How to grow herbs

Video by the Royal Horticultural Society. This guide is based on the "How to grow herbs" video from the RHS Grow at Home series, which is a reliable, no-nonsense UK resource for kitchen garden beginners. It covers the essentials clearly without being overwhelming, which is exactly what you want when you are just starting out.

1. Decide which herbs suit your space

Not all herbs have the same needs. Mediterranean herbs — rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano — want full sun, excellent drainage, and very little water. They are miserable in a damp, shaded corner. Mint, on the other hand, tolerates partial shade and is happiest in moist soil.

Basil is the tricky one. It wants warmth more than anything, which makes it difficult outdoors in the UK except in a warm, sheltered spot in summer. Start it on a south-facing windowsill and bring it back inside before September. Most other herbs are considerably tougher.

2. Choose between containers and a herb bed

Containers are the most practical option for many people, particularly for mint — which spreads aggressively if planted directly in the ground and will muscle out everything else around it. Keep mint in its own pot to contain the roots.

A dedicated herb bed in a sunny spot works well for permanent herbs like rosemary, sage, thyme, and chives. Use a raised bed or improve the drainage in a clay garden by mixing in plenty of horticultural grit. Mediterranean herbs in particular will simply rot if the roots sit in wet soil through a British winter.

3. Plant in late spring for outdoor growing

For herbs grown outdoors, late May to early June is the safest time to plant out after all risk of frost has passed. Buy young plants from a garden centre rather than starting everything from seed — herbs like rosemary and thyme are very slow from seed and buying plants gets you started much faster.

Annual herbs like basil, coriander, and dill can be sown directly into pots from seed from May onwards. Sow a pinch every few weeks for a continuous supply rather than sowing everything at once and having a glut that bolts before you can use it.

4. Water Mediterranean herbs sparingly

The most common reason herbs die is overwatering, especially in containers. Rosemary, thyme, and sage prefer to dry out slightly between waterings. Push a finger into the compost — water only if it feels dry an inch or two down.

In containers, make absolutely sure there are drainage holes and that water can escape freely. A pot sitting in a saucer full of water is a slow death sentence for most Mediterranean herbs. That said, during a hot UK summer even rosemary appreciates a drink when the compost has dried out completely.

5. Harvest little and often to keep plants bushy

Regular picking is what keeps herb plants productive. Take small amounts from multiple stems rather than stripping one stem bare. Cutting back to just above a pair of leaves encourages the plant to branch and produce more growth.

Never take more than a third of the plant at once. That applies especially to rosemary, which is slow to recover from a heavy cut into old woody stems. Keep harvesting the soft young growth and the plant will reward you for years.

6. Cut off flowers before they form

When a herb plant bolts — that is, starts to produce flowers and set seed — the leaves often become bitter and the plant puts less energy into leaf production. Pinch out flower buds as soon as you see them forming.

That said, if you want to let one or two plants run to seed for self-sowing — dill and coriander do this well — it is worth leaving one plant to flower while keeping the others pinched back. You end up with free plants for next year.

7. Protect or bring in tender herbs before winter

Basil, lemon verbena, and other tender herbs will not survive a UK winter outdoors. Bring them inside to a warm windowsill in September. Most Mediterranean herbs are tougher — rosemary, sage, thyme, and chives will all survive an average British winter in the ground or in a sheltered spot.

If you have container herbs, move the pots against a south-facing wall or into an unheated greenhouse for extra protection. Wrap the pots in horticultural fleece if hard frost is forecast. It all takes about ten minutes and keeps you from losing plants you have spent months growing.

When to call a handyman

Herb growing is very much a DIY activity. If you want raised herb beds built, planting areas cleared and improved, or a kitchen garden put together properly from scratch, that is something Richard can help with as part of a broader garden project.