With a vast selection of herbs available, how do you choose which are right for you? Herbs add texture to a container garden or fragrantly tower over a fairy garden. They are deer and rabbit resistant, making them useful when planted with annuals and perennials in a border or container design. The Growing Place grows 120 varieties of herbs on site. The edible herbs are put out on the tables alphabetically by their common name. They are grown naturally and non-GMO in The Growing Place greenhouse, using only products approved for organic growing.

Do you want herbs for culinary or ornamental use?

If you are growing herbs to use in cooking and baking, grow the herbs that normally flavor the foods you enjoy eating. Thyme is a perennial herb invaluable for flavoring meats, soups, stews, and other dishes. One of the most popular culinary herbs is basil. The Growing Place offers 20 varieties of basil, all of which are annual and require full sun. They are chosen for making tea or adding to dressings, sauces, breads, meats, pestos, herbed oils and butters.

If growing herbs for decorative purposes only, choose ones that flower, are fragrant, or provide the height, color, shape, and texture you want to see in your garden. A 2’ fragrant, purple blooming Scented Geranium Citronella in a patio container may help repel insects. Lavender makes beautiful, aromatic bedding that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Sage foliage comes in silver, purple and variegated, offering not only culinary uses but a great textured addition to container designs or as a border plant.

Do you want to grow herbs indoors or outside?

When growing herbs indoors, they must be near a sunny window. Provide good drainage and pinch back tips regularly. A few choices for indoor herbs are chives, basil, lemon balm, parsley, mints, and chervil. Herbs grow best outside in full sun with lightly fertilized, good draining, average soil. Keep the garden clipped, harvesting in late morning after the dew has evaporated.