For years, I bought fresh herbs at the grocery store, only to find that they were rotten after a few days in the fridge. Because I have dogs, I didn’t want to plant herbs in the backyard, so several years ago, I planted some herbs in the patch of dirt by the driveway. As it didn’t get much sun, mint was the only herb that thrived. There is no excuse not to have an herb garden. Last year, I purchased a few window boxes and the handyman bolted them into the side of the garage. Nearly everyone has space for a window box or two. We are so fortunate that rosemary, lavender, chives, and mint grow all year in Southern California. How lazy can you be? Grow an herb garden!
Herbs can be planted side by side with a variety of flowers. They are easy to grow and are seldom plagued by pests or diseases. Most love the sun and don’t require much attention. Your biggest problem is that if they aren’t constantly harvested, they won’t thrive. Rosemary, mint (be careful mint can overrun your garden) and chives grow all year. The next time you buy chives, plant the root ball in dirt (celery, too). They couldn’t be simpler to grow. With enough direct sun, rosemary can even grow into a hedge.
You can cut yourself some slack if you don’t want to bother with seasonal herbs such as basil, tarragon, thyme, oregano and parsley. But with the availability of the plants at the grocery store, it’s so simple to pick them up and just plant them. I shop Burkardt Nursery in Pasadena where I purchase organic herbs. Whichever option you chose, it’s easier and less expensive to have fresh herbs growing in your garden than running to the market to buy them.
