Growing Herbs

1. Feed Actively Growing Herbs with Espoma Garden-Tone
Apply once your herbs are established to support strong, healthy growth. Be sure to follow label instructions for best results.

2. Use the Right Soil
Baccto Lite Premium Potting Soil is perfect for container herbs—it provides excellent drainage and root support. Always use pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

3. Supplement with PW Premium Continuous Release Plant Food
Once herbs mature, use this gentle, slow-release fertilizer for ongoing nutrition. Follow label instructions carefully.

Helpful Tips for Planting Herbs

1. Know Your Sunlight Zones
   Most herbs thrive in full sun (6+ hours), but a few—like parsley, mint, and chervil—tolerate part shade. Match the plant to the right spot for strong growth and great flavor.
2. Think Small Pots, Big Flavor
   Herbs don’t need giant containers. A 6–8" pot is perfect for most single herbs—just make sure it has good drainage.
3. Snip Early & Often
   Regular harvesting (even small amounts!) encourages herbs to grow bushier. Avoid letting herbs like basil or cilantro flower too soon by pinching off flower buds.
4. Keep Them Close
   Plant herbs in containers near your kitchen or back door for quick snipping. You'll use them more often when they’re within reach!
5. Harvest in the Morning
   For the best flavor and oil content, snip herbs in the early morning after dew dries but before the sun is too strong.
6. Let Some Bloom—If You Want
   Herbs like dill, fennel, and chives can attract pollinators when allowed to flower, but this may reduce leaf production.

🍽️ Culinary Herbs

Essential for enhancing your favorite dishes:

• Arugula – Peppery green often used fresh in salads or as a garnish
• Basil – Classic for pesto, tomato dishes, and Italian cuisine
• Bay (Bay Laurel) – Used whole in soups and sauces (remove before serving)
• Borage – Cucumber-like flavor; great in salads and drinks
• Burnet (Salad Burnet) – Nutty, cucumber flavor; tasty in herb butters
• Chervil – Delicate, anise-like; good with eggs and cream dishes
• Chives – Mild onion flavor; perfect in dips, soups, and baked potatoes
• Cilantro / Coriander – Leaves (cilantro) for fresh use, seeds (coriander) as spice
• Curry Plant – Smells like curry; mostly used for fragrance or garnish
• Dill – Essential for pickling, fish, and potato salad
• Fennel – Licorice-scented seeds and leaves for meats and salads
• Horseradish – Strong, pungent root grated for sauces and condiments
• Lemon Verbena – Bright citrusy flavor; excellent in teas and marinades
• Lovage – Bold, celery-like flavor for soups and stocks
• Marjoram – Milder than oregano; great for stews and Mediterranean dishes
• Mint – Fresh in drinks, sauces, and desserts
• Oregano – Robust flavor; a must for Italian and Greek cuisine
• Parsley – Bright and fresh; used in almost everything
• Rosemary – Woody and pine-like; great for roasts and bread
• Sage –  Earthy and savory; pairs beautifully with poultry and pork
• Savory – Peppery herb for beans and meats
• Sorrel – Tart, lemony greens for soups and salads
• Stevia – Naturally sweet; used sparingly as a sugar substitute
• Tarragon – Mild licorice flavor; classic in French cooking
• Thyme – Earthy and reliable in soups, meats, and marinades
• Watercress – Peppery green for sandwiches and salads

🍵 Herbal Tea Herbs

Perfect for steeping into soothing, aromatic blends:

• Anise Hyssop – Light licorice-mint; calming and digestive support
• Bergamot (Bee Balm) – Citrus-floral, similar to Earl Grey
• Chamomile – Apple-like; popular for relaxation and sleep
• Fennel – Sweet and anise-like; supports digestion
• Holy Basil (Tulsi) – Spicy and clove-like; used for stress and immunity
• Lavender – Calming and floral; often paired with lemon or mint
• Lemon Balm – Lemon-mint; uplifting and relaxing
• Lemon Verbena – Strong lemon aroma; refreshing and cleansing
• Lemongrass – Bright citrus flavor; good for digestion and detox
• Mint – Peppermint, spearmint, and more for cooling relief
• Nettle – Grassy and nutrient-rich; used in detox blends
• Orange Mint – Fruity mint with a citrus twist
• Peppermint – Classic digestive tea; soothing and cooling
• Sage – Slightly peppery; used for sore throats and colds
• Thyme – Strong and savory; supports the respiratory system
• Yarrow – Slightly bitter; used for immune support

🌸 Fragrant Herbs

Let your garden smell as good as it looks:

Fragrant herbs do more than smell amazing—they invite pollinators, enhance your cooking, and make every stroll through the garden a sensory delight.

• Catmint – Fresh, minty scent; attracts pollinators
• Chamomile – Apple-like fragrance; soothing and calming
• Eucalyptus – Clean, camphor-like scent
• Lavender – Classic sweet-floral aroma; used in sachets and oils
• Lemon Balm – Bright lemon scent with a hint of mint
• Lemon Verbena – Strong citrus scent, more intense than lemon balm
• Mint – Refreshing menthol aroma
• Patchouli – Musky, earthy scent; used in perfumes
• Pineapple Sage – Sweet, fruity scent; strong when crushed
• Rosemary – Piney and fresh—even when dried
• Sage – Earthy and savory fragrance
• Thyme – Earthy and slightly sharp fragrance

🦟 Insect-Repelling Herbs

Grow these fragrant powerhouses to help keep bugs at bay—naturally!

• Basil – Repels mosquitoes, flies, and aphids
• Catnip – Known to repel mosquitoes
• Lavender – Effective against moths, fleas, and flies
• Lemon Balm – Natural mosquito deterrent
• Lemongrass – Contains citronella; repels mosquitoes
• Mint – Repels ants, mosquitoes, and flies
• Pennyroyal ⚠️ – Toxic if ingested; ornamental use only. Keeps ants, mosquitoes, and fleas away
• Rosemary – Burning sprigs helps repel mosquitoes and flies
• Rue ⚠️ – Not edible; can irritate skin; ornamental only. Effective against flies, fleas, Japanese beetles, and mosquitos
• Sage – Burn leaves to keep mosquitoes away
• Tansy ⚠️ – Toxic if ingested; ornamental use only. Repels ants, flies, and moths
• Thyme – Lemon thyme in particular deters mosquitoes

Tip: Herbs are most effective when their leaves are bruised or crushed, releasing the essential oils that bugs dislike. 

🩺 Medicinal Herbs

Traditional remedies to grow in your garden:

• Aloe Vera – Soothes burns, scrapes, and skin irritation
• Calendula – Reduces inflammation; promotes wound healing
• Chamomile – Aids sleep and digestion; calming
• Comfrey ⚠️ – For external use only; not safe internally. Used topically for sprains and bruises.
• Echinacea – Supports immune health
• Feverfew – Used for migraines and inflammation
• Garlic – Natural antimicrobial; supports cardiovascular health
• Lavender – Calms anxiety; supports restful sleep
• Lemon Balm– Relieves stress and promotes sleep
• Peppermint – Soothes nausea, bloating, and headaches
• Rosemary – Improves focus and circulation
• Sage – Used for digestion and menopausal support
• Thyme – Supports respiratory health
• Yarrow – Traditionally used for wound care

Disclaimer:
The information provided here is for general educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before using herbs for medicinal purposes, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking any medications.

📌 Note

Herb availability varies by location and is only available while supplies last. For the most up-to-date selection, stop by or give us a call—we’re always happy to help you find the perfect herbs for your garden, kitchen, or tea cup!