We love throwing a handful of parsley into our smoothies or livening up a simple fish dish with a sprinkling of aromatic dill. Fresh herbs are the easiest way to add incredible flavor and healthy nutrients to your meals—so why not grow your own? Not only is it more affordable, you’ll eliminate waste since you only have to clip what you need.
Even if you’re a gardening newbie or have limited space, you can do this. Just follow these six simple steps and you’ll be enjoying your own fresh herbs in no time. Here’s how:
1. Pick the Right Container
Make sure the containers you select have drainage holes in the bottom and are roomy enough for roots to spread. Beyond that, anything goes. Get creative and play with color and texture. Here are a few planting containers we love:
Wally One Living Wall Planter
No deck? No worries. This clever wall planter lets you create a vertical garden.
Barnacle Pot
We love the weathered texture of these handmade earthenware pots.
Glitter Bling Pots
Bring some bling to your herb garden with these colorful glitter-dipped clay pots from Garden State.
2. Prep Your Pot
Fill containers with good potting soil and add a little fertilizer according to the directions on the package. Water the soil until it feels damp all the way through.
3. Choose Your Herbs
Some herbs do well sharing a pot; while others (like mint) can get crowded and do better solo. When planting, we like to pair parsley with basil, rosemary with sage, and oregano with thyme.
4. Plant Your Garden
Dig holes large enough for each herb plant. Place the plant in the hole and gently press soil around the edges to fill. Water your herbs immediately after planting, enough that the water starts to drain through holes in your pot. Then water only when the soil gets dry to the touch.
5. Location, Location
Your herbs should get at least four hours of sunshine a day; decks, patios, even a sunny windowsill is a great place to put your garden.
6. Trim Often
As your herbs grow, be sure to trim them often from the top of the plant. Generally, the more you trim them, the more flavorful and abundant plants will become. Frequent cutting will also encourage new growth.
You can use your herbs in almost any recipe, both savory and sweet. If you’re feeling fancy, you can also toss a few springs onto just about any finished dish as a garnish. To help inspire you, here are a few of our favorite barre3 recipes featuring fresh herbs.
Lemon and Herb Cauliflower Couscous with Roasted Chickpeas
Rosemary Parsnip Fries
Green Detox Smoothie
What’s your favorite way to use fresh herbs? Tell us in the comments below.
