15 Dos and Don’ts of Herb Gardening

Whether you keep a few culinary herbs in pots or you have a larger, dedicated herb garden in your yard, it’s common to have questions about plant care, maintenance, and herb garden design. Questions like “What herbs grow well together?” and “What herbs should never be grown in the same spot?” are common in gardening circles. But we hope to take all of the guesswork and mystery out of herb garden layouts and care with this guide!

Herbs in a tiered garden bed — Understanding the basic dos and don'ts of herb gardening will make growing herbs a breeze.

Below, you’ll find 15 of the most common dos and don’ts of herb gardening. From discovering the best companion plants for herbs to avoiding common herb gardening faux pas, you’ll find everything you need to grow happy herb plants right here!

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15 do’s and don’ts of herb gardening
1. DO separate mint plants from other herbs.
2. DON’T grow Mediterranean herbs with moisture-loving plants.
3. DO succession plant cilantro and dill.
4. DON’T grow dill or anise near carrots.
5. DO plant extra dill for butterflies.
6. DON’T grow sage near cucumbers or onions.
7. DO propagate annual herb plants in fall.
8. DON’T allow certain herbs to flower.
9. DO amend your soil with compost.
10. DON’T grow fennel with other plants.
11. DO choose the right growing location.
12. DON’T grow rue near basil or brassicas.
13. DO experiment with container growing.
14. DON’T grow chives with beans.
15. DO harvest often!
Frequently asked questions
What not to plant basil next to?
What grows nicely with basil?
What is the secret to growing herbs?
Do herbs grow better in pots or ground?
What herb comes back every year?
What herbs like poor soil?
Summary

15 do’s and don’ts of herb gardening

A garden bed filled with herbs — It's easy to grow herbs even in small spaces or container gardens.

One of the great things about herb gardens is that you don’t need a lot of space to keep them. While sprawling vegetable plants like melons and pumpkins can take over garden beds in no time, most herbs grow so compactly that you can keep them in pots right on your windowsill if you want to. But if you want to get the most out of your herb plants and improve the flavor of the fresh herbs you harvest, the following beginner-friendly herb gardening tips can help!

1. DO separate mint plants from other herbs.

Mint planted in a pot — The problem with mint is that it just grows too aggressively to live in close proximity to other herbs.

If you’ve done any bit of herb gardening in the past, you’re probably familiar with the growth habit of mint plants. Peppermint, spearmint, and lesser-known mint varieties like lemon balm and catnip are vigorous growers that spread rapidly through garden beds via seeds and underground rhizomes. And if you’re not careful, they can quickly overwhelm small herb garden spaces and choke out other herbs!

Many newbie gardeners wonder whether all herbs can grow well together or not. The answer is that most herbs can grow beautifully together, but there are a few exceptions. And mint is one of the biggest exceptions of all!

Because mint plants grow so aggressively, it’s wise to keep them separated from other herbs, vegetables, and flowers as well. You can do this either by growing mint in pots or by confining mint to dedicated raised beds where it won’t spread as quickly. Just keep in mind that mint rhizomes can sometimes sneak below raised beds and through the drainage holes in pots and containers, so you will want to keep an eye on your mint plants to make sure they don’t get out of hand!

While mints don’t make good partners for most other plants, most varieties of mint can be grown together. In my experience, I find that peppermint and spearmint tend to grow the quickest, and as a result, I segregate those plants from my other mint varieties to keep them from growing too competitively. However, this is a personal preference, and you may have luck growing these mint types with other mints in your garden.

2. DON’T grow Mediterranean herbs with moisture-loving plants.

Mediterranean herbs growing in a garden bed — Grow herbs with like watering needs together.

Mint-type plants are some of the least compatible plants to grow with other herbs. But if you’re designing a new herb garden layout, it’s also a good idea to keep Mediterranean herbs separate from moisture-loving herbs with tender stems.

Mediterranean-type herbs include lavender, rosemary, sage, oregano, and thyme, and these plants typically grow as perennials in most areas. Mediterranean herbs are also notable for having woody stems and lower watering needs than tender stemmed herb varieties, like cilantro, basil, parsley, dill, and chives.

Because these two plant types have different growing needs, you’ll be able to keep your herbs much happier if you grow Mediterranean-type herbs in one section of your herb garden and tender stemmed herbs in another section. When herb beds are laid out in this manner, you can more easily direct your garden hose to the plants that need lots of water while avoiding overwatering Mediterranean-type herbs. Often, Mediterranean herbs can get by with rain alone, while tender stemmed herbs may need to be watered daily in summer.

3. DO succession plant cilantro and dill.

Dill plants in an herb garden — Succession planting fast-growing herbs helps to manage issues like bolting.

Cilantro and dill are some of the fastest-growing herbs around. But while these plants are relatively easy to start in your garden, they can be difficult to grow long-term. And this is largely due to the fact that cilantro and dill plants don’t like summer heat, and they will start to bolt as soon as temperatures get a bit warm.

One option to avoid bolted cilantro and dill plants is to only grow these herb varieties in spring and autumn when temperatures are cooler. But if you love spicing up your cooking with these fresh and tasty herbs, you can also succession sow dill and cilantro seeds every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the growing season. This will provide you with an ongoing harvest of fresh herbs, and you can compost the older herb plants when they start to bolt.

4. DON’T grow dill or anise near carrots.

Flowers of umbellifer family plants — Planting related herbs and vegetables together can cause pest problems and change the flavor of vegetable roots.

If you separate mint plants out and keep Mediterranean herbs away from your tender stemmed herb plants, you’ll generally be able to keep a successful herb garden. But there are a few other herb companion planting tips to keep in mind. And a big one concerns plants in the Umbellifer family!

Dill, anise, and fennel are all Umbellifers, but carrots and parsnips are Umbellifer plants, too. You may assume that, since these plants are closely related, they’ll grow well together. But this is not the case!

When dill, anise, and fennel are grown near carrots and parsnips, they can cross-pollinate with your root crops and cause the flavor of your veggies to degrade. On top of that, dill plants can attract carrot flies to carrots, and these nasty pests can riddle your carrot roots with holes and devour your carrot leaves, too!

To avoid this, do your best to separate out Umbellifer plants in your garden. You may have success keeping dill and anise in pots on your patio, which will keep these plants far away from your carrots and parsnips. An added benefit of growing dill in pots is that you can more easily regulate how much heat and sunlight your dill is exposed to, which can make plants less likely to bolt in summer.

5. DO plant extra dill for butterflies.

Butterfly caterpillars on dill plants — Plant enough dill and parsley for you and the butterflies--these pollinators will thank you!

Growing dill comes with a few caveats, as we’ve mentioned above, but dill plants also have their own set of unique perks. And of the best things about dill plants is that they attract butterflies, including swallowtails, to garden beds!

During the summer, you may notice that caterpillars are clambering on and eating your dill plants. But don’t be too quick to remove those caterpillars from your herbs since they will metamorphose into some of the most stunning butterflies around. Instead, consider planting some extra dill plants every year to ensure that the butterflies and you will have all the fresh dill you want!

6. DON’T grow sage near cucumbers or onions.

Purple flowering sage — Growing sage with some vegetables will reduce yields of both the vegetables and your sage.

Sage plants are famed for their delicious leaves, which can be added whole or ground to many dishes, including soups, stews, and roasted meat and veggies. A robust plant in the garden, sage is one of the larger herbs you can grow, but it is still manageable in container gardening. However, like dill, sage doesn’t get along well with every plant!

While sage will grow beautifully with Mediterranean herbs, sage plants shouldn’t be grown near cucumbers or onions. When these plant pairs are combined in the garden, they can limit each other’s growth and reduce your harvest size. Instead, try out sage plants with brassicas or root vegetables, as sage’s strong aroma will help to deter pests from these veggie crops!

7. DO propagate annual herb plants in fall.

Herb cuttings propagating in soil — You can save money and keep your herbs going for many years simply by propagating new plants from cuttings.

Sturdy herb plants, like thyme and sage, generally overwinter well in most areas, and they will come back year after year. But many other herbs are grown as annuals, which means they die away at the end of the growing season. Replacing these plants every year can be a hassle… but it can be costly, too!

In most areas, heat-loving herbs like basil, lemon verbena, and rosemary are grown as annuals. But these plants can be kept going throughout the winter months by propagating them from stem cuttings. After taking cuttings from these plants and rooting them in either soil or water, newly propagated herb plants can be maintained indoors through winter and then transplanted outside as soon as temperatures warm in spring.

If you don’t want to propagate herbs from stem cuttings, herbs like basil also typically produce lots of seeds at the end of the growing season. These seeds can be collected in autumn and used to start new herb plants the following year as well. Just keep in mind that growing herbs from seed will take longer than propagating herbs from stem cuttings.

8. DON’T allow certain herbs to flower.

An herb plant bolted and flowering — Bolting can degrade the flavor of many herbs, as well as reduce production of edible leaves.

Whether or not you allow your herb plants to flower is up to you; however, it’s wise to do your best to keep certain herbs from flowering or bolting if you can help it. Herbs like dill and cilantro bolt readily in heat, but basil-type plants also generally flower in summer. Once flowering occurs, these herb plants won’t taste as good, and they won’t produce as many edible leaves for harvesting.

Growing moisture-loving herbs, like basil, cilantro, parsley, and dill, in partial shade and watering them often in summer can slow down the flowering process and improve the plant’s growth rate. But beyond that, it’s also a good idea to keep a careful eye on your herb plants and pinch flower buds away as soon as you see them. Although this won’t be able to completely prevent bolting, it can keep your herbs productive a bit longer and extend your harvesting window.

Although some herbs don’t taste as good after they flower, blooming doesn’t seem to affect the flavor of all herbs in the same way, and it may be a good idea to allow certain herbs to bloom as they please. Mint plants, oregano, thyme, and sage, for instance, can continue to thrive even after they flower, and encouraging these plants to bloom can actually add color to your garden and attract pollinators and beneficial insects as well. Hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and other “good guy” insects love herb flowers, and attracting these garden helpers to your beds can keep your garden naturally free of nuisance insects like cabbage loopers and tomato hornworms.

9. DO amend your soil with compost.

Applying compost to an herb garden — An annual dose of compost can help replace nutrients that are lost to watering or used up by the plants.

Herbs are not heavy-feeding plants, but they do grow best in rich and well-draining soil. If you’re lucky, your garden beds may already be filled with nutrient-rich earth, but it doesn’t hurt to do a soil test and amend your garden soil once a year with a dose of compost. Compost can be lightly spread over herb beds in spring or fall, but you can also side-dress herb plants with a bit of compost during the growing season to promote lusher leaf growth.

Compost does a lot to support plant health. In addition to encouraging plants to grow larger, compost helps support herb plants’ natural immune systems, making it easier for plants to resist pests and disease. Compost also prevents soil from becoming compacted, and it helps both sandy and clay-heavy soils drain and hold moisture better, too!

10. DON’T grow fennel with other plants.

Fennel growing in a container — Fennel is one plant that doesn't grow well with others. Or rather, other plants don't grow well with *it.*

Most herbs are cooperative plants that get along with other herbs, vegetables, and flowers. But fennel likes its space, and it shouldn’t be kept with other plants. This is because fennel naturally releases compounds as it grows that suppress the growth of nearby plants and cause them to grow stunted or not grow at all – which is known as allelopathy!

Fennel uses these compounds as a way to naturally defend itself against competition, but this plant feature also makes fennel a tricky herb to grow in garden beds. One solution is to grow fennel alone in pots or a dedicated raised bed garden, which will ensure that your fennel won’t mess with the growth of its neighbors!

11. DO choose the right growing location.

Mint growing, touched by the sun — Scout out the best location for your herb beds before you plant. Give each plant what it needs to succeed.

Different herbs have different growing needs, so if you’re starting a new herb garden, it’s always wise to do a bit of research on the plants you’d like to keep. After all, if you want your herb garden to be a success, it’s important that your plants receive the right amount of sun, moisture, and nutrients to grow properly.

Most herbs grow best in full sun, but dill, cilantro, and a few other tender-stemmed herbs may grow even better if they’re kept in a location that receives partial afternoon shade. This will keep plants from bolting as quickly and allow you to harvest fresh herbs for longer. However, be sure to locate full-sun herbs in a spot in your garden that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of bright light daily to keep them growing strong.

Aside from lighting considerations, it’s also important that you select a growing location for your herb plants that will give your herbs plenty of room to grow. You’ll also want to ensure that your garden soil is well draining since most herbs will flounder if they’re kept in soggy earth.

12. DON’T grow rue near basil or brassicas.

Yellow flowering rue — Rue should not be planted with basil or with any types of brassicas.

Rue is a less common herb to grow in herb gardens, but it is a staple plant in medicinal herb beds. However, if you want to keep rue and your other plants growing strong, be sure to plant rue separately from basil and brassica plants, such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.

Although rue gets along with many herbs and flowers, rue plants can interfere with the growth of brassicas and basil. If you love the look and feel of rue, why not move it out of your herb garden and into your wildflower beds, or try growing brassicas and basil in pots so they won’t come in contact with rue.

13. DO experiment with container growing.

Herbs being potted up into containers — Herbs do very well in containers, and container growing can greatly reduce garden maintenance.

Making a dedicated herb garden is many gardeners’ dream. But if you have a limited space or you don’t have the time to maintain a larger garden, you can always grow herbs in pots. This will allow you to fiddle around with your plant layout, move plants to sunnier or shadier spots, and segregate fast-growing mint plants from slower-growing rosemary, cilantro, and other herbs.

Depending on your tastes, you can keep herb pots right on your patio or kitchen windowsill for super easy harvesting. But you can also scatter pots of herbs throughout your garden beds to attract pollinators and repel pests like aphids, thrips, and Mexican bean beetles.

Most herbs can be grown in small 8 to 12” pots, but larger pots will help herbs to grow even better. Terracotta pots are a common choice for growing herbs, but herbs can also be grown in window boxes, hanging baskets, or fabric grow bags. Cultivating herbs in different container shapes can give your garden a more layered look, but it will also allow you to adjust plant care regimens to perfectly suit the types of herbs you’d like to keep!

14. DON’T grow chives with beans.

Purple flowering chives — Chives are not companions for peas and beans.

Chives are one of the best plants for natural pest control, and their strong, onion-y scent can help to repulse a whole host of garden pests, including deer, Japanese beetles, and carrot rust flies. Easy to keep and compact enough for pots, chives get along with most other plants and herbs, and their edible flowers can also attract pollinators to your garden. But one thing to note about chives is that these plants don’t pair well with legumes.

Beans and peas just don’t mix with chives, and these plants can actually impair each other’s growth. If you have a large garden, consider keeping chives and other members of the allium family far away from your legumes. However, if you have a small space garden, you may want to try keeping chives in pots so they won’t impair the growth of your beans and peas!

15. DO harvest often!

Harvesting a basil plant — Frequent harvesting stimulates herbs to grow and stay nice and tender.

Like many vegetables and flowers, herb plants will produce more edible leaves if they’re harvested frequently. However, if you forget to pick your herbs from time to time, you’ll increase the chances that tender-stemmed herbs will bolt and that woody-stemmed herbs will become unattractive and woody.

How often herbs will need to be harvested will depend on the types of herbs you’re growing, as well as environmental factors. When herbs are growing quickly, you may be able to harvest fresh herb stems and leaves every 2 to 3 days by clipping stems free from your plants with kitchen shears or a sharp knife. But while it’s good practice to harvest your plants regularly, never cut more than ⅓ of your plants’ stems off at one time, and don’t cut woody-stemmed herbs back into their woody sections as they may not regrow!

Frequently asked questions

Neat rows of herbs growing in herb beds — A good rule of thumb for planting herb beds is to grow tender, green-stemmed herbs together, and woody stemmed plants separately.

What not to plant basil next to?

Because basil has relatively high watering needs, it doesn’t grow well with plants that prefer dry soil, such as rosemary, sage, and other Mediterranean herbs. It’s also wise to keep basil away from rue plants as rue can impair the growth of basil.

What grows nicely with basil?

Basil is an easygoing plant that will thrive in gardens planted with other tender stemmed herbs, like cilantro, dill, and parsley. Basil also grows nicely with nightshade plants, like tomatoes and peppers, and it’s said that basil will actually improve the flavor of nearby tomato plants. But more than that, tall nightshade plants provide a bit of extra shade for basil, which can help prevent leaf scorch during hot summer days!

What is the secret to growing herbs?

Like other plants, herbs need a proper balance of light, moisture, and humidity to grow well. Beyond that, herbs will grow best if they’re harvested often, which encourages plants to branch out and produce more tender leaves for your culinary enjoyment!

Do herbs grow better in pots or ground?

Most plants, including herbs, tend to grow best in inground beds since it’s easier to get regular moisture in larger gardens, and plants are less prone to drying out. That said, herbs are relatively small plants, which helps them adapt to container growing with ease as well. However, if you want to keep herbs in pots, make sure you water your plants often and choose growing containers with plenty of drainage holes.

What herb comes back every year?

In most areas, thyme, sage, tarragon, oregano, mint, and lavender grow as perennials, and they will return every spring. Marjoram and rosemary can also grow as perennials, but only in warm locations.

What herbs like poor soil?

Mediterranean herbs, including rosemary and lavender, prefer sandy-type soils that are well-draining. While these plants will grow a bit better if the soil has extra nutrients, these tough herbs can generally tolerate poorer-quality soils than basil and cilantro.

Summary

Bundles of cut herbs on a cutting board — Few things can compare to fragrant, homegrown herbs fresh from the garden.

Keeping your own herb garden can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only will home herb gardens provide you with tons of tasty herbs to use in your favorite recipes, but herb gardens can be places to explore your creativity, watch pollinators flit to and fro, and enjoy the rich fragrance of aromatic herbs like lavender.

However, if you want to get the most out of your culinary herb garden, it pays to pay attention to plant pairings and the specific growing needs of the plants you’d like to keep. The tips we’ve covered today are a good place to start, but if you’d like to learn even more about growing herbs, check out our guide on herb-growing mistakes you don’t want to make.