9 Herbs to Grow in Your Garden

You don't need a green thumb to reap the benefits of herbs—disease-fighting antioxidants, valuable nutrients, fresh flavor, and more. You can grow your own herb garden in pots or in a window box in your kitchen. How? Here's an herb-by-herb guide to getting started.

A popular garnish and an underrated seasoning, parsley is perfect with eggs, soups, sauces, and fish. It complements other herbs, and is an indispensable component of bouquet garni (along with thyme, marjoram and bay leaf).

• Needssun and moist, sandy, well-drained soil.

• Plantspring to fall.

• Harvestwhen plant is about 8 inches tall.

The leaves of this plant add flavor to pork, poultry, veal, and hearty soups. May be grown from seeds or cuttings.

• Needssun and well-drained soil.

• Plantin spring.

• Harvestjust before plant flowers.

May not be suitable for indoors, since sage can grow to a height of 3 feet.

The tiny, silver-green leaves of this aromatic, flavorful plant make an ideal accompaniment to lamb and other meat dishes. May be grown from seeds or cuttings.

• Needssun and well-drained soil.

• Plantin spring.

• Harvestany time.

This strongly flavored herb is excellent in soups, casseroles, and meat dishes. Can be propagated from root divisions and cuttings, as well as from seeds.

• Needssun and light, sandy soil.

• Plantin spring.

• Harvestleaves just before plant flowers.

Very mild members of the onion family, chives are easy to grow. They are delicious finely chopped over egg dishes, soups, fish, chicken, salads, and steamed vegetables, or mixed into soft cheeses and dips.

• Needssun and rich, well-drained soil.

• Plantin spring.

• Harvestjust before plant flowers.

There are several types of this wonderfully aromatic herb — sweet basil is one of the most popular. It complements tomatoes beautifully, and is wonderful with pasta and for pepping up salads. Make your own pesto sauce by blending basil together with pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese.

• Needssun and rich, moist soil.

• Plantat the end of spring or beginning of summer.

• Harvestin early autumn.

The seeds of this fragrant, feathery herb add piquant flavor to cabbage, coleslaw, breads, dill pickles, and vegetable dishes. The leaves are delicious with fish, eggs, potato salads, and other dishes.

• Needsrich, moist, well-drained soil and a sunny, sheltered position.

• Plantin spring.

• Harvestwhen the plant comes into bloom.

Not suitable for indoors, since dill grows to three feet and isn't easily transplanted.

There are many varieties of this cool, clean-flavored herb. Use in herbal tea, as a flavoring for vegetables, salads, sweets, and as a sauce with lamb. Can be grown from root division or stem cutting.

• Needssun and moist, well-drained soil.

• Plantin spring.

• Harvestwhen plant comes into bloom.

Strongly-scented oregano is perfect in pizza, pasta and Mediterranean cooking, and is great sprinkled over meat before roasting. May be grown from seeds or propagated from root division or stem cuttings.

• Needssun and alkaline, well-drained soil.

• Plantin spring.

• Harvestjust before plant blooms.