Fresh herbs absolutely transform any dish. Even a humdrum frozen meal can be made into something worthwhile with a scattering of fresh herbs on top. And there is something about picking your morning brew for tea fresh from the windowsill that sets a good tempo for the day. They will also add vibrancy to very plain, repetitive foods, and are thus useful to dry and store to have on hand, especially in the colder months when there is less diversity in your garden. Here are the best herbs to grow in your garden this Spring, depending on your needs!
The Best Herbs to Grow In Your Garden This Spring
Herb Bouquet Combinations for Cooking
- Classic bouquet for stocks and soups: parsley stems (not leaves), black peppercorns, thyme, bay leaf
- For cooking beef and other red meat: bay leaf, thyme, marjoram, savory, and 1 sprig of rosemary
- For cooking fish and other delicate seafood: bay leaf, thyme, fennel, celery leaves
- For cooking the best roasted chicken and other birds: bay leaf, thyme, tarragon, lemon peel
- For cooking pork: bay leaf, thyme, sage, fennel, marjoram, rosemary
- For tomato sauces: bay leaf, thyme, basil, oregano
The Best Herbs to Grow and Dry for Tea
- Angelica
- Basil
- Bergamot
- Borage
- Calendula
- Catnip
- Chamomile
- Fennel
- Hyssop
- Lavender
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Gem and Orange Gem marigolds
- Lemon Verbena
- Monarda
- Peppermint
- Pineapple Sage
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Scented Geraniums
- Spearmint
- Stevia
- Thyme
- Violets
- Woodruff
The Best Herbs to Grow for Desserts
- Anise
- Basil
- Chamomile
- Mint
- Lavender
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Verbena
- Rosemary
- Scented Geraniums
- Stevia
- Thyme
The Best Herbs to Grow for Savory Cooking
- Basil
- Bay Leaf
- Caraway
- Chervil
- Chives
- Coriander
- Dill
- Fennel
- Garlic
- Lemon Balm
- Lovage
- Marjoram
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Rosemary
The Best Herbs to Grow for Medicine
- Chamomile (for tense muscles)
- Echinacea (for colds and flu)
- Feverfew (for headaches)
- Horehound (for coughs)
- Hyssop (for sore throats)
- Lemon balm (for stomachaches)
- Peppermint (aids indigestion)
- Rosemary (for sore throats)
- Sage (for sore throats)
- Thyme (for detoxifying and immunity boosting)
- Yarrow (for inflammation)
