Credits: Social Media
I used to kill every plant I laid eyes on until I stumbled on these easy-grow herbs
Though I initially struggled to grow plants, easy herbs included, some handy lessons from my sister have turned me into a green God.
Having enjoyed cooking since my days of food technology in high school, I am fairly familiar with what herbs and spices work best in a range of dishes. Unfortunately, my skill in the kitchen did not transfer to the garden, and my green thumb was initially nonexistent.
Considering the sheer range of herbal applications, which also include innate medicinal properties, I was keen to learn more about plant care. Enter my sister, who had become a horticulture expert at a garden center. Here is what I learned.
Mint
With summer fast approaching and all of us in desperate need of hydration, there’s arguably no better time than now to be whipping up Mojitos in that garden. For the cocktail, you’re going to need some mint.
Thankfully, mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow at home. With countless varieties offering subtle differences in flavor, it’s a great chance to experiment a little with your palate. Unless you want your mint to spread like wildfire across the garden, I would refrain from planting it straight into the ground.
Like other invasive herbs, Mint is easiest to grow in a pot with direct sunlight or partial shade. Water generously a few times a week during particularly hot times and watch your garden explode with green. As a perennial herb, mint will come back each year with a vengeance.
Lavender
There’s a reason that Starbucks capitalized on lavender in March 2024, and that’s because of the herb’s iconic floral scent and subtle flavor. With the immeasurable health benefits of lavender and its overall aesthetic allure, the herb is a solid choice for beginning and intermediate gardeners.
The key thing to consider before committing to growing lavender is the many varieties it comes in. As each of these species requires specific care, it’s important to understand which one you are working with.
Most lavender varieties enjoy a super sunny spot with watering between once and twice a week depending on the weather. I personally struggled to keep the herb alive during winter, though your chances could be increased by moving it to a sunny windowsill.
Basil
Though the world still can’t agree on what constitutes a portion of pasta, basil is an essential herb for countless summery sauces.
I have found that the easiest approach is to purchase a basil nursery plant from the grocery store. This can then be dissected and placed into soil for maximum growth opportunity. While I stuck the entire thing straight into the soil and pruned from there, Madeline The Garden Gal (@madelinetriesherbest) suggested propagating individual leaves.
While my basil will grow consistently throughout early spring and into summer, the herb is an annual plant and will need to be repurchased the following year.
Garlic Chives
Again, I have found that purchasing a nursery plant is the easiest and quickest way to grow this fragrant herb in the comfort of your own home.
As an extremely versatile plant, garlic chives can be grown in the ground or in individual pots. Sunlight should be direct, but garlic chives will also survive in partial shade conditions.
Cilantro
In yet another demonstration of the US and UK divide, no one can seem to agree on whether the unique herb is called cilantro or coriander. Regardless of your chosen name, it’s one of the easiest herbs to grow in an urban setting.
Cilantro, which some have argued tastes like soap, is a bit of a diva when it comes to soil as it requires a rich base with a high PH. During particularly hot weather, it’s important to move your cilantro into a shadier spot alongside an increase in water.
