If you have ever wanted to get into herb gardening, you should know that herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. Even if you don’t think of yourself as having a green thumb, you can be a successful gardener if you grow the following easy herbs that can be used fresh or dried.

Parsley – Parsley is a relatively hardy annual in zones 2-11. Both flat-leaf and curly varieties are easy to care for and grow very well without a lot of extra care. It can do well in full sun to light shade, and needs rich soil that is well-drained but moist. It doesn’t do particularly well in heat.

Cilantro – Another simple herb to grow is cilantro. This is an annual herb that grows well both in the shade and the sun. You’ll find that it is very easy to care for and it will do pretty well in just about any type of climate.

Chives – Chives are herbs that will grow in just about any conditions and almost any type of soil. In fact, they barely need any tending to grow. They prefer to have full sun on them, and rich soils make them do better. Chives have a wonderful flavor that is a bit like onions, and are excellent as a topping for baked potatoes. You can use them in a variety of different ways either dried or fresh.

Oregano – Oregano is a staple in most Italian cooking and is easy to grow. The leaves can be dried or they can be used fresh in any tomato dish. It is one of the easiest herbs to grow and can be grown in just about any area inside or outside. It should have soil that is well drained and also likes full sun, but it will even grow in soil that is rocky and poor.

Thyme – This is an herb that is perennial. It is very hardy and grows into a plant that is much like a shrub. It requires soil that is well drained but moist and prefers to be in the full sun. There is very little care to worry about when growing thyme.

Basil – Basil in a warm-weather annual herb. It is hardy in most zones, but it requires hot, dry conditions to reach peak flavor. It needs full sun, and very rich, moist soil. The only major issues with growing basil are slugs and cool conditions. As long as basil has enough light and heat, and its soil is allowed to dry out between waterings, it usually requires little additional care.

Bay – While this is actually a shrub, bay is a great herb to start out with in your herb garden. It is a very hardy herb and does well in many zones. It needs soil that is rich and not overly wet. However, it does fairly well in most conditions. The best flavor from this herb comes when the leaves have been dried. So, you’ll want to dry the leaves before you decide to use them.

Herbs are not difficult to grow, and they can be a great addition to your vegetable garden. Start with one or two easy herbs and gradually build up your herb garden. Make sure you pay attention to the climate they prefer. While they may be hardy and grow in a variety of places, they’ll do the best when you keep them in a suitable climate. Once you have tried fresh herbs in your food, you will wonder how you ever got along without them.

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