Easy-to-Grow Essential Herbs

by Brooke Parkhurst and James Briscione

There’s nothing more satisfying than preparing a meal with aromatic herbs grown in your own garden. Get started with this guide from Brooke Parkhurst and James Briscione, authors of Just Married & Cooking: 200 Recipes for Living, Eating, and Entertaining Together.

Whether you’re an urban dweller with a window box, you’ve cultivated an acre of countryside, or you find yourself somewhere in between, planting your own herbs is the perfect way to brighten up your surroundings and your cooking. It’s a great money saver too. A few young plants from your local farmers’ market or garden center will produce fresh herbs all season long and cost the same as one dinky bunch of herbs from the grocery store.

Essentials: If you only have room to grow a few herbs, try these. They grow very well in most environments and are the most commonly used in our kitchen.

• basil
• parsley
• cilantro
• mint
• thyme
• rosemary

If you have the space, add these to your garden:

• dill
• tarragon
• marjoram
• oregano
• chives
• sage