There’s something a bit magical about herbs. Something about snipping your own fresh herbs and popping them straight into your dinner just feels so wholesome, and the difference in taste and scent from dried herbs from the shop is just incomparable. The best part? They’re some of the easiest and most rewarding plants you can grow, whether you’ve got a sprawling garden, a sunny balcony, or just a kitchen windowsill.
For us, herbs are a sensory tool in our community-style garden that help people to warm up their first time in the garden, spark imagination with their unusual scents and gives people something easy to take home and grow on!
Let’s dig into the basics of herb-growing, with handy tips for getting started and keeping your plants happy.
Choosing Your Herbs: What’s the Difference between Hardy and Tender?
Herbs fall roughly into two groups: hardy and tender. It helps to know the difference before you plant.
Hardy herbs are tough plants that can survive UK winters outdoors, through the deep frosts and come back year after year. They’re great for garden beds or pots. These include:
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Rosemary
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Thyme
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Sage
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Chives
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Mint (though we definitely recommend popping it into a pot, even if you ‘plant the pot’, as without any restriction it likes to spread and take over the whole patch!)
Tender herbs aren’t frost-friendly, so they’ll need protection or to be grown indoors, or will need to be resown year after year. Many of these are treated as annuals here in the UK, even though in other countries they can be grown as perenneals. Think:
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Basil
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Coriander
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Parsley
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Dill
Top tip: Start with the herbs you use most in the kitchen - that way you’re more likely to keep them well-loved and watered!
Shan's Favourite Herbs
Shan has been buying from Urban Herbs for around five years now, and she never stops raving about the fantastic varieties they stock that you just don't see elsewhere. Her favourites all come from this supplier and include:
- Lemon verbena has to sit in the top spot thanks to its lemon sherberty scent and pretty leaves
- Blackcurrant sage smells wonderful, like blackcurrant squash, and has the most beautiful, vibrant pink flowers which work well in a bouquet
- Cola Plant is a very unusual herb as it smells just like Haribo cola bottles, we love seeing peoples reactions to smelling this one
Where to Plant Your Herbs
Herbs love the sun; most like around 6 hours of it a day. A south-facing windowsill or sunny spot in the garden is ideal.
For outdoor planting:
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Raised beds or garden borders work well.
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Mix herbs in with flowers for a cottage garden look.
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Use pots or troughs on patios or balconies - perfect for quick snipping.
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The smell as they’re blowing in the wind is heavenly!
For indoors:
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Choose pots with drainage holes.
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Avoid overwatering - roots don’t like sitting in soggy compost.
Top Tip: Plant them somewhere handy to the kitchen and you’re more likely to remember to use them!
Soil and Feeding Herbs
Most herbs prefer free-draining soil. If your garden soil is heavy, add some grit or grow them in pots instead. A multi-purpose compost works well for containers, or try mixing in a bit of sand or perlite to help drainage.
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Don’t overfeed. Herbs don’t need rich soil - too much fertiliser can make the leaves less flavourful.
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Watering: Keep soil just moist, not soggy. Let the top of the compost dry out between watering.
Pruning and Picking Herbs
The more you snip, the more they grow! Regular pruning encourages your herbs to stay full and bushy rather than leggy.
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Basil and mint: Pinch out the top leaves regularly to encourage side shoots.
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Thyme and rosemary: Trim lightly after flowering to keep them neat and productive.
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Parsley and coriander: Cut leaves from the outer edges first, allowing the middle to keep growing.
Top Tip: Avoid cutting more than a third of the plant at once - it needs some leaves left to keep growing strong.
Propagating Your Herbs
Want to multiply your collection? Here’s how:
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Soft-stemmed herbs (eg basil, mint): Take 10cm cuttings, pop them in a glass of water, and wait for roots to appear. Then plant into compost.
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Woody herbs (rosemary, sage): Snip a short non-flowering shoot, remove the lower leaves, and plant in a small pot of gritty compost. Keep it damp and covered with a plastic bag until roots form.
Top Tip: It’s a lovely way to share your favourite herbs with foodie friends or build your own indoor herb jungle.
Seasonal Tips for Herb Growing
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Spring & summer: Ideal time to plant and propagate.
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Autumn: Harvest what you can and bring tender herbs indoors.
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Winter: Hardy herbs can stay outside; cover pots with fleece or bring closer to the house for shelter.
Top Tip: Herbs tend to grow fast in warm months, so enjoy frequent pickings to keep them happy and healthy.
A Few More Handy Hints
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Label your herbs, especially if you’re growing from seed. It’s easy to forget which little sprout is which!
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Group herbs by water needs. Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and thyme like it drier than thirsty ones like basil.
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Try different varieties. There is a huge range of herbs out there. At The Gardeners Co we particularly love blackcurrant sage, lemon curd thyme, cola plant and sweet, tangy lime mint. They smell and taste incredible, and, frozen into ice cubes or used as a garnish, they add an incredible zing to summer drinks!
Herbs are such a joy to grow: fragrant, delicious, and often surprisingly beautiful too. Whether you’re popping some mint in your tea, snipping parsley for a soup, or brushing past thyme on your way out the door, these little plants pack a big punch.
Ready to start your own herb patch? Follow us for more growing tips and herbal inspiration: @thegardenerscocic.