Growing your own herbs is a rewarding experience and a fantastic way to add freshness to your dishes and meals. I’m sharing my favorite herbs to grow and focusing on only seven herbs that are delicious and easy to grow in summer.
1. Basil:
With its vibrant green leaves and distinctive aroma, basil is a staple in many herb gardens. This versatile herb thrives in warm weather and can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Place it in a sunny spot, water it consistently, harvest its leaves, and watch it grow. From scrambled eggs, to pesto to Caprese salads, even added to a sandwich, basil adds a burst of freshness to your meals.
2. Mint:
Refreshing and invigorating, mint is an herb that's perfect for both beginners and seasoned gardeners. Known for its vigorous growth, mint should be grown in containers to prevent it from taking over your garden. It loves moist soil and partial shade, making it ideal for pots. I use it in drinks; nothing beats a glass of icy water (or sun tea) with fresh twisted mint or, in winter, a warm cup of mint tea; I love to make mint chocolate ice cream every summer and add it to desserts with fresh fruit as a garnish to add a cool and minty twist. I also dry a bunch of tea in the winter.
3. Rosemary:
One of my favorites! With its aromatic pine-like fragrance and needle-like leaves, rosemary is a culinary powerhouse that's surprisingly low-maintenance. This evergreen herb thrives in well-drained soil and enjoys plenty of sunlight. Once established, it requires minimal watering. In the winter in Wisconsin, it would be best to cover it when it’s freezing cold, and it should come back year to year. I love rosemary with grilled or roasted vegetables, grilled meats, and homemade bread (hello, focaccia) with rosemary's earthy flavor. I love to dry this herb and use it in our winter meals, as well as in simmer pots when we need extra moisture in the air.
4. Chives:
Fun fact about me: I can’t eat chives, onions, green onions, or shallots, but I still love to grow them. I have a food sensitivity to them, and they make my stomach very unhappy, but I can eat garlic! Back to chives, their delicate onion flavor and slender green stalks are a must-have in any herb garden (delicious added to my husband's salads). These hardy perennials are forgiving and can tolerate different soil conditions. Plant them in a sunny location and provide regular water to keep them happy. Snip some chives onto your scrambled eggs, baked potatoes, or creamy soups to add a burst of mild onion goodness. I love to grow them because they deter some pests, and bees love their pretty purple flowers.
6. Parsley
A versatile herb that adds freshness and vibrancy to dishes, parsley deserves a spot in your garden. It thrives in well-drained soil and prefers partial shade. Keep the soil consistently moist, and watch your parsley flourish. This herb adds a pop of green to salads, soups, and sauces, while its mild, slightly peppery taste complements a variety of flavors. I also like to dry it and save it for the winter months.
7. Thyme:
Another of my all-time favorite herbs. Known for its fragrant aroma and tiny, flavorful leaves, thyme is a resilient herb that's perfect for beginners and keeps coming back year to year too. This sun-loving perennial thrives in well-drained soil and requires minimal watering once established. Add thyme to your roasted vegetables, stews, and marinades to infuse them with its earthy, lemony notes. Dry this with your rosemary and use it in the winter.
I have also discovered lemon thyme, a slight variation of thyme, and it has an even lovelier lemon flavor and scent. I love using this in salad dressings.
8. Oregano:
Having a robust flavor and Mediterranean flair, oregano is an herb that's easy to fall in love with. This perennial herb prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It's drought-tolerant and requires minimal care, and keeps coming back! Sprinkle dried or fresh oregano onto your pizzas, pasta sauces, or grilled meats to transport your taste buds to the sunny hills of Italy (I wish!) It’s also lovely dried and added to your tomato-based dishes and fresh in salads, of course!
Kids love growing herbs because they are fast to grow, resilient, and tasty, and they learn to discover the varied flavors in foods because of these herbs themselves. You might have also noticed that cilantro didn't make the cut; cilantro prefers slightly cooler weather and really thrives in spring and fall. I'll be sure to share a bit more about cilantro when the summer warmth cools a bit. Also dill is one of my other favorites!
This is the short list of my favorite herbs; they are easy to grow and easily elevate a dish. From basil's fresh aroma to the awakening taste of mint and the aromatic wonders of rosemary, chives, parsley, thyme, and oregano, these seven herbs offer a delightful array of flavors and scents. Whether you have a spacious garden, a sunny windowsill, or a container on a patio, herbs are the perfect gateway to starting your own garden.
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