12 Herbs You Can Grow at Home and Never Buy Again

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Growing your own herbs at home feels like you have a mini-chef’s garden at your fingertips. First and foremost, they provide fresh flavors to the dishes, but they’re also super easy to grow even if you’re new to gardening. Imagine grabbing a few sprigs of rosemary or basil right when you need them, none of which have to come from a grocery store. It’s also nice to grow herbs at home, to save some cash and have a continuous supply of fresh, fragrant ingredients for your kitchen escapades.

Most herbs are low maintenance plants that do well indoors or out, making them ideal for apartment dwellers or any-one with limited space. Just a few pots and a sunny window can bring you your own little herb oasis. This is a list of herbs you can grow at home to enjoy fresh for all your culinary needs.

Basil

Italian dishes are incomplete without the must have herb – basil and it is easy to grow at home. A few fresh basil leaves are all you need whether you’re making pesto or want a garnish for pasta. Just put it on a sunny windowsill and keep it moist, don’t overwater it. Basil does best in warm, sunny spots and he loves the warmth, so it needs a hospitable; full of warmth, sunny spot.

Rosemary

If you can’t get enough of that pine smell, this rosemary will be your favorite herb to grow. A woody herb, it is delicious in meats, potatoes and roasted vegetables. Rosemary likes lots of sunlight so give it a spot as bright as you can and let it dry out in between watering. With a bit of patience this herb will thrive for many, many years.

Cilantro

You might love it or you might not. If you are a fan, growing it at home means you’ll always have some for guacamole, tacos, and salads. It grows fast and likes cooler weather, so you’ll probably have to replant every few weeks. If you’re into fresh, bold flavors in your dishes, then it’s a perfect herb!

Thyme

Thyme is a very well rounded herb and goes with everything from roasted meats to stews. In addition, it’s low maintenance and hardy, so it’s perfect for new gardeners. It takes a bit of moist air but likes full sun and a bit of dry time in between watering. Thyme’s little, perfumed leaves flavor whatever you’re cooking with a beautiful aroma and taste.

Parsley

Parsley is more than a garnish, it’s filled with flavor and nutrition. There are two main types: curly and flat-leaf. Curly is fantastic for garnishes and flat-leaf parsley is usually used to cook. Because it’s easy to grow indoors or outdoors, it’s a good plant to have around but will require regular watering. It’s a great one to have on hand for everything from soups to salads.

Chives

Chives add a milder onion flavor to your dishes and are great to use for garnishing, soups or salads. They’re easy to grow and need very little care. Just snip what you need and they’ll keep growing back. They’re practically foolproof, place them in a sunny spot and water regularly!

Sage

Sage is a little peppery maybe with a bit of earthiness, which is delicious with poultry, pork, and hearty vegetables. It needs lots of sunlight, so put it in a spot that gets direct sun; it is happy to dry out between watering. Of course, you can even grow sage as an ornamental plant in your garden, with its silvery leaves adding color and flavor to your home.

Oregano

Mediterranean cooking is incomplete without oregano, and it makes for a great herb to grow at home. It doesn’t require a lot of water and loves sunshine so is perfect for low maintenance gardens. A few leaves can be sprinkled on to enhance the flavor of pizzas, pastas and salads. Once it starts growing, you can have your very own fresh oregano for years to come.

Lemongrass

The herb known as lemongrass is a very common aromatic herb used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking. This lemony flavor is great for teas, soups and marinades. Grown in a warm, sunny corner with regular watering this herb will thrive. However, this means that Lemongrass can get quite tall, so you will find it suitable for the outdoor gardens or larger pots indoors.

Mint

It grows like wildfire, so if you love having a steady supply of Mint for teas, desserts or cocktails then you’re going to love it! This hardy herb does well indoors or outdoors, but it spreads quickly, so it’s advisable to plant it in a separate pot. It doesn’t require sun, making it suitable for shaded areas. A few leaves can offer a nice refreshing twist to any drink or salad.

Dill

In pickling, dill is a must, and it is wonderful in seafood, salads, and sauces. It increases rapidly but does not transplant well, so it’s best to sow it in the place where it is going to stay. Full sun and regular watering are what dill likes. Take a dill sprig in your hand, pop it up in your homemade tzatziki, or dill infused butter sauce for fish.

Tarragon

Image credit: David J. Stang/Wikimedia Commons

The licorice flavor of tarragon blends nicely with chicken, egg and fish. Used in French cuisine often, it brings an almost delicate but inimitable flavor to whatever is cooked. Also, tarragon prefers full sun, well drained soil, and will let you know when it’s had enough of the watering. It’s the freshness of tarragon that really sets your homemade dressings and sauces off.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.