Fast-growing herbs to plant in your garden

Growing an herb garden has been on the top of my To Do list since before we returned back to Europe from Brazil. During the hot Brazil days, I found myself dreaming of growing my own herbs again, and always having fresh herbs easily on hand. When I got back, I wanted to focus on plating fast-growing herbs for that immediate gratification – and also because we arrived in late spring/early summer and time was running out.

In this post, I want to share with you the herbs I planted and saw the most gain in the shortest amount of time. If you, like me, feel like you’re late to the growing season, but still want to give your favorite herbs a go outdoors, these fast-growing herbs are the ones to focus on.

Why include fresh herbs in your diet?

Fresh herbs are not only delightful additions to culinary creations but also pack a powerful punch of health benefits.

Nutrient Powerhouses: Fresh herbs are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They contain vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, iron, and potassium, among others. Incorporating herbs like basil, parsley, and cilantro into your meals can help boost your nutrient intake without adding many calories.
Enhanced Digestion: Many herbs, such as mint, ginger, and fennel, possess natural digestive properties. They can alleviate indigestion, bloating, and discomfort, promoting a healthier gut and smoother digestion.
Antimicrobial Properties: Herbs like thyme, oregano, and rosemary have natural antimicrobial properties due to the presence of essential oils. Including these herbs in your dishes can help in combating harmful bacteria and promoting better overall health.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Several herbs, including turmeric, garlic, and ginger, contain compounds that exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. Regular consumption of these herbs may assist in reducing inflammation in the body, potentially lowering the risk of chronic diseases.
Blood Sugar Regulation: Certain herbs, such as cinnamon and fenugreek, have been studied for their potential to help regulate blood sugar levels. They may be beneficial for individuals dealing with insulin resistance or diabetes.
Heart Health: Fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme have been associated with heart-protective effects. They may aid in reducing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and overall cardiovascular risk.
Weight Management: Incorporating fresh herbs into your meals can enhance the flavor of dishes without adding excessive calories or sodium. This can be particularly helpful for individuals aiming to manage their weight while still enjoying tasty meals.
Mood and Stress Management: Aromatherapy using certain herbs like lavender and chamomile has been known to have a calming effect on the mind and body. Their pleasant fragrance can help reduce stress and anxiety, and promote better sleep.
Immune System Support: The antioxidants present in fresh herbs can boost your immune system’s resilience, helping your body defend against infections and illnesses.
Versatility and Flavor: Fresh herbs offer a vast array of tastes and aromas, enhancing the appeal of various dishes. From salads to soups, from marinades to desserts, herbs can elevate the overall dining experience and inspire culinary creativity.

When is the best time to plant herbs?

The best time to grow fresh herbs outdoors depends on the specific climate and region you live in. Generally, herbs thrive in warm and sunny conditions, making the spring and summer months ideal for outdoor herb gardening.

In most temperate regions, it’s best to start planting herbs in the late spring, after the last frost date. Planting after the risk of frost ensures that the tender herbs won’t be damaged by cold temperatures. This time frame varies but is typically around late April to early June, depending on your location.

During the spring and summer, the longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures provide the perfect environment for herb growth. Herbs like basil, mint, cilantro, parsley, and dill flourish during this period and can be harvested throughout the season to add fresh flavors to your dishes.

It’s essential to monitor the weather and adjust planting times accordingly, as some herbs may prefer slightly cooler temperatures. Additionally, consider providing some shade during scorching hot days, as excessive heat can stress the plants.

For regions with milder climates or those with longer growing seasons, outdoor herb gardening can be extended well into the fall months. As the weather begins to cool in the fall, some cold-tolerant herbs like rosemary, thyme, and chives can continue to thrive, providing fresh flavors even as the temperature drops.

In contrast, during the winter or in colder climates, outdoor herb growth may not be possible due to frost and freezing temperatures. However, you can consider moving your herbs indoors or into a greenhouse to continue cultivating them during the colder months.

Things you need to plant fast-growing herbs

To successfully grow herbs outdoors and enjoy a thriving garden, you’ll need a few essential things:

Sunlight: Most herbs thrive in a sunny location, so choose a spot in your garden that receives at least 6-8 hours of sun each day. Herbs need sunlight to produce essential oils, which give them their aromatic flavors.
Well-Drained Soil: Herbs prefer well-draining soil to prevent waterlogged roots, which can lead to rot. You can amend garden soil with compost or use a potting mix specifically designed for herbs when growing them in containers.
Containers or Garden Bed: Decide whether you want to grow your herbs in a dedicated garden bed or in containers. Containers work well if you have limited space or want to move the herbs around to follow the sunlight.
Watering Can or Hose: Herbs need consistent watering, especially during dry spells. A watering can or hose with a gentle spray nozzle will help you keep the soil adequately moist without causing damage to the plants.
Herb Seeds or Seedlings: Choose high-quality herb seeds or purchase healthy seedlings from a reputable nursery or garden center. Some herbs, like mint and chives, spread quickly, so you may want to grow them in containers to prevent them from taking over your garden.
Fertilizer: While herbs generally don’t require heavy feeding, a balanced, organic fertilizer can help promote healthy growth. Follow the package instructions for application rates. You can also use natural fertilizer – which is what I do! Horse manure or chicken poop works great.
Mulch: Applying a thin layer of organic mulch around your herbs helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep the soil temperature consistent. Mulch also adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down.
Gardening Tools: Basic gardening tools like a trowel, pruners, and a weeding tool will come in handy for planting, pruning, and maintaining your herb garden.
Labels or Markers: It’s beneficial to label your herbs, especially if you’re growing multiple varieties. This ensures you can identify each herb as they grow, especially before they reach maturity.
Patience and Care: Growing herbs requires some patience and regular care. Monitor your plants for signs of pests, diseases, and water them appropriately. Regularly prune the herbs to encourage bushier growth and prevent them from flowering too early.

Seeds or young plants?

If you’re starting later on in the season like I did, I 100% recommend going to the local garden center and purchasing herb plants. Next year, I fully plan on starting all of my herbs & vegetables from seeds – but this year, I was just a little too late to the game for that. Another alternative is getting a few herbs from a friend who already has an established herb garden and replanting those.

Top 6 Fast-growing herbs

Mint

This is one of the most easy herbs to grow and one that is pretty much guaranteed to be a success. Some liken mint to a weed rather than an herb because it such a fast-growing herbs. I love that you can use fresh leaves in your herbal tea, or harvest the mint plants, dry and use them in your teas during the winter months. Planting mint outdoors in a larger flower bed allows it room to spread – and it will! I drink fresh mint tea almost every night during the summer, and also use it for my Sweet Dreams Tea recipe.

Lemon Balm

Another member of the mint family, lemon balm will also take over any area that you plant it in. They are both hardy perennials, meaning they will come back in the spring and don’t have to be replanted again. By starting those now, you are doing yourself a favor for next year! I love to include this one in my nighttime tea infusion, and I swear it puts me right to sleep. My eyes start drooping while I’m still sipping on my cup! Just like mint, you can use it fresh or harvest mature plants, dry and store them for the winter season.

Basil

A classic annual herb, that you will have to plant fresh each year. I’m marking my calendar now to start my basil seeds in early spring next year! Basil is easy to outside or you can easily grow it on a sunny windowsill too. The advantage of growing it in your vegetable garden or in a greenhouse like I do, is that the basil plants get rather large. That way we have enough to put on our pizzas, pasta sauces, and fresh tomatoes but also harvest and dry to use during the winter months.

Oregano

This was a new addition to my garden this year that I haven’t grown before. It is another one of the perennial herbs and I’m finding it to be one of the easiest herbs to grow. It has already more than doubled in size since I planted it, and it’s beginning to bloom! Not only does it have great medician properties, but it also has great culinary uses.

Chives

A Czech classic, we add chives to pretty much everything. It is a great addition to any vegetable garden and goes so well with eggs, meat, or soups. In fact, it is one of my favorite herbs to use in soups, stews, and broths. This herb requires very little maintenance and will produce a bountiful harvest all growing season long. Once again, I love using it fresh when in season, and harvesting the rest to use during the winter.

Dill

This one is Micah’s favorite and he specifically requested it to be planted this year. I purchased a few dill plants and got another few from a friend. It seems to be doing great so far! I’m excited to see how much it will grow during this growing season, but I can already tell it is one of the fast-growing herbs. I plan on harvesting and drying most of it this year, and seeing how much of it will come back next year.

Other herbs to consider

This list is not exhaustive of everything I currently have in my herb garden, but I have found that the herbs listed above are the ones I’ve observed to be fast-growing. Other herbs I currently grow and love are thyme, bay laurel, lemon sage, sage, rosemary, cat nip, and calendula.

I am still planning on starting a few other herbs indoors, or possibly early next year. On top of my list are:

Parsley
Scallions
Cilantro

You can not go wrong with any of these. If you end up planting them late in the growing season, just make sure they’re in pots that you can easily move indoors once the temperatures start dipping.