There’s nothing quite like cooking with fresh herbs to elevate a meal, and the good news is—you don’t need to be a gardening expert to grow your own. Imagine walking over to your window sill, garden, or balcony to pluck fresh basil for your pasta or mint for your tea. Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow at home, even if you have limited space. Plus, they add instant flavor to your dishes, help save money, and are incredibly satisfying to grow.

In this article, we’re focusing on six popular herbs that you likely already use in your cooking—mint, basil, oregano, parsley, cilantro, and rosemary. Whether you’re tossing them in a salad, sprinkling them on pizza, or stirring them into sauces, these herbs are versatile and thrive with minimal care. We’ll guide you through growing them from either seed or cuttings and provide easy tips to keep them healthy.

1. Mint (Mentha)

Culinary Uses:
Mint is a refreshing herb used in teas, cocktails (hello, mojitos!), desserts, and savory dishes like lamb and yogurt sauces. It’s also perfect for adding a cooling flavor to summer salads or watermelon.

How to Grow from Seed/Store-Bought:
Mint can be started from seed, but it’s often easier to grow from cuttings. If you’ve bought a bunch from the supermarket, just place a few stems in water. Once the roots develop (after about 2 weeks), you can plant them in a pot or your garden.

Growing Instructions:

• Light: Mint thrives in partial shade, but it can also handle full sun.
• Water: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Mint loves water but doesn’t like its roots to sit in soggy soil.
• Care Tips: Mint spreads aggressively, so it’s best grown in a pot to prevent it from taking over your garden. Prune regularly to encourage bushy growth and prevent it from becoming leggy.

Pro Tip: If you want a continuous harvest, snip off the top leaves frequently. This will prevent the plant from flowering, which can make the leaves bitter.

2. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Culinary Uses:
Basil is a kitchen staple, perfect for pasta sauces, pesto, pizza, and Caprese salads. It pairs well with tomatoes and garlic, making it a go-to herb for Italian dishes.

How to Grow from Seed/Store-Bought:
You can easily start basil from seeds or cuttings. If using a store-bought bunch, place cuttings in water, and once the roots develop, plant them in a pot or garden. Basil prefers warmth, so plant it in the spring after the last frost.

Growing Instructions:

• Light: Basil loves sunlight—at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily.
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist, but ensure it’s well-drained. Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases.
• Care Tips: Prune basil regularly by pinching off the top leaves to encourage fuller growth. Pinch off any flowers to keep the leaves tasting sweet.

Pro Tip: Harvest leaves from the top to encourage new growth. For the best flavor, pick the leaves just before you’re ready to use them.

3. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Culinary Uses:
Oregano is a versatile herb used in Mediterranean dishes, especially in tomato-based sauces, pizza, roasted vegetables, and meats like steak and lamb. It’s an essential herb for Italian and Greek cuisine.

How to Grow from Seed/Store-Bought:
Oregano grows easily from seeds or cuttings. If starting from cuttings, simply place them in water or directly into moist soil. Oregano is quite hardy and thrives in both pots and garden beds.

Growing Instructions:

• Light: Oregano loves full sun—aim for 6 hours of direct sunlight.
• Water: Water moderately; oregano can tolerate dry conditions and prefers soil that dries out between watering.
• Care Tips: Once the plant is established, prune it regularly to keep it from becoming leggy. Oregano is a perennial, so it will come back year after year if you care for it properly.

Pro Tip: Harvest oregano just before it flowers for the best flavor. You can dry the leaves to preserve their flavor, too!

4. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Culinary Uses:
Parsley is a versatile garnish and is often used in salads, sauces, soups, and as a finishing touch for grilled meats and roasted vegetables. It’s also a key ingredient in tabbouleh and chimichurri sauce.

How to Grow from Seed/Store-Bought:
Parsley is easy to start from seed, but it’s a slow germinator—soak seeds overnight before planting to speed up the process. If using a store-bought bunch, you can regrow parsley by placing the stems in water. Plant the rooted cuttings into soil after a couple of weeks.

Growing Instructions:

• Light: Parsley enjoys partial sun, though it can grow in full sun with enough moisture.
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
• Care Tips: Parsley is a biennial, meaning it will grow for two years. Trim regularly to prevent it from flowering, which makes the leaves bitter.

Pro Tip: Harvest parsley from the outside in, taking older leaves first to encourage new growth in the center.

5. Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)

Culinary Uses:
Cilantro adds a fresh, citrusy punch to dishes like salsa, tacos, curries, and guacamole. Its seeds, known as coriander, are also used in spice blends.

How to Grow from Seed/Store-Bought:
Cilantro is best grown from seeds, which sprout quickly. You can also regrow cilantro from a store-bought bunch by placing the stems in water until they root and then transferring them to soil.

Growing Instructions:

• Light: Cilantro prefers cooler temperatures and grows best in partial sun.
• Water: Keep the soil evenly moist. Cilantro doesn’t like to dry out completely.
• Care Tips: Cilantro bolts (goes to seed) quickly in hot weather, so it’s best to plant it in spring or fall. To extend the harvest, grow it in a shady spot during summer months and trim it regularly.

Pro Tip: Once cilantro flowers, you can harvest the seeds (coriander) and use them in cooking.

6. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Culinary Uses:
Rosemary is a woody herb with a bold, aromatic flavor that pairs perfectly with roasted meats, especially lamb and chicken. It’s also a delicious addition to potatoes, breads, and infused oils.

How to Grow from Seed/Store-Bought:
Rosemary is slow to grow from seed, so it’s often easier to start with a cutting. If you buy a bunch from the supermarket, place some sprigs in water until roots form, then transfer them to soil.

Growing Instructions:

• Light: Rosemary loves full sun and needs at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.
• Water: Allow the soil to dry out between waterings—rosemary prefers dry conditions.
• Care Tips: Prune regularly to keep it from becoming too woody, and repot it every couple of years to refresh the soil. Rosemary is a perennial and can be grown indoors or outdoors, but make sure to bring it inside during colder months if grown in a pot.

Pro Tip: Rosemary can be dried or frozen for long-term storage. Just cut off sprigs and hang them upside down in a dry, dark place.

Start Your Own Herb Garden!

Growing your own herbs at home doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With just a little sunlight, water, and care, you can have fresh mint for cocktails, basil for pasta, or rosemary for roasted meats—all without running to the store. These six easy-to-grow herbs—mint, basil, oregano, parsley, cilantro, and rosemary—are perfect for any aspiring gardener, no matter your skill level or space constraints. By following these simple growing and care instructions, you’ll have your own herb garden in no time!

Start small, experiment with different herbs, and enjoy the satisfaction of growing ingredients that bring extra flavor to your kitchen!

Are you a newbie plant mom or interested in home gardening? Check out my post on house plants that re impossible to kill (and are not succulents) here.