Fresh herbs. If you haven’t already harvested all the herbs you’ll need for this winter, now’s the time to do it!
The place where my in-laws are staying has two giant garden boxes full of perennial herbs, so naturally when my mother in law asked if I wanted any, I was like, free herbs? Yes please!
Herbs are something I totally forgot to take into account for next year’s garden plans. Not only was I happy about all the free herbs I went home with, but I started to make a mental note of which ones I’d want to grow in next year’s garden.
Here’s the list I came up with:
Perennial Herbs
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Lavender
- Mint
- Chives. Lots and lots of chives.
Annual Herbs
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Fennel {maybe}
It feels like I am missing something though. What did I miss? Out of all the herbs I’ve grown in the past, I feel like I use basil, thyme and chives the most.
Mint is a bit of a nuisance, but it smells so lovely when you brush us against it. I’ll have to remember to start {and KEEP} it in a pot though.
Free herbs, you just can’t beat a deal like that. At least now, thanks to my mother in law and my handy dandy dehydrator, I have all the herbs I’ll need for the Thanksgiving turkey. 🙂
What herbs do YOU grow in YOUR garden? What’s missing from my list? Do you think fresh herbs would be a good seller at my “flower” stand next summer? If so, which ones?
Have a great day everyone, and don’t forget to harvest those herbs before it’s too late.
~Mavis
Susan says
Don’t you just love fresh herbs? You just described my perennial herb garden + tarragon. For my annuals, I always plant Basil, Cilantro, Dill and Parsley.
Allison Miller says
i love fresh herbs. I’ve dried my basil and will be harvesting rosemary to dry and to make rosemary salt.
Joely says
I grow lovage as a perennial-it requires no care and tastes like strong celery. Flat and curly parsley each spring too!
Amy Hooper says
Parsley !
Rebeka says
Rosemary
Margo says
Looks like I have the same answer, parsley! I grow all you’ve mentioned and curly and flat leaf parsley. Living in So. California, you’d think cilantro would be super easy to grow, but it doesn’t love the heat and tends to bolt rather quickly. So I scatter a lot of seed in a pot in shade and get a shorter but heartier plant. I still plant some in the sun because I love its flowers, which are a great draw for pollinators. That and you can harvest coriander seed if you enjoy the flavor.
Linda Practical Parsimony says
Sweet basil! Always!
Renee from WI says
I grow mint around my chicken coop. I also have lemon balm, chives, chocolate mint, peppermint, and parsley ( I used to grow it for my house bun for years before he passed at 10 years. Also it is a host plant for swallowtail butterflies). I love my little herb garden.
Tiffany F says
Renee, do you use the lemon balm for anything?
I plant it as a deer deterrent, but don’t use it for anything.
suzanne says
Everything that you mentioned plus tarragon, parsley, lovage and a bay tree. The lavender, dill, chives and bronze fennel self seeded a little to aggressively this last year. My fault for letting them go to seed but oh so pretty. We have acreage here and deer so the herbs are out front in large semi formal beds. The deer mostly leave them alone along with the rhubarb, gray leafed plants and a few other odds and ends like salvias, grasses, boxwood and peonies.
lucina34 says
Summer Savory offers a great taste to many dishes, and it is challenging to find fresh. Drys well.
Julie V says
I grow sage, oregano, parsley, cilantro, lavender, lemon balm, mint, and chives. Oh and the French herb that has sort of a licorice flavor that’s cooked often with seafood or chicken… can’t think of the name? As needed I also grow dill and basil.
Tiffany F says
Julie V, do you use the lemon balm for anything?
I plant it as a deer deterrent, but don’t use it for anything
Diane says
Does lemon balm work well as deer deterrent? do you have to plant a lot of it all around the perimeter to be successful or just one or two on each corner? Thank you!
Pat says
Lemon balm can be dried to use for tea or tea blends. I’ve used it fresh to make jelly. It can also be chopped and added to anything that wants a light lemony flavor – scones, sauce for chicken, lemon balm pesto.
Laura says
I have quick question about drying herbs – has anyone tried drying different herbs at the same time in a dehydrator? Do they maintain their distinct flavors or do they take on the taste of the other herbs that are dried along side them? Thanks!
Mavis Butterfield says
I dried all of mine at the same time and they retain their distinct flavors. 🙂
Laura l Parnell says
Awesome – thanks!
Cindy Brick says
Beebalm! I don’t cook with it, but it smells lovely.
Just don’t put in catmint or catnip — unless you get a cat. That stuff spreads EVERYWHERE.
And the more lavender you put in, the nicer your place will smell after a rain. Deer don’t like it, which is a double-plus where we live.
I would think about Thai basil, as well as the regular basil. It’s stringier, but makes lovely bouquets — and the stems will root in water. It also can be perennial. I’m definitely planning on adding some of that.
Bev says
We grow chives in a pot but when the head seeds & wind blows we end up with chive plants all over. Great flavour for everything.
Edmonton, Alberta
Tiffany F says
I might enjoy growing herbs more than veggies.
I do everything on your list except fennel. Lots of basil! I dehydrate a lot, plus I make and freeze a lot of pesto. SO yummy.
I also grow lemon balm, as a deer deterrent, and chocolate mint. I steep the dehydrated chocolate mint in milk (same as if you’re making tea) to make mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Mary says
Parsley, Oregano, Basil, Thyme. I forgot to plant Rosemary this year, but it is on my list for next year. I would put all of these on my herb stand if I had one.
Joanna says
Mavis do also have a favorite freeze dryer. Thank you!
Mavis Butterfield says
Nope. Hopefully someone else will chime in.
Pat says
Try growing burnet (or some seed companies call it salad burnet). It has a little scalloped leaf and is great in salads. For people who can’t digest cucumbers, burnet has the flavor of cucumber without the digestion issues – or so I’m told, I love cucumbers and don’t have any problem with them. But I can confirm that burnet adds a cucumber taste to salads.