Fresh herbs take cooking to a whole new level, but they can be expensive. Fortunately, it’s easy to grow your own. Many herbs require nothing more than light a little water now and again. Plus they’ll return year after year.
You don’t need a dedicated herb garden or even a garden at all for herbs. They blend beautifully with flowering plants and grow well in containers. Ohioans, especially those in Northwest Ohio where winters can be brutal, do need to pick the right plants for the state’s unique climate.
These herbs combine big flavor with easy care, no green thumb required.
Thyme
Thyme will grow in nearly any type of soil. The plant makes an excellent ground cover and is drought-resistant. It only requires water every 10 days or so. Rain may do all the work for you unless it’s the middle of a blistering hot Ohio July.
Thyme survives even sub-zero Northern Ohio winters and comes back early in spring. In fact, during milder winters or in Southern Ohio, you might have fresh, green thyme all winter long.
Sage
Another delicious herb that’s also a beautiful addition to your landscaping, Sage eventually grows to the size of a small bush and thrives for many years. The biggest threat to sage is overwatering.
New plants need water once or twice a week. After that, cut back to once a week.
Tarragon
While not as commonly used as thyme and sage, tarragon’s subtle flavor livens up many French recipes. It goes well with chicken, fish, eggs, and vegetables.
The plant thrives in full sun to partial shade, requires no fertilizer, and bugs leave it alone. Tarragon prefers well-drained soil but should be watered every few days. The plant dies down in late fall and puts up fresh green shoots in the spring.
Oregano
Oregano brings flavor to many Greek and Italian dishes. This herb loves the sunshine, in fact the stronger the light, the stronger its flavor. Oregano is drought-resistant and only requires watering during dry spells when planted in a garden.
The hardy plant will come back year after year.
Rosemary
Rosemary had a distinctive flavor that’s hard to compare to any other herb. The woody plant does well in containers and is often used to create topiaries.
In Southern Ohio, Rosemary is a perennial herb. In parts of the state with colder winters, it’s best to bring it inside for the winter. As a bonus, you’ll have fresh rosemary all winter long. Rosemary loves the sun but hates to over-watered. Once every week or two should be sufficient.
Basil
Unlike the other herbs in this article, basil is not a perennial, though indoor basil plants can last for a year or two.
Basil loves warm weather and bright sun. It also loves moist soil. You’ll want to water it daily during hot weather but don’t allow the soil to get soggy. This herb will grow like gangbusters during the summer providing a steady harvest of leaves for sauces, stews, salads, pesto, and more.
Basil thrives in containers as long as you allow plenty of space between plants and keep the soil well-drained.
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