Newsletter Articles
How to Grow a Culinary Herb Garden in Southern California
Written by David S.
A culinary herb garden is one of the easiest and most rewarding things to grow: pick a handful of kitchen herbs like basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley, cilantro, and chives, give them full sun and well-drained soil, and plant them in the ground or in pots near the kitchen. Harvest often to keep them productive, grow mint in a container so it does not take over, and in Southern California’s mild climate you can keep herbs going much of the year.
Quick answer: Grow culinary herbs in a spot with at least six hours of sun and good drainage. Easy starters include basil, chives, dill, cilantro, rosemary, and oregano. Herbs do great in pots with drainage holes, kept near the kitchen. Harvest regularly by pinching stems, keep mint confined to its own container, and plant cool-season herbs (cilantro, parsley) in the cooler months and warm-season basil once frost has passed.
| Herb | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Annual (warm-season) | Full sun; pinch tips to delay flowering |
| Rosemary | Perennial (Mediterranean) | Full sun, dry well-drained soil; drought-tolerant |
| Thyme, oregano, sage | Perennial (Mediterranean) | Full sun, excellent drainage; low water |
| Parsley | Biennial, grown as annual | Light shade, rich moist soil |
| Cilantro, dill, chives | Cool-season (chives perennial) | Cooler months; cilantro bolts in heat |
| Mint | Perennial | Spreads fast; grow in a container |
What to Grow in a Culinary Herb Garden
The classic kitchen herbs are easy to grow and cover most of what you cook with: basil, oregano, marjoram, mint, rosemary, thyme, sage, dill, parsley, cilantro, and chives.[1] If you are just starting out, the most forgiving, beginner-friendly herbs are basil, chives, dill, cilantro, mint, rosemary, and oregano.[1] A great starter set for pots is basil, chives, dill, parsley, oregano, rosemary, and sage.[2] For more ideas, see our guide to a spiral herb garden.
Where to Plant Herbs: Sun, Soil, and Containers
Most herbs want a lot of sun: at least six hours of direct sun a day produces the best growth, in well-drained soil with a pH around 6.0 to 7.5.[3] Drainage is the single most important factor, because herbs will not grow in soggy soil; a few, including parsley, mint, chives, and cilantro, tolerate some light shade and a bit more moisture.[4] Herbs also grow beautifully in containers, which makes them perfect for small spaces and for keeping a few pots right outside the kitchen door; just make sure every pot has drainage holes and a good, well-draining mix.[5] See our container garden tips for getting pots right.
Watering and Caring for Herbs
Many kitchen herbs come from the Mediterranean, and those (rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage) are drought-tolerant and actually prefer dry, well-drained soil in full sun, so the most common mistake is overwatering them.[1] Leafier, faster-growing herbs like basil, cilantro, parsley, and chives appreciate more regular water, while plants in pots dry out faster and need checking more often. The one herb to watch is mint: it spreads aggressively by underground runners and can take over a bed, so the standard advice is to grow it in its own container.[6]
Harvesting Your Herbs
Harvesting is also how you keep an herb productive. Prune or harvest regularly to encourage vigorous, bushy growth, and pinch stems back at a leaf node rather than picking off single leaves, which pushes the plant to branch.[1] You can take a good amount at once, up to about three-quarters of the current season’s growth, as long as you leave enough foliage for the plant to keep going, and the best time to cut is in the morning after the dew dries but before the heat of the day.[7] With annual herbs, harvest before they flower, because flowering reduces leaf production and flavor; pinching the growing tips off basil keeps it leafy and delays bloom.[8]
Growing Herbs Year-Round in Southern California
Our mild Mediterranean climate is a real advantage, letting you grow many herbs for much of the year. The Mediterranean perennials, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage, stay productive year after year, and so do chives and mint.[1] The timing that matters is for the annuals: cool-season herbs like cilantro, parsley, and dill do best in the cooler months,[3] and cilantro in particular bolts, or rushes to flower and seed, as soon as it turns hot, so grow it in fall through spring.[9] Warm-season basil is the opposite: it is frost-sensitive, so plant it once the danger of frost has passed.[8]
Ready to start cooking from your own garden? Visit any Green Thumb Nursery location and our team will help you choose herb plants, the right pots and soil, and a spot that gets the sun your herbs need.
Culinary Herb Garden FAQ
What herbs are easy to grow?
Basil, chives, dill, cilantro, mint, rosemary, and oregano are among the easiest, most forgiving herbs for beginners. Give them sun and well-drained soil and they practically grow themselves.[1]
How much sun do herbs need?
Most culinary herbs want at least six hours of direct sun a day for the best growth, along with well-drained soil. A few, like parsley and mint, will take a bit of light shade.[3]
Can you grow herbs in pots?
Yes, herbs grow very well in containers, which is ideal for small spaces and for keeping them near the kitchen. Use a pot with drainage holes and a well-draining mix, and expect to water a little more often than in the ground.[5]
How do you harvest herbs so they keep growing?
Harvest often, pinching stems back at a leaf node to encourage branching, and cut in the morning. You can take up to about three-quarters of the current growth at a time as long as you leave enough for the plant to recover.[7]
What herbs grow year-round in Southern California?
The Mediterranean perennials, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage, plus chives, can grow year-round in our mild climate. Cool-season herbs like cilantro and parsley do best in the cooler months, and frost-tender basil is grown in the warm season.[1]
Sources
- [1] Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, Herbs: hgic.clemson.edu
- [2] UC ANR Garden Notes, Seven Easy Culinary Herbs to Grow in Pots: ucanr.edu
- [3] University of Minnesota Extension, Growing Herbs in Home Gardens: extension.umn.edu
- [4] University of Maryland Extension, Care of Herbs and Starting Herbs from Seed: extension.umd.edu
- [5] University of Maryland Extension, Growing Herbs in Containers and Indoors: extension.umd.edu
- [6] UC Statewide IPM Program, Cultural Tips for Growing Mint: ipm.ucanr.edu
- [7] University of Maryland Extension, Harvesting and Preserving Herbs: extension.umd.edu
- [8] Penn State Extension, Herb Garden Plants: Basil: extension.psu.edu
- [9] Penn State Extension, Cilantro, a Unique Culinary Herb: extension.psu.edu
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