Florida herbs every home garden should grow

If you grow nothing else edible, grow herbs. They are among the easiest plants to keep, they take up almost no space, and a few pots by the kitchen door can transform your cooking. Florida's climate suits a wonderful range of them, from Mediterranean staples to tropical specialties most gardens never try.

The trick, as with vegetables, is knowing which herbs love our heat and which prefer the cool season. Here are the herbs every Palm Beach County home garden should grow, and how to keep them thriving.

The heat-loving herbs

Some herbs revel in our warmth and humidity. Basil is the star, growing lush and fast through the warm months and coming in many varieties, and rosemary thrives as a tough, drought-tolerant evergreen shrub that doubles as landscaping.

Oregano, thyme, and mint also handle our climate well, with mint best contained in a pot since it spreads aggressively. These dependable herbs give you fresh flavor through much of the year with little effort.

The cool-season herbs

Other herbs, especially the soft, leafy ones, prefer our mild winter and bolt or struggle in summer heat. Cilantro, parsley, and dill grow best from fall through spring, so plant them in the cool season for the longest harvest.

Treating these as winter crops, the way you would lettuce, is the key to success. Plant them when the weather cools and enjoy them until the heat returns.

Tropical herbs worth trying

Florida lets you grow herbs many gardeners never get to. Cuban oregano, culantro (a heat-proof stand-in for cilantro), lemongrass, and Mexican tarragon all thrive in our warmth and bring distinctive flavors to the kitchen.

These tropical herbs often shrug off the summer heat that defeats their temperate cousins, extending your fresh-herb season. They are a fun, productive way to make the most of our climate.

Grow them in sun

Most herbs want full sun — at least six hours — and good drainage, both of which suit our conditions. They generally dislike rich soil and heavy feeding, often growing more flavorful when not pampered.

A sunny spot near the kitchen, in the ground or in pots, is ideal. Lean soil and bright light bring out the best in most culinary herbs.

Perfect for containers

Herbs are ideal container plants, which makes them perfect for patios, balconies, and sunny windowsills. A cluster of pots keeps your most-used herbs within arm's reach of the kitchen and lets you control their soil and water.

Container growing also lets you move tender herbs to shelter if a rare cold snap threatens. For most people, a few good pots are the easiest way to keep fresh herbs going.

Harvest often

The secret to bushy, productive herbs is to harvest them regularly, pinching and snipping to encourage fresh growth and prevent flowering, which can turn leaves bitter. The more you use them, the better they grow.

Frequent light harvesting keeps plants full and flavorful. Do not be shy about cutting from your herbs — it is exactly what they want.

Start your herb garden

A handful of well-chosen herbs, planted in sun in the right season and harvested often, will reward you out of all proportion to the effort. It is the most useful, beginner-friendly edible gardening there is.

We carry a wide range of culinary herbs suited to each Florida season. Come build your kitchen herb garden with us at the nursery.

Frequently asked questions