How to Grow Culinary Herbs: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide

Herbs are valued by cooks from many cultures, and there’s no better way to get the fresh herbs you want than to grow your own. Many herbs are quite simple to grow and, even if you don’t have a garden. several lend themselves to container plantings and some can even be grown on a sunny windowsill.  

 Some common herbs such as basil, cilantro and dill are annuals, others like parsley are biennial but are best replaced annually to ensure a constant supply, and yet others, such as bay, rosemary and thyme, are perennials. (Hunt Institute; RHS Herbs:Growing 

 In this guide along with the attached links you will find information about growing many familiar herbs, and some that may not be so familiar! 

 What’s the Difference Between Herbs and Spices?  

Typically, herbs are the fresh or dried leaves of (usually) non-woody plants whereas spices are derived from roots, flowers, fruits seeds or bark. Herbs often come from plants easily grown in temperate climates while spices are more often tropical in origin. Of course, this is not a hard and fast rule – for example the leaves of dill are considered a herb, but the seeds are a spice; and Coriandrum sativum provides us with leaves used as the herb cilantro while the seed is used as the spice coriander. ( Herbs vs. Spices;  https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2003/8-22-2003/herbsnspices.html, Herb and Spice History; https://extension.psu.edu/herb-and-spice-history

Below is a table listing some key characteristics for many common herbs you might want to grow.  For more detailed information about use and cultivation, please see the separate listings for each of these herbs.

 

Name Life Cycle Light Requirements Drought tolerance – High/medium/low
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Annual Full sun Low – keep evenly moist
Bay (Laurus nobilis) Tender perennial (grow as annual or bring indoors for winter) Full sun Medium – must not be allowed to dry out completely
Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) Annual Part shade Low – keep well-watered
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)/Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) Perennial Full sun – tolerates part shade Medium – keep watered during dry spells
Cilantro/Coriander(Coriandrum sativum) Annual Part shade – tolerates sun High – once established, although drought may cause to flower prematurely
Dill (Anethum graveolens) Annual Full sun Low – keep moist but not wet
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Tender perennial (grow as annual) Full sun High – once established
French Sorrel(Rumex scutatus) Perennial Full sun to part shade Medium – water deeply for good leaf production
French Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var ‘Sativa’) Perennial- in Southern Ontario with some protection Full sun Low – keep well-watered
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Perennial Full sun to part shade Low/medium – prefers moist well-drained soil
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Tender perennial (grow as annual or bring indoors for winter) Full sun Low – maintain moist but not soggy soil
Mint (Mentha spp) Perennial Full sun – tolerates part shade Low – must be kept moist during hot weather
Oregano (Origanum vulgare var. hirtum Tender perennial (grow as annual, provide covering, or bring indoors for winter) Full sun to part-shade High – once established
Parsley– curly (Petroselinum crispum) and flat-leaved (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum) Biennial – usually grown as annual Full sun – tolerates part shade Low – must not be allowed to dry out
Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus) Tender perennial (grow as annual or bring indoors for winter) Full sun Medium- don’t allow to dry completely
Sage (Salvia officinalis) Perennial (requires winter protection in much of Ontario) Full sun Medium – Avoid overwatering
Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) Tender perennial (grow as annual or bring indoors for winter) Full sun Low – Provideconsistent moisture
Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis) Tender perennial (grow as annual or bring indoors for winter) Full sun Medium – Keep well-watered to avoid premature flowering
Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana) Annual Full sun High – may develop root rot if overwatered
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Perennial Full sun Medium – once established
Winter Savory (Satureja montana). Evergreen perennial Full sun High – once established

 

There are many books and online resources that you may find useful – here are a few that we suggest:

Herb Society of America Publications: https://www.herbsociety.org/hsa-learn/hsa-publications/

Missouri Botanical Garden plant Finder https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfindersearch.aspx

Royal Horticultural Society – Herbs: Growing https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=679

Richters Herbs https://www.richters.com/

Disclaimer: Toronto Master Gardeners does not advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. Any information in the recommended resources should be regarded as being for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any medical or health treatment.

Date revised: September 2021

Prepared by the Toronto Master Gardeners, these Gardening Guides provide introductory information on a variety of gardening topics.  Toronto Master Gardeners are part of a large, international volunteer community committed to providing the public with horticultural information, education and inspiration.  Our goal is to help Toronto residents use safe, effective, proven and sustainable horticultural practices to create gardens, landscapes and communities that are both vibrant and healthy.

Statement on Invasive Plants: When choosing plants, avoid invasive plants, which can spread quickly and dominate gardens.  Invasive plants are sold by nurseries, big box stores or even at community plant sales.  Invasives may already be present in your garden.  They can invade gardens by spreading from under a neighbour’s fence or may be transported by wildlife.  For beautiful, sustainable options to invasive plants, see the Ontario Invasive Plant Council’s “Grow Me Instead – Beautiful Non-Invasive Plants for your Garden” at https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/resources/grow-me-instead/ before purchasing or accepting “gifts” of plants.

Statement on Home Remedies: The Toronto Master Gardeners do not recommend home remedies, as these have not been proven effective through scientific investigation, and may even damage other living organisms in the soil or plants in your garden.  There are other garden friendly options you can use.

If you have further gardening questions, reach us at our gardening advice line 416 397 1345 or by posting your question here in the Ask a Master Gardener section.  To book Toronto Master Gardener volunteers for talks, demonstrations, advice clinics, or other services, please contact us at 416 397 1345  or bookamg@torontomastergardeners.ca