For anyone new to gardening, herbs are the perfect plant to start with. They are low maintenance, easy to grow, and versatile. Use them to add a flourish to homemade dishes, make herbal teas, or use them for medicinal benefits. While fresh herbs are fabulous, dried herbs are more potent due to their lower water content. Here’s how to grow and dry herbs so you can store and preserve them for year-round use.
Choosing Which Herbs To Grow
The UK’s climate is generally mild, with sufficient rainfall, making it ideal for various herbs. Here are some popular herbs that are quick and easy to grow.
1. Basil: Basil likes a warm climate, so it does best indoors on sunny windowsills.
2. Mint: A hardy herb that can spread quickly; best grown in containers.
3. Rosemary: Prefers well-drained soil and a sunny spot
4. Thyme: Requires a sunny location and well-drained soil; ideal for rockeries.
5. Parsley: Can be grown in partial shade; likes rich, moist soil.
6. Sage: Likes sunny areas and well-drained soil; can be used as a border plant.
If you don’t have a garden, herbs do well in containers. For more tips, see our guide to container gardening.
Planting and Care of Herbs
Preparing the Soil
Most herbs prefer well-drained soil. If your garden soil is heavy clay, consider raised beds or pots with added compost to improve drainage. Alternatively, grow in pots indoors in a quality planting compost.
Planting
Herbs can be grown from seeds, cuttings, or young plants from supermarkets or garden centres. Plant seeds in early spring, either indoors or directly in the garden after the last frost. Established herb plants can be purchased all year round if you don’t fancy waiting until spring!
Watering
Herbs generally do not need much water. Over-watering can lead to rot. Water when the soil feels dry to the touch.
Sunlight
Most herbs prefer full sun (at least 6 hours of sunlight a day), though some, like mint and parsley, can tolerate partial shade.
How To Dry Herbs
Drying herbs is a fantastic way to preserve their flavour and potency for year-round use. The best time to harvest herbs is in the morning after the dew has dried but before the day’s heat. This ensures your herbs will have the highest concentration of essential oils.
Air Drying Herbs
Air drying is the easiest way to dry herbs and requires nothing but patience.
- Cut the stems of the herbs you want to dry
- Gather stems into small bunches and tie them with string.
- Hang the bunches upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
- Herbs typically take 1-2 weeks to dry completely. They are ready when the leaves crumble easily between your fingers.
Oven Drying Herbs
- Spread the herbs in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Place in an oven set to its lowest temperature (about 50°C or 120°F). Leave the oven door slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape.
- Check the herbs frequently. They should dry within a few hours.
Microwave Drying Herbs
- Place herbs between two paper towels.
- Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, checking at 30-second intervals until dry.
Storing Dried Herbs
Once dried, store your herbs in airtight containers, away from light and heat. Label the containers with the herb name and date of drying. Properly stored herbs can last well over a year.
Using Dried Herbs
Dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh, so you typically need less. Generally, use one-third the amount of dried herbs as you would fresh. Dried herbs are perfect for seasoning soups, stews, and sauces, and they can be rehydrated by soaking in a little warm water before use.
Some herbs can deter pests and attract beneficial insects. For example, planting basil near tomatoes can improve their growth. If you are growing outdoors in pots, consider bringing them inside for the winter. Some hardy herbs like rosemary and thyme can survive UK winter, but herbs like warm sunny weather must be covered during frosts if left outdoors.
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