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Growing something living does wonders for the soul. This summer, we suggest starting your journey to ‘green thumb’ with herbs! They’re easy plants to grow (even in small spaces), they smell beautiful, you can cook with them, and they’re pretty to look at. Honestly, what more could you ask for? Here are our recommendations for herbs to plant in your backyard right now.

Basil

For our pesto lovers out there, basil is an incredible choice for your backyard herb garden. Basil isn’t exactly cheap when you buy it fresh at the grocery store. So, why not get a lot of bang for your buck and grow them on your own? This herb thrives in pots and containers so you feel free to set them in smaller areas. Or, go wild and make sure you have enough for any dish you may want to cook up! As a tip, don’t be afraid to cut your basil. Harvesting up to a third of the plant (starting from the top) will encourage growth.

Chives

Chives are a quick-growing, easy herb that grows well both indoors and out! These plants can take a little while to grow from seeds, so you might want to buy a plant in order to use them in your meals sooner. Like basil, chives do well when they are often trimmed. Be sure to leave at least a half inch or more near the root so it can continue to grow.  

Mint

Mint is a great herb to grow, especially if you’re not feeling very confident about your gardening skills. Known to withstand the shade, mint does well when it gets some access to the sun. Also, know that mint is an aggressive grower, so you may want to contain it in a pot or its own section in the garden. As another plus, the herb comes in many different varieties such as spearmint, peppermint, and chocolate mint so get ready to explore!

Oregano

Oregano is a wonderfully fragrant addition to any herb garden. This plant loves heat and full sun so try to give it access to both in order to get some powerful flavour. If you don’t have much access to the sun, we recommend planting the Greek oregano variety as it is known to grow easily even indoors. Like mint, oregano spreads easily, so keep it contained or make sure to keep an eye on the growth, trimming it back to encourage development.

Parsley

This popular garnish is a great herb to have on hand in the kitchen. It is super adaptable and doesn’t require a ton of light but loves moist soil. This is the perfect plant to trim off right before sprinkling it on your finished meal. Parsley does grow slower than some of our other herb suggestions though, so be sure not to harvest too many leaves at any one time.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a hardy low-maintenance plant that prefers full sun and does like a lot of water. In fact, you can allow this herb to dry out between waterings and it will still thrive. Stop and check in on your rosemary when the sun hits it for an absolutely divine piney scent! Like basil, you need to trim rosemary considerably for it to grow so don’t be afraid to get out there and harvest.  These are absolutely some of the best options for herbs to plant in your backyard now. Of course, although a lot of these plants are fairly sturdy, don’t plant and forget them! With the proper attention and TLC, plants will tell you what they need to grow. For more helpful tips and tricks around the home, be sure to follow Falconcrest’s blog series.