6 Easy to Grow Herbs for Urban Gardening

The easiest way to find your green thumb is to start with easy-to-grow herbs gardening. That’s how I started gardening, growing just 3 types of herbs on this list. I grew them in containers on a patio and in my garden.

Herbs gardening needs little effort to maintain and takes very little room. You don’t need a lot of water to grow herbs or sunlight for that matter. Grow your own fresh herbs offer tremendous cost savings and cut waste over buying them.

6 Easy to Grow Herbs:

1. Arugula
2. Basil
3. Cilantro
4. Lemongrass
5. Mint
6. Rosemary

Arugula

Roquette, or arugula, has become popular and common in salad mixes. This herb has delicate, crisp green leaves with a peppery and mildly spicy taste. Arugula contains a high amount of vitamin K and vitamin A. As a cool-season herb so the best time to plant arugula is either spring or fall. It’s easy to start arugula from seed in 5-7 days. It grows best in nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. Sow arugula seeds about ¼ inch deep and 3-4 inches apart if planted in a row.

Basil

I love basil. It was one of the three herbs I grew on a patio. Basil grows well either in pots or in the ground. Native to Asia but you can grow them anywhere with a warm climate. The tender leaves give off minty and anise scent and flavor. All basil varieties come under the mint family. Each cultivar brings something different to a variety of cuisines around the world. Some basil makes great ornamental plants. Well-drain fertile soil and full or partial sun.

Cilantro

Another easy-to-grow herb in the parsley family is Cilantro. The leaves, stems, and roots are popular in many Asian, Indian, and Latin dishes. You can grind the seeds into coriander powder or dhania powder. Cilantro has high antioxidant value and other health benefits. Plants cilantro in spring, after the last frost date. Cilantro grows best in well-drained soil. Spaced about a foot apart as cilantro can grow quite big.

Lemongrass

A perennial herb that’s as easy to grow like grass. Lemongrass is a tall species of grass and native to tropical and sub-tropical climates of Asia. Lemongrass adds a citrusy aroma to many Asian cuisines. You crush the stalk to release the fragrant. You can also infuse it into soups, stocks, or teas. Lemongrass has many health benefits. Lemongrass helps deter garden pests such as mosquitoes. You can make an herbal infusion from fresh or dried lemongrass leaves. Lemongrass essential oil can is made using fresh leaves. Spring is the best time to plant lemongrass. It does well in containers or growing in-ground.

Mint

Growing mint is the easiest. Mint is a fast-growing herb and will grow just about anywhere. The biggest problem you’ll have is how to prevent it from taking over the garden. And the best method for that is to grow mint in containers. This keeps the roots, “runners”, from sprouting new leaves and plants elsewhere. I grow peppermint and the original plant is still with us after five years! There are over 20 types of mints for you to grow. Common varieties are Spearmint, Mojito, and Chocolate Mint. For mint to thrive the soil must be consistently moist. The best time to plant mint is in spring. Dried or fresh leaves have many uses. I use them to make peppermint oil.

Read more: How to grow mint: a step-by-step guide from seed sowing to transplanting

Rosemary

A herb that needs very little attention or care is Rosemary. It’s a spice with a unique scent often found in Mediterranean dishes. It has needle-like leaves and woody stems. Rosemary is a member of the mint family of plants. It thrives in any soil condition including our desert soil and climate. So Growing Rosemary should be part of everyone’s landscape or herb garden. Rosemary repels some garden pests especially mosquitoes.