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Are you willing to add some savoury and aromatic herbs to your garden? Here you go! These top 15 are the best herbs to grow outdoors, so look no further!
Herb cultivation in an outdoor garden can be enjoyable and rewarding. It serves a dual purpose; by adding vibrant colours to the garden, you can turn your garden greener and infuse them with varied flavours and fragrances too. Due to their low maintenance requirements and ability to resist various weather conditions, the hardy herbs on this list are must-haves for any garden or outdoor space. These herbs are simple to grow and offer a variety of flavours and purposes, whether you are an experienced gardener or just getting started.
From classic herbs like basil and thyme to unique varieties like borage and tarragon, there’s something for everyone on this list. So grab your gardening gloves, and let’s get started!
1. Borage
Borage is the best herb to add versatility to your garden. Both leaves and flowers of this herb are edible and full of a refreshing cucumber flavour. Harvest the young blooms to use them in salads or cook them like spinach or kale. But the benefits of borage go beyond just its culinary uses. This herb also works wonders for gardens by attracting beneficial insects for natural pest control. Planting the borage plants in full sun or partial shade will help you reap more fruits. They’ll bloom more vigorously when they get 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
2. Marjoram
If you are in search of the best herb to grow outdoors, which can add some flavour and fragrance to your kitchen garden, then Marjoram is there for your rescue. Marjoram is a perfectly delicious seasoning for many dishes and is pollinator-friendly too. There are three common varieties of marjoram: sweet marjoram, pot marjoram, and wild marjoram (also known as common oregano). All three types are popular for their use in the kitchen and their enticing fragrance. Marjoram thrives well in full sunlight and well-drained soil, so keep this in mind to get the most out of it. Proper care is just what they ask for, and in return, all you get is flavours and aromas to relish.
3. Winter Savory
Get ready to spice up your herb garden with winter savoury, the peppery perennial herb that packs a punch! It shares a similar taste to its annual cousin, summer savoury, with its spicy flavour that tantalizes the taste buds. With n number of medical benefits and flavours that this herb adds to your meals, it has made winter savoury one of the best herbs to have in any outdoor space. While counting its health benefits, to name a few, are, improved digestion and reduced flatulence, and combat problems ranging from bad breath to cancer. Good drainage is a must for this herb, but it will reward you with an abundance of flavorful leaves and flowers. For optimal growth, plant your winter savoury in full sun and space them 10-12 inches apart.
4. Tarragon
Although tarragon may not have the most pleasing appearance, it makes up for it in flavour and tenacity. It is a well-liked herb that adds a sophisticated touch to many recipes with its aromatic leaves and peppery-like flavour. It is especially favoured for vinegar flavour. With its vigorous root system, tarragon can withstand even arid conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering, except in cases of extreme drought. This makes it one of the best herbs to grow in your garden. You can harvest both the leaves and flowers in late summer and use them fresh for the best flavour. If you can’t use them right away, no problem! You can preserve tarragon plants by freezing or drying them until you’re ready to use them. And don’t forget to divide them every three to five years. This will help to keep your plants healthy and thriving for years to come.
5. Parsley
Many of us consider parsley as just a mere garnishing herb, but it has much more to that. It is a lovable ingredient in sauces, salads, and soups because of its vivid green, feather-like leaves, delicate flavour, and ability to lessen the need for salt. But parsley isn’t just delicious – it’s also packed with nutrients. Given that it contains high levels of iron and vitamins A and C, this biennial plant is the best herb to grow outdoors and is a wonderful complement to any balanced diet. Growing parsley is also easy; all you need to make sure of is to water them enough, especially during summer. A light mulch around the plants can help to conserve moisture and keep your parsley thriving. When it comes time to harvest, wait until the leaf stems have at least three segments before picking.
6. Comfrey
With its large, pointed, dark green leaves and clusters of tiny bell-shaped flowers, comfrey is the best herb to grow in your garden or container planting. But comfrey isn’t just a pretty face – it’s also a hardy and adaptable plant that requires very little maintenance. You can take advantage of comfrey’s vigorous growth rate, planting it at any time when the soil isn’t frozen, and it can thrive in a variety of growing conditions. From full sun to partial shade, this versatile plant needs only a few hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. And while a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is ideal, comfrey can even tolerate slightly alkaline soil. One of the significant benefits of comfrey is that its leaves are excellent for making compost tea to feed your plants.
7. Fennel
Fennel is a plant that truly has it all. With its lush, feathery leaves and tall stems that burst into a beautiful cluster of yellow flowers in summer, it’s hard not to be enchanted by its beauty. And when it comes to flavour, fennel does not disappoint – its leaves, flowers, and seeds have a unique aniseed taste and aroma that can liven up any dish or make a delicious tea. It thrives in free-draining soil and full sun, making it the best herb to grow in any garden. And if you let it self-seed, new fennel plants will keep popping up year after year. The attractive flowers are a magnet for beneficial insects, and the fennel looks excellent when planted alongside ornamental grasses or in flower borders.
8. Coriander
An age-old plant with multiple uses, coriander infuses many different meals with a blast of flavour. Long before modern times, people were aware of the health benefits of coriander, particularly its capacity to improve digestion. If you’re interested in growing coriander yourself, it’s important to know that this herb prefers cooler temperatures and light shade. Well-drained soil is a must, and it’s best grown in a pot that can be moved to a shady spot on the patio or windowsill that doesn’t get too hot. To keep coriander from running to seed, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. With a little TLC, you’ll be able to harvest fresh coriander leaves for your culinary creations all year round!
9. Bay Leaves
Bay leaves are not only slow-growing and beautiful, but they also produce leaves that are commonly used as a seasoning in cooking. These are the best herb to grow in your outdoors as it has a wonderfully aromatic flavour that you’ll love. Unlike other spices that need to be ground, you can use these leaves whole in your recipes, adding a unique touch to your dishes. Bay Leaf plants are not too picky about soil types, but they don’t do well in soil that doesn’t drain well. For optimal growth, plant them in an area with full sun to partial shade. The flowers of Bay Leaf are a sight to behold, starting as small buds and opening into beautiful clusters. When in bloom, the plant has a sweet fragrance, but one knows the leaves for their pungent aroma.
10. Lovage
Lovage is the best herb to grow in your gardens or outdoors if you’re looking for something that’s low in maintenance and offers a lot of benefits. It’s a hardy and robust plant that belongs to the celery and parsley family. You can either grow it from seed or buy young plants, and it’s tolerant of most soil conditions. To get started with lovage, water newly planted plants regularly for the first few months until they’re established and growing strongly. After that, they need little maintenance to grow well. Lovage is a perennial plant, which means it will die down in late autumn and then re-sprout from the base every spring. One of the great things about Lovage is that it offers multiple harvests. You can use the young leaves, stalks and even the roots of this versatile plant.
11. Chervil
Chervil, this aromatic herb, is not only a culinary delight, but it also has medicinal uses. You can easily grow it from seed either indoors or outside and harvest it in as little as nine weeks. To keep your chervil healthy, it’s best to grow it in moist, loose soil and partial shade. This will help to extend the harvest time of your chervil, as it tends to flower earlier in hot, sunny locations. Chervil is short-lived and the best herb to grow outdoors. Its leaves, which taste milder than parsley with a hint of aniseed, can perk up salads and enhance many dishes, including egg, chicken and fish, as well as soups and stews when added at the end of cooking.
12. Rue
Rue is a tough herb that you can easily grow in your outdoor garden. This herb is a perennial, meaning it grows back year after year, and has a strong, unique scent. Rue likes to grow in areas with plenty of sun, but it can also tolerate partial shade. It prefers soil that drains well and doesn’t need a lot of water. The bluish-green leaves of the Rue are the best herb to grow as they can add an interesting touch to your garden. Its small yellow flowers can attract helpful insects like bees and butterflies. Rue has a long history of therapeutic use, including its capacity to ease muscle spasms, lower inflammation, and combat infection. It can add a little more taste to sauces, soups, and stews when used gently in cooking.
13. Sorrel
Hardy herbs like sorrel are the best herb for growing in gardens. It can handle full sun but prefers soil with good drainage and some shade. The soil should be kept moist but not soggy because it does not like to sit in water. Salads, soups, and sauces benefit greatly from the inclusion of sorrel’s brilliant green, somewhat sour leaves. Its lemony flavour can give many recipes an extra tangy kick. The leaves can be frequently harvested throughout the growing season, and they will keep regrowing. Additionally, sorrel produces tiny, delicate blooms that liven up your yard with a splash of colour. In addition to being a tasty culinary herb, it also offers various health advantages and may even have anti-inflammatory effects.
14. Chives
It’s simple to grow chives in a garden! Thin and green leaves with a mild onion smell turn these hardy perennials among the best herbs to grow. As long as the soil is well-drained and chives are growing either in full sun or partial shade, they require a little maintenance. Since they can tolerate a range of pH levels and soil types, they are a perfect option for novices. Chives can be used in a variety of foods, including soups, salads, and baked potatoes, to give your food a unique flavour. Its leaves are simple to cut and can be used as a garnish or as an ingredient in your favourite dishes. Additionally, edible chive blooms can be added to salads for colour and flavour.
15. Lemon Thyme
Lemon thyme is another wonderful herb to consider growing in your garden! Many dishes, particularly those with meat, fish, and vegetables, benefit from the smell and flavour that this hardy perennial adds. Lemon thyme is simple to grow and does best in full sun and soil that drains well. The plant produces small, delicate leaves with a citrus flavour that are ideal for giving your food a zesty edge. Fresh and dried thyme blends well with other herbs like rosemary, oregano, and parsley. If you are in search of a herb to upscale the flavours of your dishes and is even easy to grow, then lemon thyme is a must to take into consideration.
Final Takeaway
So, as you can see, it is a win-win situation to grow hardy herbs in your outdoor garden in order to improve your cooking and gardening. You have come across 15 herbs which are best to grow in outdoors. These hardy herbs are low in maintenance, easy to grow and offer a variety of unique flavours and purposes. As these plants have numerous health benefits, too, they are one of the best herbs to grow outdoors.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics are found in many of these herbs, which can help strengthen your immune system and enhance your general health. So you are not only adding richness to the taste of your meals but also doing something great for your health and body. Moreover, you may avoid the preservatives and chemicals that are present in store-bought herbs by growing your own, ensuring that the components you use in your cooking are fresh.
Don’t hesitate to start your herb garden and explore the many benefits of growing these hardy herbs!
