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Open today 9:00 - 17:00
Growing herbs is an enjoyable way to keep fresh ingredients close at hand while adding attractive planting to your garden or home. Many popular culinary herbs thrive in pots, raised beds and sunny windowsills with very little space.
From basil and parsley to rosemary, thyme and mint, herbs provide fresh flavour throughout the growing season.
Few gardening projects offer as much reward for so little effort. Herbs are compact, productive and incredibly versatile. Many can be harvested for months at a time, and some, such as rosemary and thyme, provide year-round interest in the garden.
Growing your own herbs also means you’ll always have fresh ingredients to hand. Instead of buying supermarket packets that may only last a few days, you can simply pick what you need and leave the rest growing.
As an added bonus, flowering herbs attract pollinators, helping to support biodiversity throughout your garden.
👉 Expert Tip: Harvest herbs little and often. Regular picking encourages fresh growth and helps plants remain bushy and productive throughout the season.
A favourite in Mediterranean cooking, basil is essential for pesto, pasta dishes and fresh summer salads.
Growing requirements:
Rosemary is a hardy evergreen herb with fragrant leaves that pair beautifully with roast meats, vegetables and breads.
Growing requirements:
Compact and easy to grow, thyme is perfect for containers, herb gardens and gravel gardens. Its flowers are highly attractive to pollinating insects.
Growing requirements:
Chives are reliable, productive and packed with flavour. Their edible purple flowers also make an attractive addition to summer salads.
Growing requirements:
One of the easiest herbs to grow, mint is ideal for teas, desserts and savoury dishes. Because it spreads vigorously, it’s usually best grown in a container.
Growing requirements:
Parsley is one of the most versatile culinary herbs and will happily grow in conditions that are slightly shadier than many other herbs.
Growing requirements:
Popular in Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern cooking, coriander provides both leaves and seeds for the kitchen.
Growing requirements:
One of the great advantages of herbs is their versatility. Whether you have a sunny kitchen windowsill, a patio filled with containers or a dedicated herb garden, there’s a herb to suit every growing space.
Most herbs need plenty of light to thrive. Indoors, a bright windowsill is usually ideal, while outdoors, a sunny, sheltered position will produce the best results. Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and thyme prefer free-draining soil and slightly drier conditions, whereas basil, parsley and mint appreciate more regular watering.
For the best results:
If your garden soil is heavy clay, consider growing herbs in containers or raised beds where drainage can be controlled more easily. Allowing some herbs to flower can also attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators, bringing additional wildlife into your garden.
If space is limited, a vertical herb garden is a fantastic solution. A simple planter made from a reclaimed wooden pallet can provide plenty of room for your favourite herbs while taking up very little ground space. Position it in a sunny spot, ensure good drainage and fill it with herbs you use most often for easy harvesting throughout the growing season.
👉 Pro Tip: Position frequently used herbs such as basil, parsley and chives at waist height in a vertical planter for quick and convenient harvesting while cooking.
Many herbs can be multiplied easily, allowing you to expand your collection without buying additional plants.
Mint and basil are particularly simple to propagate. Just take a healthy stem, remove the lower leaves and place it in water. Within a few weeks roots should begin to develop, after which the cutting can be planted into compost.
Rosemary can also be propagated from cuttings, while herbs such as coriander can be allowed to flower and set seed for future sowing.
Propagation is a great way to maintain a continuous supply of your favourite herbs year after year.
Drying herbs is one of the simplest ways to enjoy homegrown flavour throughout the year. In many cases, dried herbs develop a more concentrated flavour than fresh ones.
Effective drying methods include:
Tie herbs into small bundles and hang them in a warm, dry room with good airflow. This traditional method usually takes one to two weeks and helps preserve their natural flavour and aroma.
Spread herbs in a single layer on a baking tray or wire rack and dry them at a low temperature, around 80°C, until the leaves become crisp. Check them regularly to avoid overdrying and allow them to cool completely before storing.
Ideal for small quantities, microwave drying is quick and convenient. Place clean, dry leaves between two sheets of kitchen paper and microwave in short bursts, checking frequently until the herbs are crisp and fully dry.
Allow herbs to cool completely before storing them in clean, airtight glass jars or sealed containers. Keep them in a cool, dark cupboard away from direct sunlight and moisture, as both reduce flavour over time.
Label each jar with the herb name and the date it was dried. For the best flavour, aim to use home-dried herbs within twelve months and replace them with a fresh harvest each season.
The secret to successful herb growing is choosing the herbs you use most often and harvesting them regularly. Most herbs require little maintenance once established and will reward you with months of fresh flavour, whether grown indoors, outdoors or in containers.
👉 Expert Tip: Pick herbs just before cooking whenever possible. Freshly harvested leaves contain the highest concentration of flavour and aroma.
Fresh herbs are a practical and rewarding addition to any garden, providing homegrown flavour throughout much of the year.
Visit us in Kington today. Explore our extensive range of herb plants, seeds and growing essentials, and start creating your own thriving herb garden at home.
