If you’re new to gardening and looking for a place to start, herbs are the way to go. They’re low-maintenance and fast-growing; many varieties take just a few weeks to fully mature from seed to harvest. Plus, removing “fresh herbs” from your grocery list saves money—an idea we can all endorse.
Keep reading to learn how to get your garden growing and discover which herbs to plant in fall.
Why Plant Herbs in Fall?
Fall offers unique advantages if you’re learning how to start an herb garden or adding to your existing plot:
- Milder temperatures: Cooler weather helps young plants establish strong roots.
- Consistent moisture: Autumn rains encourage steady growth with less heat stress.
- Longer harvest season: Fall herbs continue producing long into the season and even early winter.
Choose the Best Herbs to Plant in Fall
Not sure which herbs to grow in autumn? We’re sharing the best cool-weather contenders.
Thyme
Thyme is hardy and provides a strong aroma that enhances many savory dishes, just in time for soup season. Thymus vulgaris is the most common variety, but for medicinal purposes, consider growing lemon thyme and Pennsylvania Dutch tea thyme.
Ideal growing conditions for thyme:
Full sun (at least six hours per day)
Well-drained soil, loamy or sandy
Water when soil is dry to the touch—don’t overwater
Mint
Mint is easy to grow and can be used for teas, garnishes, drinks, desserts, etc. With over 600 varieties, you might be surprised by some of the available flavors, such as chocolate mint.
Ideal growing conditions for mint:
- Full sun or partial shade (three to six hours of sunlight per day)
- Moist, well-drained and slightly acidic soil
- Water regularly to keep soil moist
Parsley
Whether curly or flat-leafed, parsley is an easy-growing, nutritious herb loaded with iron and vitamins A, C, and K. It makes an excellent garnish for autumn salads and Thanksgiving appetizers like deviled eggs. Harvest parsley once the stems have three segments.
Ideal growing conditions for parsley:
- Full sun to partial shade
- Rich, well-drained soil
- Water regularly to keep soil moist
Chives
Chives, which are in the same family as onions, offer a flavor that complements creamy soups, potatoes, and salads. They also attract pollinators like bees and repel aphids and other pests, making them an excellent companion herb.
Ideal growing conditions for chives:
- Full sun
- Rich, well-drained soil
- Water enough to keep soil moderately moist
Sage
Sage is a great addition to any fall garden since it's a key ingredient in a Thanksgiving favorite: stuffing (or dressing if you hail from the south). While sage grows well in beds, it’s also an excellent container plant.
Ideal growing conditions for sage:
- Full sun
- Well-drained soil (can be rocky)
- Water periodically, giving soil time to dry between waterings
Lavender
If you’re growing an ornamental or scented garden, lavender is hard to overlook. It boasts a strong yet calming aroma and comes in dainty shades of purple, blue, white, and pink, spreading a blanket of pastels over your flower patch.
Ideal growing conditions for lavender:
- Full sun
- Well-drained soil, sandy or gravelly
- Water only when soil is completely dry
Rosemary
Rosemary is a shrub that not only adds zest to Mediterranean and Italian dishes but also fills the air with a strong fragrance many love. This herb is also drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for arid regions.
Ideal growing conditions for rosemary:
- Full sun
- Well-drained, sandy, and slightly alkaline soil
- Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch
How to Start an Herb Garden Step by Step
Follow these steps to set your garden up for success:
1. Select Your Space
Herbs that grow in autumn can thrive just about anywhere as long as they get adequate sunlight each day. It’s okay if your only growing spots are somewhat shaded; certain herbs, such as parsley and cilantro, prefer partial shade. If you’re not sure how much sun your herbs need, look at the tags attached to seedling pots.
Plant your garden where you can see it, so you can check if your plants need watering. A popular spot to place fall herbs is outside a kitchen window.
2. Choose Your Growing Style
Growing herbs directly in the ground is always an excellent choice, as long as you have space, soil, and sunny conditions. If you don’t—no problem! You can set up a raised bed or herb garden planter; good alternatives that give you more control over soil conditions and put less strain on your back. Plus, the garden’s tall walls keep rabbits and other pests from helping themselves to your harvest.
If room is limited, opt for tall, narrow planters or a vertical garden. Learning how to grow an herb garden in wall planters or in long, rectangular containers saves you precious floor space and adds a semblance of privacy to your porch or patio.
3. Prepare Your Soil
Herbs do their best work in well-drained, nutrient-dense soil. Create the ideal environment by loosening the soil with a spading fork about 10 inches deep and mixing in organic matter. If your soil is sandy, amend it with compost to help with moisture retention. If it’s heavy with clay, add horticultural grit to improve drainage.
Another thing to consider is your soil’s pH level. Herbs like a pH that’s neutral or slightly alkaline–typically 6.0–7.5. Use a pH meter or soil test kit to determine the acidity or alkalinity.
- If your soil is too acidic, add garden lime to raise the pH.
- If it’s too alkaline, decrease the pH with peat moss or elemental sulfur.
4. Plant Your Herbs
When deciding how to plant an herb garden, first check the plant tags to determine appropriate spacing. This ensures proper growth and airflow. Then, dig a hole the same depth as the herb’s original container and place the plant inside. Pour enough soil around it to reach the exact level of the herb’s original container. Next, lightly pat down the soil and water well.
NOTE: Mint, fennel, and lemon balm should be planted in their own separate containers. Otherwise, they’ll encroach on other herbs and take over your garden.
5. Care and Harvest Regularly
Check daily to see if your herbs need watering. Plants in containers tend to dry out quicker than those in the ground or raised beds. To keep your herbs growing strong, try feeding them liquid plant food weekly.
Herbs that grow in autumn become thicker and bushier with frequent harvesting. When they’re ready, pinch off the top two or three inches. A good rule to remember is not to remove more than one-third of the plant.
If you won’t be using herbs right away, dry them. The three most common methods are air-drying, oven-drying, and drying via a food dehydrator. Once they’re fully dry, store fall herbs in airtight containers.
6. Mulch and Cover
Spreading mulch around your herbs insulates the soil, retains moisture, and regulates the temperature around roots—all things that help plants withstand cooler weather. For added protection against freezing temperatures and frost, cover them with breathable covers like blankets, towels, or frost cloths.
Different Herb Garden Types
From cooking to curing what ails you, let’s look at different types of herb gardens and their primary purposes.
Culinary Herb Garden
Culinarians know fresh herbs can elevate many dishes from decent to delectable. Consider growing savory herbs such as thyme, parsley, and sage to add serious flavor to your autumn meals.
Medicinal Herb Garden
If you’re interested in health and wellness, you can use herbs to make home remedies for a variety of ailments, such as sore throats or nausea. These herbs to plant in autumn are great ingredients for teas, tinctures, or salves.
- Sage
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- Peppermint
- Lemon balm
- Calendula
- Echinacea
- Rosemary
- Parsely
- Ginger
- Aloe vera
Scented Herb Garden
From the pungent perfume of peppermint to the citrusy aroma of lemon verbena, scented herbs can accentuate your home’s aesthetic. Grow these combinations in an herb garden planter outdoor setup to evoke distinct moods on your patio.
- Relaxation: Lavender, chamomile, and lemon balm
- Romantic: Lemon balm, sage, and rose geranium
- Energizing: Mint, eucalyptus, and lemon verbena
- Cozy: Sage, rosemary, and lavender
Ornamental Herb Garden
While herbs are prized for their health-, mood-, and flavor-enhancing qualities, they’re also quite pretty. Globe-shaped chive blooms, feathery fern-like fennel leaves, or petite pastel thyme flowers would bring beauty to any green space.
Indoor Herb Garden
If you don’t have room for an outdoor vegetable patch, an indoor herb garden planter on a sunny windowsill is an ideal alternative. Indoor gardening is great for beginners or anyone who wants to infuse fresh flavors into their meals year-round.
Fall Herb Garden Frequently Asked Questions
Which herbs should not be planted together?
Some plants just don’t play well with others. Avoid pairing the following herbs together:
Basil and rue: When planted close together, basil and rue can stunt each other’s growth.
Rosemary and cilantro: These herbs have very different needs. Rosemary needs a hot and dry environment, which can be detrimental to cilantro’s cool, moisture-loving countenance.
Dill and herbs in the carrot family: Dill can cross-pollinate with fennel, parsley, and cilantro, leading to hampered flavor and growth.
Fennel and any plant: Fennel is territorial—it can release compounds that hinder nearby plant growth.
Mint and any plant: This aggressive grower has underground rhizomes and runners that let it spread far and wide. It can quickly colonize an herb garden and choke out unsuspecting plants.
What time of year should I start an herb garden?
Spring and fall are the best times to start an herb garden because temperatures are lower, rainfall is more predictable, and pests are less active. Depending on where you live, growing seasons may be shorter or longer.
Fall herbs may thrive well into the winter months in warmer areas, yet fade quickly in the spring when temperatures rise. Northern regions typically have milder summers, enabling herbs that grow in autumn to be planted much sooner due to the agreeable climate.
What is the easiest herb to grow for beginners?
Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow for beginner gardeners. This annual grows fast, needs minimal upkeep, and has a variety of culinary, medicinal, and decorative uses. Basil is also easy to grow indoors or out, thriving in kitchen countertop containers, outdoor beds, and herb garden planters.
Do herbs grow better in pots or ground?
Most herbs grow equally well in pots and the ground. Which option to choose depends on your available space, local climate, and how much time you can dedicate to care and maintenance.
Herb garden planters fit outdoor areas with limited space, and they allow more control over soil quality and drainage. Plus, you can move most pots and containers indoors when bad weather or winter hits. However, herb garden planters dry out faster and restrict root growth, which means more watering and upkeep on your part.
In-ground herb gardens are great for larger backyards and require less maintenance. They give plants plenty of room to flourish and allow the opportunity to grow perennials like rosemary, oregano, and thyme. Of course, you’ll need to put extra effort into monitoring soil quality and drainage. Also, it’s harder to keep pests and aggressive herbs like mint in check.
