The 5 Herbs I Grow Every Year (And Why)

If someone had told me a few years ago that I would be hanging bundles of herbs from the ceiling of my greenhouse, I probably would have laughed.

When I first started gardening, my focus was simple: grow a few vegetables and maybe save some money at the grocery store. Herbs were an afterthought.

But over time, they became some of the most-used plants in our garden.

There is something especial about seeing herbs hanging overhead, a reminder that summer harvest can be enjoyed all year along.

Now, every summer, you’ll find bunches of basil, dill, oregano, tulsi, chamomile, and other herbs drying in the greenhouse. Some end up in homemade meals, some become tea, and others are tucked away in jars to enjoy long after the garden season ends.

What I love most about herbs is that they don’t require much space, yet they add so much to everyday life. A handful of basil becomes fresh pesto for summer meals. Dill finds its way into homemade pickles during cucumber season. Oregano gets tucked into tomato sauce, soups, and family recipes throughout the year. And at the end of a busy day, chamomile and tulsi become a warm cup of tea.

As an added bonus, many herbs help naturally repel garden pests while attracting beneficial pollinators, making them just as useful in the garden as they are in the kitchen.

It’s amazing how a small corner of the garden can provide so much enjoyment, not only in the kitchen, but also through the simple routines that make a house feel like home.

Over the years, a few herbs have earned a permanent spot in my garden. These are the five I grow every year—and why I keep planting them.

Basil

If there is one herb I always make room for, it’s basil.

Nothing beats walking out to the garden and picking a handful of fresh basil for pesto, homemade pizza, pasta dishes, or tomato sandwiches. Every year I plant more than I think I’ll need, and somehow we always find a way to use it all.

For me, basil is the flavor of summer.

One of my favorite ways to preserve the flavor of summer is by adding homegrown herbs to homemade tomato sauce.

Dill

Dill simply belongs in my garden.

As soon as cucumber season arrives, I’m reaching for fresh dill to make homemade pickles. It also finds its way into salads, dressings, and summer meals.

The feathery foliage is beautiful in the garden, and the flowers attract plenty of beneficial insects.

Freshly Harvest oregano from the garden.

Oregano

Oregano is one of those herbs that quietly earns its place year after year.

It’s a perennial, which means it comes back season after season. I haven’t always had the best luck keeping it going year after year, but the amount of oregano it produces over the summer makes it completely worth growing.

We use it in homemade tomato sauce, soups, roasted vegetables, and countless family meals. I love harvesting large bundles and drying them so we can enjoy homegrown oregano long after the garden season has ended.

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Tulsi (also known as holy basil) was one of those herbs I planted out of curiosity and quickly fell in love with.

I enjoy drying the leaves for tea and keeping a jar on hand for quiet mornings and evenings. As an adaptogen, it’s often valued for helping the body adapt to stress, and it has become my favorite bedtime tea.

It’s beautiful in the garden, attracts pollinators, and has become one of my favorite herbs to grow.

Chamomile

Chamomile might be the herb that feels the most magical.

The tiny daisy-like flowers are beautiful in the garden and loved by pollinators. Harvesting chamomile is one of the slower tasks in the garden, but that’s part of what I enjoy about it.

Once dried, the flowers become a simple, calming cup of tea that reminds me of summer long after the growing season has passed. I also love infusing chamomile into oils that I later use in homemade tallow lotion, balms, and lip balms.

Each of these herbs has earned its place in my garden. Season after season, they find their way into our meals, tea cups, and daily routines. What started as a small herb patch has become one of my favorite parts of gardening.

Some herbs nourish the kitchen. Others support the garden. And a few simply encourage us to slow down and enjoy the season we’re in.

For such small plants, they’ve made a surprisingly big impact on our homestead.

I’d love to hear from you—what are your favorite herbs to grow each year? Share your favorites or tell us what’s growing in your garden in the comments below and join the conversation.

Thanks for spending a little time in the garden with me today. If you would like to follow along as we grow, gather and create here in New England, come join us on Instagram

@islandcustomcoops.

Until next time,

Rooted in Homestead Living