12+ Culinary Herbs to Grow

These are the culinary herbs to grow, I use them daily in my cooking. I have a spot in my garden for them so I can run out and snip as needed. If you have any questions or need further information hop over to our Facebook group (here is the link). Growing culinary herbs is fun and easy to grow.

Perennial Culinary Herbs

These culinary herbs grow back every year.

 

1. 1. Chives ~ flowers – frozen – vinegars & compound butters; leaves – fresh, frozen, dried – seasoning mixes, compound butters If you want more information on chives read this blog 3 Ways to Use Chive Blossoms 

1. 1. Sage ~ flowers & leaves, fresh, frozen, dried – Thanksgiving compound butter, seasoning mixes, cooking, etc

1. 1. Mint ~ fresh, frozen – tabbouleh/tabouli, desserts, drinks, jelly, tea, sugared leaves 

1. 1. Thyme ~ fresh, frozen, dried – compound butters, seasoning mixes, cooking

1. 1. Oregano ~ fresh, frozen, dried – seasoning mixes, Italian vinegar

1. 1. Lavender ~ fresh, frozen, dried – flavored sugars, desserts, Herbs de Provence, sugared treats

1. 1. *Tarragon ~ fresh, dries – vinegar, seasoning mixes

1. 1. *Lemon Balm ~ leaves fresh, dried – desserts, teas, etc

1. 1. *Garlic Chives ~ fresh, frozen, dried 

Annuals & Tender Perennials Herbs

Annuals need to be planted every year. Tender Perennials are plants that may not winter over in the garden and should be brought indoors. Check your garden zone to see growing conditions.

 

10. 10. Cilantro to Coriander ~ all stages of growth; fresh to dried, grow in pot – stagger sowings

10. 10. Dill ~ fresh fronds & heads, dried fronds & seed head, grown in pot 

10. 10. Basil ~ fresh (traditional freezing and drying turns leaf black), grown in pot – pesto, vinegar, cooking, desserts

10. 10. Rosemary (Tender Perennial) ~ fresh, frozen, dried & winter over method – seasoning mixes, skewer sticks

10. 10. *Lemon Verbena (Tender Perennial) ~ fresh, frozen, dried & winter over method – desserts, teas 

10. 10. *Johnny Jump-ups ~ fresh edible blooms, sugared treats, ice cubes

10. 10. *Marjoram ~ fresh, frozen, dried – milder oregano flavor

10. 10. *Nasturtium ~ flowers and leaves; fresh, frozen – compound butters, stuffed

Bi-Annual Culinary Herbs

These plants growth cycle is two years. The first year is for growing roots and leaves, then the second year is for making seed.

 

18. 18. Parsley ~ fresh, frozen, dried, grow in pot – pestos, seasoning mixes

*To clarify, these herbs are nice to grow and have on hand but are not an essential culinary herb.

Growing culinary herbs is fun and easy to grow. Start with one or two that you use often. Then build your herb garden or windowsill herb pots from there. You can access a PDF Checklist Of these Culinary Herbs on our Facebook page A Carefully Curated Life.

If you are looking for a cookbook to get started with I refer back to this one often. ‘The Herb Garden Cookbook” by Lucinda Hutson. In short these two recipes are (Lemon Balm) Herb Garden Punch is on page 86 and Basil Cheese Torta on page 34 have made me famous. ~wink LOL. Here is her site to purchase (it is not an affiliate site). In addition, I had the opportunity to see her speak she is wonderful if you have a chance to catch her please make the time ~ yes I am a fan.

Also here are a few other cookbooks I like. I wrote this blog about it here.