How to Grow Fresh Herbs at Home

Basil is a low-maintenance and useful plant in the herb garden.

Herbs are often both ornamental and useful in the garden. You can add herbs to existing ornamental beds, plant them in their own garden, or grow them in pots either indoors or outside. Most herbs do best when started indoors then later transplanted to their permanent pot or garden bed. Indoors you can protect the young seedlings from pests and disease, while also ensuring they receive the proper amounts of light and water. Start with just two or three of your favorite kitchen herbs, then expand the garden as you become more comfortable with caring for the plants.

Things You'll Need

• 3-inch pots
• Potting soil
• Seeds
• Plastic bags
• Scissors
• 8-inch pots
• Compost
• Fertilizer

Instructions

Starting Plants

1. Fill 3-inch diameter pots with soil to within 1/2 inch of the rim. Use a fine-textured soil that is formulated for seed-starting.

2. Sow two to three herb seeds per pot at the depth specified on the seed packet. Generally, most herb seeds are planted to a depth three times their width.

3. Water the pots until the soil is evenly moist throughout. Slide the pots into a plastic bag, which helps retain moisture during germination. Set the bagged pots in a warm room to germinate.

4. Remove the plastic bag once seedlings emerge, usually within seven to 14 days but check the seed packet for exact germination times for the particular variety you are starting. Set the pots in a warm, sunny window and water as necessary to keep the soil moist but not soggy.

5. Thin the seedlings in each pot once they produce their second set of leaves. Snip off the weaker seedlings at soil level with small scissors, leaving the strongest herb plant in each pot.

Continued Herb Care

1. Transplant the herb plants to their permanent pot or bed once they produce their third set of leaves or when directed for the particular variety. Most herbs are transplanted outdoors once all spring frost danger is past.

2. Fill an 8-inch diameter pot with potting soil to within 1 inch of the rim, or prepare a well-drained, full sun garden bed by working 2 inches of compost into the soil. Plant the herbs into the pot or bed at the same depth they are at in their seedling pots. Space garden plants at the recommended distance for the herb variety.

3. Water the bedded herbs once a week, providing enough water to moisten the top 6 inches of soil. Water potted herbs when the top 1 inch of soil begins to feel dry---generally once weekly for indoor pots and every one to two days for outdoor pots.

4. Fertilize potted herbs once a month with a half-strength houseplant fertilizer during the summer when plants are actively growing. Fertilize bedding plants once at mid-summer with a balanced fertilizer, following label application instructions.

5. Harvest herbs as directed on the seed packet for the specific variety. Generally, harvest the outer leaves of the plants once they are of usable length. For herbs grown for seed or flowers, harvest these when they are fully developed.

Tips & Warnings

• Basil, thyme and chives are useful in a variety of recipes and are also low-maintenance enough that even a novice gardener can be successful with them.

• Avoid over-fertilizing plants. Most herbs lose flavor and quality if they are fertilized too often.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Growing Herbs in the Home Garden
• University of Missouri Extension: Growing Herbs at Home