4 Easy-to-Grow Culinary Herbs Ideal for Small Spaces

Fresh herbs are a great way to bring the flavors of your dishes to life. Unfortunately, they can be expensive to buy at the grocery store and they aren’t always in season. Although you can use their dried counterparts in your favorite recipes, they just don’t deliver the same flavor profile.  Fortunately, you can enjoy fresh herb flavor all year long and you don’t need a ton of space to do it.

If full-scale gardening isn’t your thing or if space is at a premium in your garden, you’ll want to get the most bang for your buck from your plant choices. Not only do you want to select herbs that are easy to grow, you’ll also want to select versatile options that pair well with a diverse selection of recipes. The following list of easy-to-grow culinary herbs can help you get started.

Here are 4 Easy-to-Grow and Versatile Herbs

Basil (Photo credit: Skrewtape)

1. Basil. Basil tops the list because it is so versatile and is super easy to grow from seed. All you need is a small pot and sunny windowsill and you can have fresh basil at your fingertips all year long.

After all, what could be better than juicy tomatoes paired with fresh mozzarella and fresh-picked basil?  Top with a balsamic reduction, some good extra virgin olive oil, and a little salt and fresh-cracked pepper and you’ve got a delicious and easy lunch entrée or dinner salad.

Basil is also an important ingredient in fresh pesto recipes and it pairs beautifully with tomato-based pasta sauces. For a unique twist, add julienned basil and Brie cheese to sourdough bread for a fabulous grilled cheese sandwich.  If you want to get even more creative, plant a pot of purple basil to make a beautiful and delicious purple basil jelly.

Fresh Cilantro (Coriander). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2. Cilantro (Coriander).  This herb does double duty. The fresh leaves (cilantro) of young plants are a staple in Mexican cooking. Fresh cilantro is a key ingredient in homemade salsas and also adds a unique flavor dimension to salad greens. It can also be used in a wide variety of marinades for beef, chicken, pork and vegetables. It is especially well suited for marinating meats for fajita recipes.

Cilantro is also very easy to grow from seed. You can extend the life of your plant by keeping it plucked down and keeping it in cooler areas. In spite of your best efforts, however, it will eventually “bolt” to form lacy flowers that will set seeds that can be harvested. Those seeds can be lightly toasted and ground down to create coriander, which is much more mellow in flavor than its fresh counterpart and is a nice complement to many recipes.

Rosemary (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Rosemary. Rosemary can also be started from seeds, but you may find it easier to pick up small plants from your local garden center each spring. They can then be brought indoors during cooler weather, but you will need to keep them moist and provide access to a sunny window, preferably with a southern exposure, * to keep them happy. If cared for properly, they will live for many years.

Not only is rosemary delicious in marinades for roasted chicken, pork, or beef, it also imparts a wonderful earthy aroma to roasted new potatoes and homemade focaccia bread.

Rosemary is also a very pretty plant with decorative appeal. It adds structure to the herb garden with its elegant upright growth habit. Plus, it can easily be shaped to look like a Christmas tree. As a result, rosemary makes a lovely hostess gift around the holidays.

Thyme (Photo credit: Erutuon)

4. Thyme. This is another classic culinary herb that is so easy to grow. Fresh thyme is a staple in many types of cuisine and adds a distinctive flavor to meat-based dishes and is wonderful in stews and soups, as well. For a special treat, grow lemon thyme to add an unexpected hint of citrus flavor to your dishes.

Another thing to love about thyme is its beauty. It has a beautiful growth habit that makes it ideal in pots next to taller herbs like rosemary. Use it outdoors to edge walkways and paths to add a fragrant element to your landscape.

Of course, these four easy-to-grow culinary herbs barely scratch the surface of what you can grow in a limited space. The herbs listed here are easy to grow and can be found in a diverse range of recipes, so not only will you enjoy growing them, you’ll love using them, too.

*Southern exposure in the Northern hemisphere.

How to Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies

Herbs are a fun addition to the garden, and not only are they tasty in all kinds of dishes, but many also have medicinal properties that can be very helpful for all kinds of ailments. When you hear about someone who grows herbs for medicine, perhaps you picture a big garden or farm, and someone who has nothing to do all day but work in the garden. While that is a picturesque and perhaps enviable scene, Image via Wikipedia (Basil)most of us do not have that kind of time and space. The good news is, you don't have to let the lack of time and space discourage you. There are many valuable medicinal herbs that are easy to grow in small spaces and/or containers. Here are some ideas.

1. Rosemary grows very well in a pot, and overwinters indoors. This herb not only tastes good, but it is a powerful antioxidant due to the rosmarinic acid it contains. It also has compounds to help keep your mind sharp.

2. Lemon balm is very easy to grow - in fact, growing it in a container is advisable since it tends to take over a yard or garden. It is a very powerful antiviral herb that can be used to stave off colds and flu.

3. Fennel is an easy-to-grow perennial herb that can be planted in your yard. Its feathery foliage and licorice-like scent make it pleasant anywhere. Consider planting it by your front porch or back door. Fennel helps increase milk flow in nursing mothers, and it also helps treat gas and other digestive upsets.

4. Lavender can be grown in containers or in the yard. It likes its environment to be sunny and well-drained, even dry. Lavender flowers help promote relaxation and sleep.

Image via Wikipedia (Bee Balm)5. Bee balm (Monarda) is a perennial that thrives in sun or shade, but prefers partial shade. The aerial parts of this plant make a tasty, memory-enhancing tea. It tastes something like the citrus oil of bergamot used in Earl Grey tea, which is why bee balm is sometimes called bergamot.

6. Mints are the ultimate easy growers. They do fine in containers or open ground. All mints make good digestive aids, and mountain mint is an effective insect repellent.

7. Basil grows well in pots or open ground, but it is not cold-hardy. You will either have to plant new basils every year or bring your potted plants indoors before frost. Basil is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

8. Oregano will sprawl into a lovely ground cover or thrives happily in a pot. Its pink blooms attract beneficial bees. Oregano has antibacterial properties and is rich in antioxidants.

Herb Gardening Resources: