I LOVE growing my own herbs! There is nothing like the taste of fresh herbs in your favorite dishes! I haven’t always been a very good herb gardener, however.
My first few attempts were utter fails. That was partly due to weather, but mostly due to my own failure to care for them properly.
I’ve learned from my mistakes, though, and last year I grew an abundance of herbs from just a few little plants! Read on to learn my best tips, ideas for using your herbs, and ways to store and preserve them.
**Links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you click that link and purchase the product, I will receive a small compensation. I am, however, committed to honestly assessing the products mentioned. My opinions are my true feelings and are not affected by my participation in the program!**
3 Tips for Abundant Herbs
- Water frequently!
This was my biggest mistake the first few times I tried to grow my own herbs. I simply was not disciplined enough to water my plants as consistently as they required. Herbs are not like houseplants. One good watering a week is not enough. Most herbs need a moderate watering every single day.
- Fertilize
As I mentioned in my last post, fertilizer is your friend! Start out with good potting mix, and mix in some kind of organic fertilizer or liquid fertilizer at time of planting. Then, because the nutrients leach out every time you water your plants, you’ll want to add a little fertilizer every few weeks. - Stay on top of the harvesting
This is the other big one that I was not good about doing my first few years. After doing my research and disciplining myself to harvest regularly, I saw a HUGE difference in my herbs!
I had initially thought that I needed to wait until my plants were big to harvest. WRONG! The more you harvest, the more the plants will produce. So, my #1 secret to abundant herbs (besides watering) is pruning and harvesting!
**(Plants vary in how they like to be harvested, so check out my resources at the end of this post to learn more about harvesting techniques. I highly encourage you to do this – it does make a difference!)
10 Ideas for Using Your Herbs
Basil
- Pesto (It’s super easy and very versatile! Put it on chicken, pasta, or sandwiches!)
- Salads (My favorites are Corn & Tomato salads or this Mid-Summer Italian Bread Salad)
- Fresh Spaghetti Sauce (Try this Tomato Basil Pasta – the flavors are SO fresh & yummy!)
Oregano
- Grilled chicken – whisk chopped oregano into your marinade, or use whole sprigs to flavor
- Pasta sauce, or any Italian dish
Cilantro
- Tacos – just chop and add on top!
- Fresh salsa – This Tomato, Corn, & Avocado Salsa is one of my favorite things to make in the summer! This recipe doesn’t actually call for cilantro, but I like to add it in when I have it!
- Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken – this super-easy recipe is great for summer because you don’t have to use the oven!
Rosemary & Thyme
- Roasted Chicken – My favorite way to use fresh rosemary and/or thyme is in roasted chicken! Throughout the year, I simply take out some of my frozen herbs, chop them up, and sprinkle on top of my chicken.
Dill
Storing & Preserving Your Herbs
- Store basil, parsley, and cilantro like a bouquet of flowers. Trim the ends, put in a glass with an inch or so of water, and store at room temperature. They will stay fresh for a few days to a week. Cover loosely with a plastic baggie and prolong its life up to a couple of weeks!
- For de-stemmed basil leaves, wrap in a damp paper towel and put them in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of your fridge.
- To freeze herbs:
- Method 1: Spread dry herbs (whole or chopped) on a cookie sheet and freeze overnight. The next day, take them out and put in a sealed container in your freezer. (This is how I do almost all my herb freezing – it’s so simple!)
- Method 2: You can also use the ice-cube tray method. Chop herbs into small pieces and pack into an ice-cube tray. Fill each cube about 3/4 full with water or oil and freeze. The next day, top off with water or oil and freeze again to cover any floating pieces and avoid freezer burn. Store finished cubes in a sealed container in the freezer. Drop frozen cubes into your soups, sauces, or dishes when ready to use.
- A caveat to freezing herbs: Know that the texture of frozen herbs will not be the same as fresh herbs! They will wilt after defrosting. However, freezing them does do a great job of preserving that wonderful fresh herb flavor!
- You can also dry your herbs yourself! I have not ever done this yet, though, so I’m not going to try to tell you how to do it! 🙂
Resources for Herb Gardening
Books:
- New Complete Guide to Gardening (Better Homes & Gardens)
- Herb Gardening: Beginner’s Guide To Growing Organic Herbs At Home
- Container Herb Gardening
- The Cook’s Herb Garden
Websites:
There you have it – my quick and dirty guide to herb gardening! I hope you’ve come to see the value in growing your own fresh herbs. It really is pretty simple and easy – all it takes is a little regular watering and pruning – and the payoffs are fabulous flavors!
Be sure to check out the rest of my 4 Weeks to Glorious Gardening series!
- 7 Benefits of Growing Your Own Garden {Week 1}
- Lessons From a Greenhorn Gardener {Week 2}
- All About Herbs! {Week 3}
- What to Do With All That Produce! {Week 4}
Love having an herb garden!