Herb Gardening Made Simple: 8 Must-Haves for Your Summer Garden

I don't remember exactly when I fell in love with herb gardening, but I do know that herbs have been one of my favorite types of plants for a very long time. Perhaps it’s because growing herbs was one of my first gardening successes.

When I had a yard that received mostly full sun, I had the luxury of having my very own herb garden. I experimented with various herb varieties, tested them in recipes, and preserved them for use when summer was over. I even found some beautiful pewter garden markers for my favorites.

After moving to a shaded yard in the woods, I didn’t have the time or space for a big herb garden, so I switched to growing herbs in pots and planters on my deck. This setup gave me fresh herbs throughout the summer, and having them so close to my kitchen made cooking even more enjoyable.

Herbs make fantastic container plants. They love full sun and well-drained soil, so you can be creative with their placement. Not only can you grow them in their own containers, but you can also mix them into your floral arrangements. For instance, I’ve used chives as a substitute for spikes in the center or back of large containers, and trailing herbs like thyme look great in the front.

Here are some reasons to grow herbs:

• Many herbs are incredibly easy to grow, even for beginners.
• Whether you have a lot of space or just a few containers on your deck, herbs can thrive in any setting.
• Herbs are versatile: they have culinary, medicinal, and fragrant uses. I love adding fresh herbs from my garden to my cooking.

Whether I’m growing herbs in a big garden or in containers on my deck, there are a few that I always plant. And the best part? They’re all easy to grow!

Here are my top 8 must-have herbs to try in your garden:

#1 Basil

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: 9-11 (often grown as an annual in cooler zones)
• What’s Great About It:
  There are many varieties of basil, like Thai basil and purple basil, but my favorite is the classic one. Nothing beats a caprese salad with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil—perfect for a summer dinner starter.

#2 Rosemary

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant once established
• Hardiness Zones: 6-10
• What’s Great About It:
  The pungent aroma of rosemary makes it a great addition to soups and stews. My favorite use is to toss it with butter and new potatoes before roasting them in the oven. It’s a must-try side dish!

 #3 Parsley

• Growing Conditions: Partial sun to full sun, moist, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: 4-9
• What’s Great About It:
  I prefer the flat-leaved variety over curly parsley because of its much more vibrant flavor. It makes an excellent garnish for almost any dish, adding both color and flavor.

#4 Sage

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant once established
• Hardiness Zones: 4-8
• What’s Great About It:
  Sage is my go-to herb for adding chopped leaves to cornbread mix. It livens up my favorite muffins with its strong flavor, making it a delightful addition to any dinner table.

#5 Thyme

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant once established
• Hardiness Zones: 4-9
• What’s Great About It:
  Thyme’s tiny leaves pack a punch of flavor, perfect for soups and stews. I also bundle the stems together and use them as a brush to spread sauce on meats during grilling.

#6 Chives

• Growing Conditions: Full sun to partial shade, moist, well-drained soil
• Hardiness Zones: 3-9
• What’s Great About It:
  Chopped chives are a wonderful topping for baked potatoes, and their edible blossoms add a pretty and flavorful touch to summer salads.

#7 Dill

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, regular watering
• Hardiness Zones: 3-9
• What’s Great About It:
  Dill is great for making a tangy sauce for chicken or salmon, or for chopping and adding to potato salad. Just be sure to remove the flowers when they appear, or the plant will “bolt” (go to seed) and stop producing leaves.

#8 Oregano

• Growing Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant once established
• Hardiness Zones: 4-9
• What’s Great About It:
  Oregano is perfect for adding flavor to tomato sauce and makes a lovely garnish for freshly made pizza. It’s a must-have for any Italian-inspired dish!

With these 8 easy-to-grow herbs, you’ll enjoy a flavorful summer garden that you can use for cooking and more! What are your favorites? Comment below - we'd love to hear from you!