Herbs are the perfect edibles for the urban gardener. They are mostly small plants that produce abundantly all season. Herbs fit equally well in a container, flower garden, or vegetable garden. Many are perennials that will come back year after year. They grow best in full sun, but some, such as parsley and chives, can tolerate part shade and still produce well. You can even grow some indoors under lights or on a window sill to extend the growing season through the winter months in colder regions.
Most culinary herbs such as basil, thyme, and oregano grow best in well-drained soil conditions. You can start most of these from seed, but it's simpler to buy plants, especially for small plantings. Here are some of the easiest culinary herbs to grow in your urban yard:
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Lavender (Lavandula)
Mint (Mentha)
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Rosemary (Rosmarius officinalis)
Thyme (Thymus)
