- 1). Choose an outdoor garden space. The National Gardening Association recommends planting herbs in an area that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day and has good soil drainage. A location near the kitchen is also convenient for gardeners who plan to use fresh herbs regularly in cooking.
- 2). Choose herb starter plants. The National Gardening Association explains that cilantro, mint, dill and chives tolerate some shade better than most other types of herbs, so pick some of these types if any part of the garden does not get full sun. Also take into account that different types of herbs have different life-spans, despite similar growing conditions. Chamomile, basil, cilantro, cumin, fennel and dill die each year and need to be replanted again in the spring. Catnip, chives, lemon balm, oregano, mint, lovage, marjoram, lavender, thyme, tarragon, rosemary and sage are perennial herbs, meaning that they can survive winters and live for several years. All of these herbs will grow alongside each other, but some gardeners prefer to stick mostly to herbs that do not need yearly replanting.
- 3). Prepare the soil for planting. Spring is the best time to plant herbs, ideally after the last frost. Fertilize the soil during the spring a couple days before planting the herb starters. Use a 5-10-10 ratio fertilizer. The National Gardening Association recommends using 1.5 to 2 pounds of organic 5-10-10 fertilizer for every 100 square feet of garden space.
- 4). Most herbs grow best in soil with a pH between 6 and 7. Gardening stores sell test kits to check the pH of soil. If the soil is too acidic or too basic, gardening stores also sell fertilizers designed to raise or lower the pH. Test the garden space's pH and raise or lower it to between 6 and 7, if needed.
- 5). Dig holes slightly larger than the herb starter pots and space them out several inches apart. The amount of space needed between holes varies depending on the size and type of herb, and many starter plants come with instruction tags that explain how far apart they need to be spaced.
- 6). Plant the herbs in the holes by gently pulling the plants out of their starter pots, placing them in the holes and filling in the area around their roots with soil.
- 7). Water the herbs regularly with about 1 inch of water per week in most conditions and more than 1 inch in really hot weather or quick-drying garden beds.
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