Herb gardens are the thing! They are all the rage and rightly so, owing to the numerous benefits they bring with them. They are lush with a variety of foliage and oh the fragrance…they will make your home smell divine. The food scene in India is growing by leap and bounds and global cuisine has invaded the Indian kitchen and if you are experimenting with cuisines from other countries you will agree with me that fresh herbs elevate the flavour profile to another level.

Herbs don’t take up much space and if you Pinterest the idea, you will get several hacks for space saving herb gardens on window wills, kitchen shelves in mason jars, and what not. We are here to tell you the A to Z of starting your own successful herb garden, coz heaven knows it’s not similar to ornamental gardening!

Let’s start with the planning:

Identify an area in your home that gets direct sun for at least 3-4 hours and bright indirect light for the rest of the day. It can be anywhere, in you balcony, windowsill, kitchen shelves or a wall where you can install shelves.
Make a list of herbs you need. There is a plethora of herbs that are grown across the globe, select the ones you use more. For Indian kitchens coriander and mint are a no brainer, apart from these select the ones you want such as basil, rosemary, thyme, parsley, marjoram, sage and so on.
Group herbs with similar needs, for instance sage, thyme, and oregano prefer rocky soils that are relatively dry, while mint, cilantro, and parsley need a rich but well-draining soil.
Select pots with good drainage. One of the most common killers of herbs is overwatering, so it becomes essential to ensure that they are never in standing water and the soil is rich but well-draining.
Always use good quality seeds. Spend a few extra bucks and get quality seeds for a thriving herb garden. Good seeds also contribute to better taste.
Stock up on equipment like pots or planters, they can be anything from basic plastic pots to mason jars or old container, the only requirement is proposer drainage at the bottom. Sharp scissors for regular harvesting of herbs, herbs are all about the foliage and the more you prune/harvest the bushier they get. Get yourself a watering can for watering directly into roots, herbs like cilantro or parsley don’t like water on their leaves. Stock up on basic fertilisers and organic pesticides for denser foliage and better growth.
With the planning out of the way let’s move on to the actual herbs and their requirements.