Starting with herbs

Growing your own herbs can be one of the most rewarding and straightforward ways to start the joyous growing your own.

For new gardeners, the idea of cultivating a thriving, productive veg patch can seem daunting, but herbs are incredibly forgiving and offer the perfect starting point for new growers and those with smaller growing spaces.

Whether you have a tiny balcony, a sunny windowsill, or a dedicated raised bed, there’s a herb out there waiting for you to discover. Starting small allows you to learn and make mistakes, without feeling overwhelmed, or jeopardising an entire food crop.

Staring with herbs can help build you confidence as learn both to grow and to use that produce in the kitchen.

When it comes to getting started, you have a few options. Those who enjoy the  journey from tiny speed to mature plant, growing herbs from seed is a budget-friendly and satisfying choice. The tip here is to purchase good seed from a reputable seed producer. Herbs like basil, coriander, and dill germinate relatively quickly and seeing their first true leaves emerge can be a magical experience.

Alternatively, if instant gratification is more your style, or if you’re keen to enjoy fresh herbs sooner, purchasing established plants from a reputable garden centre is an excellent idea. Look for healthy, vibrant plants with good colour and no signs of pests or disease. This gives you a head start and ensures you’re beginning with strong specimens.

You might also try buying pot grown herbs from the supermarket, dividing them and potting them on as individual plants. I have to say, personally I have not had the best results with this method – although am reliably told it is possible and what have you got to lose if you are buying that herb anyway.

One of the great things about herbs is their versatility in terms of growing location. You can choose to plant them directly in the ground. This is often ideal for herbs that enjoy more space, will grow bushy and require less watering once established. Sage, Rosemary and Oregano are good examples. A word of warning about planting Mint directly in the ground. Mint spreads like wild fire so I would avoid putting any mint directly in the ground, regardless of what the seed packet tells you to do.

For many new gardeners, or those with limited space, pots are a fantastic solution. They offer flexibility, allowing you to move your herbs to catch the best sun, bring them indoors during colder weather, or simply rearrange your garden design. Static raised beds also make lovely herb beds. Before you put a raised be in make sure you observe your space to ensure it is located in the sunniest spot for your Mediterranean herbs like basil. For more on raised bed gardening you might find this post interesting  Raised bed gardening

Benefits of growing herbs in the ground:

• Established plants can be more resilient to drought once their root systems are developed.
• Often leads to larger, more prolific plants over time.
• Can contribute to healthy soil ecosystems.
• Less frequent watering may be required compared to pots.

You might still need to protect your early seed growth from garden pests – using a closh (an old cut out water bottle with plenty of holes for airflow) will work fine.

Benefits of growing herbs in pots:

• Flexibility to move plants to optimise sunlight or protect from harsh weather.
• Ideal for small spaces like balconies, patios, or windowsills.
• Easier to control soil conditions and nutrients.
• Perfect for containing aggressive growers like mint and oregano

When growing herbs in pots it’s worth it’s worth taking the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) advice into consideration. They suggest  you ‘Use a gritty, well drained compost, adding up to 25% by volume of course grit or perlite to loam based compost i.e. Jon Innes No.1’ https://www.rhs.org.uk/herbs/containers

Basically that means make sure your pot can drain well and the soil is not to heavy or clay like. The course grit and perlite will give you a good start. However, if you put some big stones in the bottom of your pot, and fill it with fine compost that should suffice. Think drainage, herbs don’t like to be waterlogged. They are plants, not ducks 🦆

Ultimately, growing herbs is an accessible and enjoyable entry point into gardening. Their low maintenance, combined with the immense satisfaction of harvesting your own fresh ingredients, make them a perfect choice for new gardeners.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different varieties and find what works best for your space and your taste buds. With a little sunshine, some water, and a bit of care, you’ll soon be enjoying the delicious rewards of your very own herb garden. Grow the herbs you love to cook with and not only will it bring you joy, but it will also save you paying over the odds for lower quality store bought herbs.

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Thanks for reading Solitaire Gardener.