Easy herbs to grow in your garden

socialharvest
Sep 15
2 min read

Jasmine Slatch | September 15, 2025

Want to grow your own herbs but don’t know where to start? These beginner-friendly herbs are low-maintenance and perfect for small gardens or even balconies.

Image source: Jasmine Slatch, "SHO Herbs", 2025 — *Image source:* *Jasmine Slatch, "SHO Herbs", 2025*

Parsley

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Keep soil moist but not soggy
Best Use: Perfect for soups, salads, sauces, and garnish

Tip: Regular harvesting encourages new growth. Cut from the outside stems first.

Basil

Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Keep soil consistently moist if growing basil outdoors. If growing indoors, you may not need to water it as frequently as outdoor plants.
Best use: Ideal for pesto, pasta, salads, and sandwiches

Tip: Pinch off the flowers as they emerge for bushier growth

Chives (Allium Schoenoprasum)

*Image Source: Jasmine Slatch, "Chives", 2025*

Sunlight: Thrive in full sun, place them in a south-facing window or a spot that receives at least six hours of sunshine per day if growing indoors.
Water: Keep the soil moist but overwatering leads to root rot, therefore, have proper soil drainage as you’ll water it frequently
Best use: Great for topping soups, eggs, potatoes, salads, and dips

Tip: Snip leaves close to the base - frequent harvesting keeps them growing!

Thyme

Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Let soil dry slightly between waterings
Best use: Perfect for seasoning roasted vegetables, meats, and stews

Tip: Trim often to keep it compact and harvest just before flowering for the best flavor

Mint

Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun
Water: Keep soil moist; mint loves consistent watering
Best use: Refreshing in teas, salads, dips, and drinks

Tip: Grow in containers to prevent it from spreading - it’s a fast grower! I planted it once… now it owns the backyard.

Oregano

Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Let soil dry between waterings; drought-tolerant once established
Best use: Excellent in pasta sauces, pizza, roasted veggies, and marinades

Tip: Harvest just before flowering for the strongest flavor. Dry the leaves to use year-round.

Sage

Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Let soil dry between waterings; prefers well-drained soil
Best use: Delicious in stuffing, roasted dishes, and herbal teas

Tip: Avoid overwatering and prune regularly to keep it from getting woody.

Lemon Balm

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Keep soil moist, especially in hot weather
Best use: Great for calming teas, infused water, and desserts

Tip: Pinch back regularly to prevent flowering and encourage fresh, leafy growth.

Whether you’re cooking up something fresh or just love the scent of herbs, these plants are a great place to start. Pick one or two and see how rewarding home-grown herbs can be!

Have you grown herbs before?