British Garden Centres: Tips for herb growing success

Having fresh culinary herbs on hand for cooking is such a treat, and it can transform an otherwise boring dish into something so flavoursome.

 Your kitchen herbs can be budget-friendly too, which we all need as food prices continue to rise. Growing an indoor herb garden is easier than you think and doesn’t take up much space. All you need is a sunny windowsill to start growing in our containers or troughs.

What planter to choose

Choosing the right planter size for your herbs is dependent on what varieties you’d like to grow. Our rule is to choose small pots of around 4–6 inches for compact, shallow-rooted herbs like thyme or chives. Medium-sized planters that measure 8–10 inches work well for popular herbs such as parsley, basil, and cilantro, allowing them to reach their mature size without overcrowding. Larger containers, 14 inches or more, are best suited for deep-rooted herbs like rosemary or lavender or for planting multiple herbs together.

Herbs to try

Basil: Basil is a well-known herb in Italian cooking, known for its aromatic leaves that bring dishes to life.

It can be grown indoors on a sunny windowsill or outside in the garden and thrives in well-drained soil and loves plenty of sunlight. Basil is incredibly versatile in the kitchen—perfect for making pesto, adding to salads, or pairing with tomatoes for a classic Italian flavour.  Regularly harvesting the leaves helps keep the plant healthy and ensures a steady supply throughout the season.

Chives: Chives are one of the easiest herbs to grow and have a mild onion flavour. When chopped, their green stems are perfect for sprinkling over soups, omelettes, or cheese dishes, adding a fresh kick. Chives thrive in sunny spots with fertile soil and can be grown in pots or directly in garden beds. They also produce beautiful purple flowers that attract pollinators, and with regular trimming, chives will continue to grow strong, providing fresh stems throughout the season.

Mint: Whether you’re using it to jazz up salads, desserts, teas, or cocktails, mint brings a refreshing flavour and fragrance to any recipe. It grows vigorously and spreads quickly, so we recommend planting it in containers to prevent it from overtaking your garden. Mint thrives in moist soil and prefers partial shade, but can handle full sun as well and is perfect for a beginner.

Oregano

Oregano is a robust herb that’s a staple in Mediterranean cooking. It’s perfect for seasoning pizza sauces, marinades, roasted vegetables, and more. Beyond its use in the kitchen, oregano has been valued for centuries for its medicinal properties—it’s often used to help with colds and digestive issues. It grows best in sunny spots with well-drained soil and can be harvested regularly for fresh use or dried for later use.

Rocket

Rocket is a fast-growing leafy herb that adds a spicy, peppery kick to salads, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. Packed with nutrients like Vitamin C and potassium, rocket is not only delicious but also incredibly healthy. It’s easy to grow in fertile soil with good drainage, and it does well in both full sun and partial shade. Rocket can be harvested as “cut-and-come-again,” meaning you can enjoy fresh leaves over several weeks.

Rosemary

Rosemary has fragrant, needle-like leaves and is the ideal complement to lamb and chicken, breads and oils. This hardy evergreen thrives in sunny locations with well-drained soil and can be grown indoors or outdoors. Rosemary is also known for its health benefits, including boosting memory, aiding digestion, and reducing inflammation. In spring and early summer, rosemary produces delicate blue flowers that attract pollinators like bees.

Sage

Sage is a traditional herb often used in stuffing recipes or paired with pork dishes. It’s also an ornamental plant with soft Gray and green leaves that add texture to gardens. Sage is incredibly hardy—it returns year after year with minimal care—and its purple flowers attract pollinators during bloom season. Sage grows best in full sun with well-drained soil and can be harvested regularly for culinary use or dried for storage.

Thyme

Thyme is one of the most versatile herbs you can grow and can be added to meats, fish, soups, stews, and more. Its compact foliage makes it an attractive addition to gardens or pots, while its tiny flowers draw bees and butterflies during late spring and summer. Thyme thrives in sunny spots with dry or sandy soil conditions and benefits from regular pruning to keep it healthy and encourage new growth.

How to grow your herbs

Whether you choose to plant from seeds or young herb plants from your local garden centre, you’ll find that herbs are simple to grow and thrive with minimal care. They grow best in well-drained soil, so raised beds or pots with drainage holes are ideal for ensuring healthy development.

Sunlight is essential for enhancing their flavour, so be sure to plant your herbs in the sunniest spots of your garden or on a bright windowsill. Avoid overfeeding as overly rich soil can lead to excessive foliage growth with less flavour.

We recommend planting them near your kitchen to make it easy to snip fresh leaves whenever you need them for cooking.

Phoebe Cater, Plant Buyer at British Garden Centres, said: “Transform your kitchen into a culinary delight by exploring our variety of fresh herbs at your local garden centre. Whether you’re cooking a simple meal or something for the family, fresh herbs can enhance the taste and flavour of your food.”

British Garden Centres (BGC) is the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group with 72 centres around the country. The group is owned and led by The Stubbs family, who also own and operate Woodthorpe Leisure Park in Lincolnshire.