Growing in the garden: Herbs

Growing in the garden is a beautiful way to spend more time outside, whilst also reaping the benefits of your beautiful crops. In this first part of the series, we will focus on the variations of herbs you can grow in your garden.

What can I grow?

There are a huge array of herbs which you can grow in your British garden.

Some of the most popular herbs to grow include:

- Rosemary

- Thyme

- Parsley

- Mint

- Coriander

- Sage

- Lavender

- Oregano

When deciding which herbs to grow there are a number of factors to consider. First of all, it's important to contemplate the amount of sunlight and water a herb plant will need, as well as the general climate that the herb plant is most suited to.

Then on a more personal level, you may want to consider which herbs you will actually use, whether that be in food, drink, home scents or otherwise. That being said, many people also choose to grow herbs for their visual or fragrant qualities within the garden. Fragrant garden herb plants include Fennel, Lavender, Mint and Thyme. Picture yourself sat out on a sunny afternoon, surrounded by fragrant and aromatic herbs – doesn't that sound lovely?

Type of Herbs – Annual Versus Perennial

As with all living things, herbs have different life and growing cycles, depending on the variety. The easiest herbs to grow are perennial herbs, which are known for returning the following season. This means that you are not starting from scratch each year, but adding and nurturing your collection. Perennial herbs are also great for beginners as they can often be bought ready planted in pots, meaning you just need to take care of them, rather than sowing them from scratch.

Examples of Perennial herbs include:

- Oregano

- Rosemary

- Lavender

- Mint

- Sage

The other type of herb you can grow is an annual herb, which completes its life cycle in one season. This means that they only live for one growing season, and that you would need to replant them every year. However, annual herbs include some of the most popular herbs so you shouldn't discount them for that reason. Herbs like basil, parsley and coriander are some of the easiest herbs to incorporate into your lifestyle and cooking with ease.

Examples of Annual herbs include:

- Basil

- Parsley

- Chervil

- Fennel

- Dill

- Coriander

- Fenugreek

- Chamomile

What ways can I use herbs? 

There are a variety of ways to use herbs, here are some of our favourite simple ways to use herbs:

- Make your own herbal tea

- Infuse cocktails and mocktails

- Make herb infused water

- Spice up your desserts

- Create some herb infused oils

- Make your own pesto