As the seasons roll by, there is always a good excuse to grow herbs. Spring might be the classic starting point, but with a little planning you can keep herbs ticking along right through summer, autumn and even winter. Herbs are generous plants. They fit into pots, raised beds and gaps in the veggie patch, and they reward even light care with armfuls of flavour.
If you are just getting started, it can feel overwhelming. There are so many to choose from, and they all seem useful in different ways. My advice is to begin with a core group that suits your climate, your cooking and how much time you spend in the garden. Once you have those under control, it is easy to add more.
Here is my top 10 herbs list that works across the seasons, with a mix of hardy staples and fast growers you can rotate through the year. Start with these and you will always have something fresh to snip, no matter the month. You will find planting times for each climate zone and growing guides on the individual product pages.
An afternoon spent potting up herbs now will pay off again and again. You will cook differently, waste less, and find yourself stepping outside for just one more handful. That small habit is how year round gardening begins.
Chives – This is a handy little herb. Not only is it easy to grow and care for, but chives also provides a refreshing flavour to your morning scrambled eggs or a light onion taste to your salads – without the onion breath. It is also an attractive landscaping plant with beautiful blue flowers held aloft on tall stalks.
Oregano – No kitchen garden is complete without oregano. Just the mention of oregano brings to life thoughts of delicious pastas and of course, pizza! Oregano can handle a bit of neglect now and then, making it perfect for terracotta pots or hanging baskets. Just give it plenty of sun, a good regular feed to promote healthy and aromatic leaves.
Parsley – All gardens need a hero plant and out of all the herbs, parsley stands tall above the rest (literally and figuratively!). This herb is used around the world in salads, pastas, and soups – actually, any dish that really takes your fancy! It’s super easy to grow. Position in full sun to part shade, with a well-drained soil filled with rich organic matter.
Coriander – This herb that genetically divides the nation! With coriander both the leaves and the seeds can be used in cooking, making this herb so incredibly versatile. If you love the leaves, sow new seeds every couple of weeks to provide a constant supply. A slow bolting variety works better in summer, as it allows you more time to enjoy a constant supply of those fresh leaves during the growing period.
Dill – immediately recalls dill pickles, scrambled eggs and potato salad. It has such a unique taste, and a small amount of dill can go a long way, which is makes it so good to use as a garnish. The feathery texture of dill leaves looks beautiful, and a small sprig of dill can add a noticeable aroma to a dish. Like Coriander, Dill will bolt in the hot weather.
Sage – Sage is a great herb to have in the garden. Flowers – tick! Flavour – tick! Easy care – tick! Bee friendly – tick, tick! The red flowers and it’s easy to care for nature make it perfect for kids to grow and care for. You can’t go past using sage in the kitchen, think burnt butter and sage gnocchi – yum!
Mint – Spearmint is great for adding a tangy taste to a chocolate tart, salads or even a cheeky mojito. Peppermint is the ideal mint to pair with desserts such as ice cream. It also is good for your tea garden. To make peppermint tea, just break of the leaves and let it brew for a while. Great to soothe you on those late sleepless nights. Mints are best grown in pots as they can get a bit wild if left unattended in the garden.
Thyme – For those who are ‘thyme’ poor, this herb is a great one to grow, even just for the puny jokes! Thyme loves full sun and can be planted pretty much anywhere you desire, from a pot, hanging basket or even between pavers.
Basil – Another must have in the herb garden. Basil is used so widely in pastas, pizza, Asian cuisine and many more delicious meals! For the most widely used basil, you cannot go past the Genovese Sweet Basil. Fantastic for placing on top of your pastas or bruschetta with diced tomatoes and garlic. Basil is easy to grow from seeds and is a companion plant for tomatoes.
Lemon Balm – It has long been valued for both its flavour and its gentle, soothing effects. In the kitchen, its lemony taste pairs beautifully with fruit, fish, and chicken dishes. Fresh leaves can be torn and scattered through salads, steeped in hot water for a calming tea, or muddled into cold drinks for a refreshing twist. It brings brightness to fruit salads, desserts, and herbal vinegars, and it’s delightful chopped finely into butter or sprinkled over roasted vegetables. A few leaves added to a jug of iced water or lemonade give it a clean, fragrant lift on a hot day