You don't need a lot of space to grow herbs. In fact, herbs are easy to grow and great candidates for container gardening. If you can, try to place your herbs in a spot where they'll receive about eight hours of sun each day. Here are some of the best herbs to grow on your deck, balcony or patio.
The Best Herbs to Grow in a Patio Garden
Updated Aug. 25, 2024
Container gardening on your patio is a great way to raise your favorite herbs and have them handy when you’re cooking or grilling. We spoke to Pam Perry, a Master Gardener for Maricopa County, as well as Kevin Espiritu and Lorin Nieslen of Epic Gardening to round up some common, easy-to-grow herbs.
“All these herbs for your patio garden are relatively easy to grow and care for,” say Espiritu and Nielsen. “Just remember not to harvest more than â…“ of a plant at any time. Allow time for the plant to grow back a bit. Occasional single-leaf harvesting can be done anytime, so grab a leaf or two of sage or a sprig of thyme to cook with!”
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Cilantro
“While most people consider it an addition to summer salads or straight-off-the-grill tacos, cilantro is not a heat-loving plant,” Espiritu cautions. “It likes consistently damp soil, so be sure your growing medium retains some moisture without turning to mud.”
- Growing Conditions:Â “Cilantro is an annual herb that tolerates light shade but will do well in sunny locations. Keep soil evenly moist,” Perry says.
- Level of Care:Â Easy
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Basil
Basil is one of the most popular herbs for a patio garden because it goes well with so many other foods. When growing basil in a container, try a compact variety of basil, which can be found at most garden centers. Harvest the leaves from the top down. You can cut the stalk back to about a third of the total height. You don’t need to refrigerate basil, instead, keep it in a little water to maintain flavor.
- Growing Conditions: According to Perry, “Basil prefers full sun; the red leaf varieties are more forgiving of shade. Keep soil evenly moist. Basil is frost-sensitive. Spacing plants well apart in humid climates allows for air circulation and helps deter bacterial and fungal  challenges.”
- Level of Care: Relatively low maintenance.
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Mint
Nielsen cautions that “mint likes similar conditions to chives and basil, but it’s notorious for taking over gardens and turning them into mint-filled jungles. Due to this aggressive growing habit, it’s best to grow mint in its own container or planter.”
- Growing Conditions: “Mints are vigorous perennial plants that thrive in USDA zones 4-10,” Perry explains. “They will tolerate light shade or full sun and are successfully managed in a container. Containers should have good drainage and be able to hold about 2 cubic feet of soil for success. Keep soil evenly moist. Mint is perennial and will go winter dormant.”
- Level of Care:Â Mint is a low maintenance plant, just keep it from taking over your garden.
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Chives
Chives are a great plant for container gardens, especially if they have well-drained soil and a lot of sun. When you’re ready to harvest, use scissors to cut the stalks near the soil.
- Growing Conditions: Per Perry, “Chives thrive in USDA zones 3-9. They grow in full sun to light shade and will tolerate poor soil and little water. They will be winter dormant in cooler areas; do not over water dormant plants.”
- Level of Care: Perry describes chives as “ideal container plants and can even be grown indoors.” They’re fairly low maintenance.
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Oregano
Oregano likes full sun and well-drained soil and is a good herb for a patio garden since it won’t spread too much. The flavor of oregano intensifies the more sun it gets. Harvest the leaves as you need them. Oregano will thrive late into summer in a pot, and you can freeze the leaves to use during the winter months.
- Growing Conditions:Â Perry says oregano is “[able to] grow in zones 5 with protection and well-drained soils to zone 10. It needs full sun, moderate water and excellent drainage. If overwatered, it can rot.”
- Level of Care:Â As long as it has good drainage, oregano is low maintenance.
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Rosemary
“Thyme, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and oregano are all plants that like good drainage in their soil. These five are an excellent combination to group in a wine barrel or other large container when they’re young,” Espiritu recommends.
- Growing Conditions: Rosemary is “perennial in USDA zones 6-10 that tolerates hot, full sun; reflected heat; poor, but well drained soils and low water,” says Perry. “Use a mineral-based, fast-draining soil in containers with good drainage. Protect it from unexpected cold snaps.”
- Level of Care: “It makes a great container plant to keep inside for the winter in colder climates; just be sure to choose a rosemary variety that grows to smaller size,” Perry suggests. It’s a hardy, low maintenance herb.
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Tarragon
Tarragon can be grown in both partial shade and full sun, so try including it on your list of herbs for a patio garden. This herb grows best with a well-draining potting mix soil and tolerates drought well, so be sure not to give it too much water. Harvest tarragon regularly and you can cut the leaves off as needed. It can be dried and frozen, but the herb tends to lose some of its flavor when dried.
- Growing Conditions: Perry explains that tarragon “tolerates full sun or very light shade; does not require heavy irrigation, or much fertilizer, but prefers well-drained soil. Containers in cold climates should be protected from extreme cold. If they are porous, they should be kept dry, in a garden shed or garage to prevent breakage.”
- Level of Care: “Tarragon is hardy in zone 4 and grows in zone 9. It is a spreading plant, so a container is a great way to keep it mannerly in a small space.” says Perry. Protect it from temperature extremes; otherwise, it’s low maintenance.
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Thyme
Thyme grows best in a planter with full sun in well-draining soil. It also comes in several varieties, including lemon thyme, which pairs well with grilled chicken, fish and vegetables. Thyme is best when harvested just before the plant blooms. Cut at the stem, then strip the leaves from the stem and discard the stem.
- Growing Conditions: “Thyme prefers full sun and cannot abide wet feet in a pot or in the garden; it’s easy to overwater, especially when the humidity is high. It grows well in zones 6-10 and with protection in zone 5,” per Perry.
- Level of Care: Perry describes thyme as “one of the better herbs for patio garden, as long as it’s in a fast-draining soil mix.”
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Sage
Since sage doesn’t spread too much, it’s a good choice for a smaller container or on a tiered plant stand when you’re deciding on herbs for your patio garden. You can pinch the leaves off individually for harvest or cut at the stem.
- Growing Conditions: “Sage is a perennial Mediterranean herb that requires excellent drainage, tolerates poor soils and full sun; in hotter regions and sunny southwestern locations, it can tolerate afternoon shade,” Perry explains.
- Level of Care: Easy
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Parsley
Nielson compares parsley’s growing conditions to cilantro’s, saying, “Like cilantro, parsley does not do well in the heat. You’ll want to place it so that it can enjoy the morning sun but hide in the shade as the day wears on. People in particularly arid or hot environments may want to grow it in the spring and fall instead of in the heat of the summer. Those in frost-free locations can grow it all winter, too!”
- Growing Conditions:Â Perry describes parsley as “[liking] well-amended garden soil and benefits from regular watering. If rains are not frequent, hand watering will encourage good growth for a bountiful harvest.”
- Level of Care:Â Parsley is a forgiving and low-maintenance herb.
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About the Experts
- Kevin Espiritu is an Urban Gardening Expert for Epic Gardening.
- Lorin Nielsen is the Head Horticulturist, Senior Botanical Editor and Content Strategist for Epic Gardening.
- Pam Perry is a Master Gardener for Maricopa County; she has over two decades of experience.
Originally Published: February 16, 2018
