Excited about the idea of growing your own food? Building an herb garden is one way to enjoy the literal fruits of your labor. Imagine heading to your own little garden patch with your trusty utility scissors, seeing all these beautiful (and delicious!) herbs just waiting to be pruned. You can get herb kits to grow your own herbs or buy starter plants.

Growing different herbs is not only good for the planet; it’s also a fun and easy way to try gardening. Herbs are incredibly low maintenance, so if you’re a beginner, these are the best plants to grow to get a taste of gardening.

Although easy to grow, herbs do have specific watering needs. And to keep your herbs thriving, here are some watering tips to keep in mind:

7 Watering Tips for Herbs

Do not water like houseplants

Different plants have different watering needs. One thing to remember when growing herbs is never to treat them like houseplants. It’s easy to confuse houseplants with herbs since these plants have many similarities, but herbs have their sensitivities as far as watering goes. They hate standing water or wet soil. To make sure you are watering your herbs properly, water only when the soil is dry to the touch. This goes especially for herbs grown from seed. If you are using herb garden kits, you have to control water to prevent seedlings from drowning.

Watering moisture-loving herbs

For water-loving herbs, you need a ½ liter of water for every square foot of soil each week if grown in the ground. For potted plants, water the herbs once or twice a day, especially during the summer season. Always check the soil for excess moisture before watering the herbs.

Indoor herbs watering needs

If grown indoors, most herbs have to be watered every two to three days. Check the soil for moisture. If the top inch of soil feels dry, your herbs need watering. As for herbs grown outdoors, these should be watered once a day on regular days and twice per day during hot weather like the summer season or seasons of drought.

Water early in the morning

If you’re wondering when’s the best time to water your herbs, it’s in the AM. Do your watering around 6 to 6:30 AM when the sun is just rising. This goes for herbs from herb garden kits or starter plants. Don’t wait until the sun is at its fullest, like 8 to 10 AM, because the roots need to soak up as much moisture as possible before the water evaporates from the heat!

Water around the herb, never all over

How you water your plants is just as important as the frequency of the watering. Always water around the herb, never all over the leaves. If the leaves are always in contact with moisture, it increases the risk of mold and mildew growth. The leaves could also rot and will kill the herb.

Watering from the bottom

Some pots come with a built-in saucer or bucket that catches the water and keeps the plant roots hydrated for hours. Herbs hate standing water, so if you’re using this kind of pot, you can let the roots soak for a maximum of 15 minutes only. Discard the water that pools into the saucer to reduce the risk of root rot and disease.

Mulching

Mulching is often used to retain soil moisture, so you’ll need to water less. If planted inground, you can use mulching to make your herb garden look good. But, not all mulching materials are safe for herbs. Natural mulch materials are best for herbs, such as wood chips, cocoa bean shells, or pine needles. Keep the layer of mulch away from the crown of the herb, so you don’t end up smothering the plant.

Signs of Overwatering

Watering is an integral part of gardening, and most herbs love water and the full sun. Of course, you have to get the technique right to avoid costly mistakes. Here are signs that you are overwatering your herbs:

• Yellowing leaves
• Fuzzy mildew on the plant steps and leaves
• Herbs stopped growing
• Herbs do not perk up when watered
• Stems break easily
• Roots are abnormally soft
• Heavy leaf fall

Building an herb garden is easy and more rewarding when growing from seed. Our herb garden kits have everything you need to develop a beautiful herb garden. They make the perfect gifts too!