Growing herbs at home is an easy way to keep fresh ingredients close by whenever you need them. A few pots on a sunny windowsill or in the backyard can give you fresh basil for pasta, rosemary for roasted potatoes, or mint for a cold drink without another trip to the grocery store.
Most herbs don’t need much space or complicated care, making them a good choice for new gardeners and apartment dwellers. Some grow happily indoors, while others prefer a sunny spot outside, so there’s an herb for just about every home.
Basil
Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow and is especially handy for pasta, pesto, salads, and homemade sauces. Give it a warm, sunny spot and water when the soil starts to dry, but avoid keeping the roots constantly soaked.
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Rosemary
Rosemary has a fragrant, pine-like scent and works especially well with roasted meats, potatoes, and vegetables. It likes plenty of sunlight and prefers to dry out between waterings, making it a good choice for gardeners who sometimes forget to water.
Cilantro
Cilantro is a favorite in tacos, guacamole, salsa, salads, and plenty of other dishes for its fresh, bold flavor. It grows quickly in cooler weather but tends to bolt as temperatures rise, so planting new seeds every few weeks can help maintain a steady supply.
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Thyme
Thyme is a versatile herb that works well in soups, stews, roasted meats, vegetables, and sauces. It likes full sun and well-draining soil, and it generally needs less water than many other kitchen herbs.
Parsley
Parsley brings fresh flavor to soups, salads, sauces, and many cooked dishes, so it is useful for much more than decoration. Curly parsley works well as a garnish, while flat-leaf parsley has a stronger flavor, making it a popular cooking herb.
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Chives
Chives have a mild onion flavor that works well in soups, salads, baked potatoes, dips, and other everyday dishes. They are easy to grow in a sunny spot, and you can snip the leaves as needed while the plant keeps producing new growth.
Sage
Sage has a warm, earthy flavor that pairs especially well with poultry, pork, stuffing, and roasted vegetables. Give it plenty of direct sunlight and let the soil dry somewhat between waterings to keep the plant healthy.
Oregano
Oregano is a kitchen favorite for pizza, pasta, salads, sauces, and Mediterranean-style dishes. It likes plenty of sun and tolerates less frequent watering, making it a good option for a low-maintenance herb garden.
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Lemongrass
Lemongrass adds a bright, citrusy flavor to teas, soups, marinades, curries, and many Thai and Vietnamese dishes. It likes warmth, sunlight, and regular moisture, and it can grow quite tall, so a large pot or outdoor garden gives it more room.
Mint
Mint grows quickly and can provide plenty of leaves for teas, desserts, salads, and cold drinks. It can spread aggressively, so growing it in its own pot is often the easiest way to keep it from taking over other plants.
Dill
Dill is especially useful for pickles, seafood, salads, sauces, and homemade dips. It grows best in full sun with regular watering, and because it dislikes being moved once established, it is usually best to sow the seeds where you want the plant to grow.
Tarragon
Tarragon has a mild licorice-like flavor that pairs beautifully with chicken, eggs, fish, dressings, and creamy sauces. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, and allowing the soil to dry a little between waterings can help keep the roots healthy.
