Planting an Herb Garden
A well-planned herb garden delivers fresh flavor right outside the kitchen door, and needs surprisingly little space to be genuinely useful.
Choosing a Location
Most culinary herbs want at least six hours of sun and well-draining soil, and a spot close to the kitchen makes it far more likely they'll actually get used regularly while cooking. A raised bed, in-ground plot, or even a large container all work, depending on the space available.
Grouping herbs by water needs — Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and thyme together, moisture-lovers like basil and parsley together — simplifies watering considerably.
Plant aggressive spreaders like mint in their own container, even within a larger bed — sinking the pot into the ground contains the roots while still looking integrated with the rest of the garden.
Starting Small
Starting with five or six herbs you actually cook with regularly, rather than trying to grow everything at once, makes an herb garden far more likely to be maintained and genuinely used.
