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
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