when transplanted.
Lemon Balm – Lemon balm is an herb from the mint family that has a mild lemon aroma. Lemon balm is commonly used for its medicinal benefits as it helps upset stomach and bloating. Lemon balm can be seeded indoors during the colds months and then transplanted outdoors in late spring.
Mint – Use this herb to add a nice kick to your tea or water. Mint even pairs well with lamb. Mint, like most herbs, should be grown in a pot to allow the soil to drain. Not only that, it tends to take over any space that is available, so growing it in a pot helps keep it manageable.
Parsley – Parsley is mostly used as a garnish but provides a lot of nutritional value and can be added to pretty much any dish. Parsley can grow in full sunlight or partial shade and needs moist, nutrient-rich soil.
To have the best results this year, keep each herb separate and make sure they have plenty of sunlight and water. A great idea for herbs is to use individual terracotta pots for planting so that you can plant whatever you want and move them around as needed.

Supplies You Need To Grow Herbs
When you decide to start growing herbs, the next thing you need to do is figure out what supplies you need to buy. You may be able to find some things at home that you can use, at second-hand stores, as well as at the garden store. Plus, of course, you can find supplies to buy online via Amazon.
Seeds – If you want to grow herbs from seeds, they can be purchased from many stores like the grocery store, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and more traditional neighborhood garden stores.
But you can also order them online via Amazon kits, like this 5 Herbs from Organic Seeds kit. The important thing is to buy seeds from someone you trust.
Space – You’re going to need some space to grow herbs. If you’re doing it indoors, you’ll need shelving that allows you to either move the plants to a window for direct light or that offers space for grow lights to be added. If you want to do it outdoors, you can even use a little portable outdoor greenhouse for your herb garden.
Pots – The best pots to grow herbs in are pots that allow for easy irrigation. Terracotta pots are a good choice because they soak in water and help keep your seeds from drying out. But you do need to be careful not to overwater anyway.
Potting Soil – Go to any garden supply store or even Walmart’s Garden Center to find the right soil. The soil mix really depends on exactly what you’re planting, but most of the time a premixed potting soil is enough for your herb garden.
Plant Fertilizer – While you don’t really need that much fertilizer for herbs, feeding them on occasion is a good idea. It’ll make for a super-healthy plant, but you don’t need to overdo it.
The type of fertilizer you use will depend on the herbs you are growing, as well as where you’re growing them. Try to use organic fertilizers for the best results.
Water – Naturally you’ll need water. But one thing a lot of people don’t realize is that sometimes tap water isn’t the best choice. If your water is treated a lot or has a high level of limestone in it, you may need to ensure you have filtered water to use.
Sunlight – Some herbs (such as basil) need full sun to grow, but others don’t. You’ll need to learn everything you can about the particular herb that you’re planting to find out how to properly care for it. If you don’t have sunlight, you can also use grow lights to help simulate the same thing that the sun does for the plants.
Darkness – Some people don’t realize, but your herb plants also need darkness to fulfill the entire plant day cycle and grow properly. Ensure that no floodlights are directed to your garden area if it’s outside, and that you turn off lights in the house at night.
After that, the most that you need to grow herbs are your hands and a will to learn how to do it. It may take some practice to get it right but growing your own herbs at home is a wonderful way to brighten up your cooking for not a lot of money.