Growing herbs in the UK is easy, rewarding, and adds fresh flavours to your cooking year-round. From tender annuals like basil to hardy perennials like rosemary, herbs are versatile plants that thrive in gardens, containers, and windowsills. I keep most of mine in pots by the back door rather than in the ground — it makes the difference between actually using them and forgetting they exist. This comprehensive guide will show you how to grow the most popular culinary herbs successfully in the UK climate.
Not sure when to sow? See our When to Plant Herbs UK →
Founder & Head Grower, SoilCommander · RHS Level 2 · 12+ years growing in Yorkshire
I've been growing vegetables on my Yorkshire allotment and raised beds since 2012. Everything I write is based on what I've actually grown, failed at, and eventually got right in a real UK climate.
Quick Growing Facts
- Sowing/Planting Time: Varies by herb (see individual sections)
- Harvest Time: Continuous for most herbs
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Position: Most prefer full sun and well-drained soil
Types of Herbs
Annual Herbs: Grow for one season (basil, coriander, dill)
Biennial Herbs: Grow for two seasons (parsley)
Perennial Herbs: Grow for many years (rosemary, thyme, sage, mint, chives). Mediterranean types are prone to root rot in damp UK soil — the RHS recommends growing them in gritty, free-draining compost (around 25% horticultural grit) or terracotta pots
General Growing Conditions
Most herbs share similar requirements:
- Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hours daily) for best flavour
- Soil: Well-drained soil; most herbs hate waterlogging
- Feeding: Light feeders; too much fertiliser reduces flavour
- Containers: Most herbs grow excellently in pots
- Harvesting: Regular picking encourages bushier growth
💡 Top Tip
Plant mint in containers, not directly in the ground - it's extremely invasive and will take over your garden. Keep it contained in pots or buried containers with drainage holes.
Best Herbs to Start With
Common Thyme
About as low-maintenance as herbs get — drought-tolerant once established and forgives an irregular watering routine better than most.
Common Chives
Easy from seed, hardy, and comes back every year — a reliable confidence-builder for first-time herb growers.
Sweet Genovese Basil
The classic culinary basil — if you only grow one annual herb, this is the one with the most obvious payoff in the kitchen.
Popular Herbs: Growing Guide
Basil (Annual)
- Sowing: April-May indoors; plant out after last frost
- Position: Full sun, warm, sheltered
- Care: Water regularly, pinch out flower buds, feed weekly
- Harvest: Pick leaves regularly from top down
- Varieties: Sweet Genovese (classic), Purple Basil, Thai Basil
Parsley (Biennial)
- Sowing: March-July outdoors or in modules
- Position: Sun or partial shade, moist soil
- Care: Water regularly, remove flower stalks in second year
- Harvest: Pick outer leaves, leave centre to grow
- Varieties: Flat-leaf (Italian), Curly-leaf
Coriander (Annual)
- Sowing: March-September, succession sow every 3 weeks
- Position: Sun or partial shade, moist soil
- Care: Water regularly, bolts quickly in heat
- Harvest: Cut leaves when 10-15cm tall; seeds when brown
- Varieties: Cilantro (leaves), Coriander (seeds), Slow-bolt varieties
Mint (Perennial)
- Planting: Spring or autumn, from plants or divisions
- Position: Sun or partial shade, moist soil
- Care: Water regularly, GROW IN CONTAINERS to control spread
- Harvest: Pick leaves as needed, cut back after flowering
- Varieties: Spearmint, Peppermint, Apple Mint, Chocolate Mint
Rosemary (Perennial)
- Planting: Spring, from plants or cuttings
- Position: Full sun, very well-drained soil, sheltered
- Care: Minimal watering once established, trim after flowering
- Harvest: Pick sprigs as needed year-round
- Varieties: Miss Jessopp's Upright, Prostratus (trailing)
Thyme (Perennial)
- Planting: Spring, from plants or cuttings
- Position: Full sun, very well-drained soil
- Care: Minimal watering, trim after flowering to keep compact
- Harvest: Pick sprigs as needed year-round
- Varieties: Common Thyme, Lemon Thyme, Creeping Thyme
Sage (Perennial)
- Planting: Spring, from plants or cuttings
- Position: Full sun, well-drained soil
- Care: Minimal watering, prune in spring to prevent woodiness
- Harvest: Pick leaves as needed, best before flowering
- Varieties: Common Sage, Purple Sage, Tricolor Sage
Chives (Perennial)
- Planting: Spring or autumn, from seed, plants, or divisions
- Position: Sun or partial shade, moist soil
- Care: Water regularly, divide clumps every 3-4 years
- Harvest: Cut leaves 2.5cm above soil, flowers are edible
- Varieties: Common Chives, Garlic Chives
Oregano/Marjoram (Perennial)
- Planting: Spring, from seed or plants
- Position: Full sun, well-drained soil
- Care: Minimal watering, cut back after flowering
- Harvest: Pick leaves as needed, best just before flowering
- Varieties: Greek Oregano, Sweet Marjoram, Golden Marjoram
Dill (Annual)
- Sowing: April-July outdoors, succession sow
- Position: Full sun, sheltered from wind
- Care: Water regularly, stake tall varieties
- Harvest: Pick leaves when young; seeds when brown
- Varieties: Bouquet, Dukat, Fernleaf (compact)
Container Growing
Most herbs grow excellently in containers:
- Pot size: Minimum 20cm (8 inches) diameter for most herbs
- Compost: Use well-drained multipurpose or herb compost
- Drainage: Ensure pots have drainage holes
- Watering: Water when top 2.5cm of compost is dry
- Feeding: Feed monthly with half-strength liquid fertiliser
- Positioning: Place in sunniest spot available
Harvesting Herbs
General harvesting guidelines:
- Morning harvest: Pick in the morning after dew dries for best flavour
- Regular picking: Encourages bushier, more productive plants
- Before flowering: Flavour is strongest just before flowering
- Don't over-harvest: Never take more than one-third of the plant at once
- Soft herbs: Use fresh (basil, parsley, coriander, chives)
- Woody herbs: Can be used fresh or dried (rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano)
Preserving Herbs
Drying:
- Hang bunches upside down in a warm, dry, dark place
- Or lay on trays in a warm, airy spot
- Store dried herbs in airtight containers
- Best for: rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, bay
Freezing:
- Chop and freeze in ice cube trays with water or oil
- Or freeze whole leaves in bags
- Best for: basil, parsley, coriander, chives, mint
Common Problems
Aphids: Spray with soapy water or use biological controls.
Powdery mildew: Ensure good air circulation; remove affected leaves.
Slugs and snails: Protect young plants with barriers.
Bolting: Water regularly and harvest frequently to delay flowering.
Winter damage: Protect tender herbs with fleece or bring containers indoors.
Most Mediterranean herbs actually taste better when slightly stressed — rosemary, thyme, and sage grown in lean, gritty soil with minimal feeding produce stronger flavour oils than the same herbs grown lush and well-fed.
Essential Tools for Growing Herbs
Get the right tools for successful herb growing:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which herbs are easiest to grow for a beginner?
Thyme, chives, and mint (in a container) are about as forgiving as herbs get. Sweet Genovese basil is also easy outdoors once the weather has properly warmed up.
Why does my basil keep going leggy and weak?
Usually too little light or too much heat without enough sun. Give basil the warmest, brightest spot available and pinch out flower buds regularly to keep it bushy rather than tall and thin.
Can I grow herbs indoors year-round?
Soft herbs like basil, parsley, and chives do reasonably well on a bright windowsill. Woody Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and thyme prefer to be outdoors and often struggle with the lower light and dry air indoors.
Why is my rosemary or thyme dying in winter?
This is almost always waterlogging rather than cold — both are hardy but hate sitting in wet soil. Improve drainage with grit, raise pots off the ground in winter, and avoid heavy clay soil without amendment.
How do I stop mint taking over my garden?
Always grow mint in a container, even if it's buried in the ground — its spreading roots will otherwise take over a bed within a season or two. A bottomless bucket sunk into the soil works well if you want it to look like it's growing in the ground.
Plan Your Vegetable Garden
Get our comprehensive UK Vegetable Planting Calendar to plan your entire growing season, including when to sow and harvest herbs alongside all your other crops.
View Planting Calendar →Tools That Help With This Crop
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