Do you grow your own herbs at home?

[Sabrinah]

I'm very interested in doing this. I plan to grow cilantro, mint, oregano, thyme, basil, and parsley. I'd like to hear from experienced garderders out there on how best to get started. I'm thinking of growing them inside so that I can use them year round. Or is it better to grow them outdoors? Any other herbs you recommend? At Sam's Club, they sell them in a container and had this lemony mint that just smelled really delicious. I don't think I'd have much use for it in my recipes but it just smelled too good. Might grow it just for the scent... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[dncomom]

Sabrinah,
I always grow herbs in a big pot outside my front door. This makes them very accesible when I am cooking. I am sure that they would thrive in the house over the winter but I always seem to be too lazy and don't get them inside before the first freeze. I grow, basil, oregano, rosemary, cilantro and chives. Don't forget the chives! They are so easy to grow and taste so good. I love to cut a few "sprigs" and sprinkle them on cottage cheese...yum!! Have fun with your garden and good luck.

[lindrusso]

I think that container gardening would be fine for most herbs. However, I use LOTS of basil to freeze pesto, so I like to plant that one in the garden. My basil has never done particularly well in containers, but last year I had basil bushes in the garden!!! Same with parsley - I tend to use larger amounts of that one, and I don't want to feel like I have to "conserve" it which is how I feel when it's growing in a pot.

So, it may depend on how you plan to use them...

[maureen k]

Sabrina,
Depending on where you live, you my be able to keep your herbs outside year round. I just moved to MD from CA and I'm still getting used to this "season-change-thing!!"
I have been more successful in keeping my herbs outside in the Spring/Summer, then movinvg them in in the cooler months. They will thrive and get MUCH BIGGER outside.Make sure your soil drains well, water about every few days, and feed with some miracle grow about once a week or so.
Definetely get the lemon mint. It's awesome in fruit salads and iced tea. You could even make ice cream with it by infusing it in the custard base for vanilla ice cream! YUM!!
Have fun !
Maureen

[schuh]

I don't have luck growing plants inside. I have started growing them outside and it's fun. I'm in Western NY so your climate would make a difference. The oregano and chives I started last year are back -- big and beautiful. I've started parsley and dill from seed this year -- they didn't work in "starter" pots so I'm hoping they just come up from seed in the garden. Basil worked well in the starter pots and are in the garden -- we'll see how they do (my dog already trampled a couple of them). Based on my experience from last year -- don't get the spicy globe basil. It tastes much different from the regular basil and my family didn't care for its taste. As for your mint, watch out if you grow it outside -- it's very aggressive. Better contained to a pot.
I have a friend that has lots of different sized pots of herbs by her back door -- right near her kitchen. I think they are very cool looking and quite handy where she has them. Just a thought.

[laden]

I have about 10 pots with different herbs growing on my deck. It's great to just walk out, snip a few and throw them into the dishes at the last minute.

Most of the herbs I grow require full sun so I grow them outside. I try to bring them inside in the fall. Some make it and some don't.

It's much more economical to grow your own. The small plants you buy in the spring cost about the same as a tiny little bunch at the grocery...but you can benefit from the ones you grow yourself over and over again!

[SusanT]

Do grow your herbs outside for the summer. Most herbs do well as container plants. Depending upon your area, it may be too warm now to grow cilantro. It does well as a cool weather plant until it warms up then it bolts (goes to seed) and blooms.

If winters are mild in your area, you can probably leave your parsley outside. It's fairly cold hardy. I would also recommend growing some chives. I've got some that have survived in the same container for three years. It will die down in the winter but come back like gangbusters the next spring.

Basil, cilantro and parsley are easy to grow from seed. I would find starter plants for your mint, oregano and thyme. When you by oregano, make sure it's greek oregano which is the culinary herb. There's a common oregano that makes a pretty garden plant, but isn't as flavorful.

Enjoy your herbs!

[Julie O]

There was an excellent(!!!) posting about herbs a few weeks ago. Most herbs do need full sun, so they don't do well indoors. I have mine in containers & they are thriving. Keep the mint in a container because it is extremely aggressive & can take over your whole yard. If you have a full sun spot (6hours minimum, 8 better) near your kitchen, that would be an ideal location for your herb garden.

There are lots of excellent books about herb growing, so you might want to check some out of your library.

[masimmons]

I grow lots of herbs, outside. I have never had any luck growing them inside. They are very easy to grow, just make sure they get watered sort of regularily. One thing NOT to do is put you mint in the ground - unless you want a yard full of mint. It spreads and spreads and spreads and comes back each and every spring. My basil plant always get so big we call them the basil bushes (I think you can never ever have enough fresh basil). Good luck and have fun.

[BlueV8Dakota]

I planted a small herb garden near the kitchen so when I go out the kitchen door I can snip some fresh herbs.
I grow basil, mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary,
chives, cilantro, parsley and sage.
Mint is very invasive and will take over so the best thing I've found is to geta big plastic container and cut the bottom out. Bury it in the ground and plant the mint inside of it. I also planted some herbs in a strawberry pot on the porch.
Mint, oregano, thyme, chives and sage come up every year so I don't have to replant them. Sometimes if we have a warm winter the parsley comes up again.
My herb garden is my pride and joy. And it's even more fun when all the fresh summer vegetable come in at the farmers market.You can make fresh sauces and vegetable pies.

[funnybone]

I, for the first time in my life, have basil and chives on my kitchen window. I have trimmed them back a couple of times, but have not used them yet. I bought a "ready kit" (the seeds were planted) so I just had to water. I think in a week, I will be able to use them. If the weather were better, I'd take them outside, but we have had too much rain in PA for that. They are doing well on the window though. I will be getting parsley and oregano next.

[Vanessa]

I just came from my garden plot. The lovage, oregano, 2 types of sage and chives, dill are doing great mostly on their own. I am keeping spearmint, tarragon, rosemary, lemon thyme in pots on my deck.Cilantro season is short unless you put it in a shaded area it seems to bolt once it gets hot.

[gobluem82]

I have lots of herbs in a garden near my back door. I would definitely recommend against bringing your herbs inside in the fall--every time I have tried this, I have had a major bug infestation. I've seen people grow herbs in strawberry pots with a different herb in each opening--it's very pretty, not to mention useful! When you consider it costs the same to buy a sprig at the store as it does for a pot which will last you all year (or longer), it's a great (and fun) investment.

[Sabrinah]

Thanks for all your replies. Can't wait to get started on my garden now. I just saw an ad for Home Depot where starters are sold for $2/ea. Will definitely check it out tomorrow. I live in Chicago so the winters get pretty cold. I would like to plant them outdoors so that I can get better quality/quantity.

Any good herb books? Think I've read about the Herb Farm Cookbook? or something like that somewhere....

[BlueMoose]

I'm so jealous of those of you who grow your own herbs. I live in MN and we don't have much of a growing season. That, and once I get things planted, I tend to ignore them http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif . I have tried growing inside, but my cats think they are salad. I guess I have a black thumb!

[KathrynY]

BlueMoose - LOL my cat also thinks anything in a pot is hers to munch on! That's why all of my indoor plants hang from the ceiling http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif.

Sabrinah - I like fresh mint chopped up and tossed in with a fresh fruit salad. It really doesn't take much effort but makes it look like you went to a lot of trouble.

[Jewel]

My herbs like to tease me. I'll buy a few plants, tend to them like a mommy tends to her babies. I coo at them, water them faithfully, keep the dogs away, and generally try not to forget about them. They'll grow about 3 or 4" tall and start to get me excited, then for NO reason whatsoever they decide they don't want to live in the evil Jewel household any longer, and they go to Heaven to be Herb Angels. They probably fly around until they see one of your homes, decide they want to live THERE instead, and make themselves at home. I can't win.

I'm in Seattle, so I've always tried growing them inside. I think if I attempt this again, I'll have to do it outside on the deck and bring them in during our winter. I'm not asking for much, I just want chives, basil, rosemary and thyme! That's it!

I'll go on paying $1.99 a bunch for the packaged sprigs at the grocery stores, and just ask you all to take care of my little Angels...they obviously love you more than they love me (sigh).

[KLynn]

My experience has been that herbs grow themselves!

I live in the South, and that may have something to do with it, but I have had incredible success with my herb garden. I plant all my herbs together in a huge pot, make sure they are watered if it doesn't rain...and just go harvest what I need! Last year I did basil, oregano, mint (of course...gotta put that in our sweet tea!!), rosemary, and parsley. This year I am adding chives. You will love it - it is a million times better than spending a fortune at the store for fresh herbs!

[sam]

I did herbs for the first time last year in my garden. I surrounded my tomato plants with basil, oregano, rosemary, and chives. They all did wonderful and I think they even added flavor to my tomatoes somehow, although that sounds crazy. This year I didn't have time for a full garden but couldn't bear the thought of no herbs so I am doing them in pots outside the kitchen door. They are doing great so far, and I would agree it is much more economical to grow them yourself, and it's fun too!

[heeter]

Vanessa - Can you tell me about Lovage - I planted it 2 years ago and it keeps coming back but I've never cooked with it.

Heather

[sal]

I have a little herb garden that I tend to, but don't cook with very much, although I'm trying to learn. I like to add "new" things, so this year I have added rue and curry. The curry plant is very similar to dusty miller in color; I found it with the herbs at the nursery and the stake in it says it is a culinary herb, but I'm a little unclear about using it, because I was under the impression that curry was a medley of different things. Can anyone give me any direction? I'd appreciate it. thx sally

[Jacque O]

This year for mother's day instead of the potted plant that I kill every year I got a nice basket with small herbs in it!!! (Just goes to show you that a little hint can sometimes go a long way.) So, I'm a novice and since I'm really awful with most plants, I'm not terribly optimistic that this will work for me either. It's been raining a lot here in St. Louis. Do I have to worry about too much rain?