Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to grow herbs in your Ohio garden. Fresh herbs can add a dash of magic to homemade food. Plus, homegrown herbs are healthy and they taste much better than those bought from the store.
Here are some suggestions for what herbs to plant in Ohio and a fun (and exclusive) spring event that will give you everything you need to start your herb garden this spring.
1. Thyme
Everyone should have a little thyme on their hands and in their gardens (sorry, forgive us for our spicy pun).
Thyme needs sandy soil and full sun to grow. Luckily, thyme is an easy-to-grow plant for Ohio (hardiness zone 6a). Also, it’s a perennial, which means once you plant it, you’ll have thyme year after year.
How to Use Thyme
Thyme is great for seasoning meat, especially beef. You can also add some thyme to French onion soup for a hint of an earthy flavor. Other culinary uses for thyme include pizza sauce, lasagna, lentil stew, risotto, and homemade bread.
2. Basil
Basil is one of the most commonly used herbs in Italian cooking, and who doesn’t love Italian food? Plus, basil smells amazing and basil flowers attract pollinators and give them food.
Basil is an annual plant that needs sun and well-drained soil. It must be harvested continually because it keeps growing and growing. Harvesting can actually encourage more basil branches to grow. Basil makes for a terrific container plant.
How to Use Basil
Use basil for pastas, pizzas, pestos, and lasagnas. You can also add basil to creamed corn for an extra note of flavor.
3. Marjoram
Marjoram is an underrated herb, but we’re here to sing its praises! Marjoram is an annual plant if you leave it out during Ohio’s winters, but it can be a perennial herb if you have your marjoram in a container and bring it inside during the winter. It tastes like citrus mixed with pine. Marjoram can also taste like a more delicate oregano.
Give marjoram plants full sun with well-draining soil. Water them occasionally since they are drought tolerant, and don’t worry about fertilizing them.
Marjoram is a slow-growing plant, so we recommend you start with young plants rather than seeds. You can do this by starting your seeds indoors during the winter and then transplanting the young seeds during the spring or by buying young, healthy plants from your local Ohio garden center.
How to Use Marjoram
Add marjoram to frittatas with vegetables, bean salad, braised pork shoulder with mushrooms, or braised chicken.
4. Chives
We love chives! They’re prolific and they keep growing and growing if you harvest them right.
Chives can be container plants or they can grow in garden beds. They need well-draining soil, consistent watering, and full or partial sun to thrive. They grow back after cutting, and they’re one of the easiest herbs to grow.
How to Use Chives
Add chives to anything that you want a hint of onion flavor to without being overpowering. Try adding chives to fresh salsa, baked potatoes, chicken fried rice, omelets, stir fries, and fish.
5. Rosemary
Rosemary is a great container plant for porches or patios or even on your kitchen windowsill. You can hang it around the house or use it as a faux Christmas tree during the holiday season since rosemary looks like a Christmas tree.
Rosemary needs full sun and well-draining soil. It should be watered consistently during its first year of establishment. Then, you only need to water a rosemary plant when the soil is dry.
How to Use Rosemary
Rosemary is great fresh or dried and can be used for focaccia, sweet potato fries, roasted red potatoes, chicken, and candied bacon (trust us on this one, you won’t regret it!).
6. Lavender
Lavender is one of our favorite herbs to grow in Ohio because it supports pollinators (especially beads) and makes for fragrant, beautiful cut flowers. Also, who doesn’t like purple flowers?
Give lavender well-draining soil and full sunlight, but water it sparingly and don’t worry about fertilizing. Lavender is a plant that grows well in poor soil.
How to Use Lavender
Lavender is one of the most versatile herbs you can plant. You can use it in soaps, homemade colognes, salves, scrapbooking, and potpourri. For food, try lavender-infused milk with coffee, chocolate cupcakes with lavender icing, grape and lavender sorbet, and a honey-lavender dressing for beet salads.
Spring Event on Herb Education
On April 5th, join us to start your ultimate herb garden with hands-on instruction at Stockslager’s Greenhouse and Garden Center. You’ll learn about herb garden planning, care, use, pruning, and planting from our herb specialist, Jaime.
Then, Jaime will help you start planting your herb garden with 3 Stockslager’s herbs of your choosing. Herbs available include basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender, dill, cilantro, sweet marjoram, and eucalyptus.
This spring event is perfect for:
- Beginning gardeners,
- People who want fresh, homegrown herbs for their food,
- People looking to better their health with healthy plants,
- Gardeners looking for quality plants, and
- Gardeners who are looking to connect with other gardeners.
Reserve your spot now as space is limited. The tickets ($15) will include admission, instruction, 3 herb plants, and one pot.
If you’d like to learn more, feel free to call our Ohio garden center at 937-687-2722.
We can’t wait to help you grow your dream herb garden!
