If you’ve been wanting to get into herb gardening, you will want to know that herbs are among the easiest plants to grow. Even if you don’t think of yourself as having a green thumb, you can be a successful gardener if you grow the following easy herbs that can be used fresh or dried:

Basil: This is a favorite herb for Italian cuisine and can easily be grown indoors or out. It does not take long for basil to grow and the leaves can even be eaten raw. It flourishes in many places, but to get the best flavor, it needs to have conditions that are hot and dry. The soil should be very rich and somewhat moist and it should be planted in full sun. Between waterings, basil requires time to dry out.

Cilantro: Cilantro is used in a number of Spanish dishes and has a distinct taste. This is an annual herb that thrives both in the shade and the sun. You’ll find that it is very easy to care for and it will grow in just about any type of climate.

Oregano: Oregano is a staple in most Italian cooking and isn’t hard to grow. The leaves can be dried or they can be used fresh in any tomato dish. It is among the easiest herbs to raise and can be grown in just about any area inside or outside. It should have soil that is well drained and also likes full sun, but it will even grow in soil which is rocky and depleted.

Parsley: Parsley is a relatively hardy annual in zones 2-11. Both flat-leaf and curly varieties are easy to care for and flourish without a lot of extra care. It can do well in full sun to light shade, and requires rich soil that is well-drained but moist. It doesn’t do especially well in heat.

Thyme: This is an herb that is perennial and simple to take care of. It is extremely hardy and grows to the size of a small shrub. It prefers lots of sun and a warm climate to thrive, along with well drained but moist soil. If you’re growing thyme in the house, you will want to make sure that you place the plant near a window so it gets the most sunlight.

When choosing herbs, pay attention to which zones they are suitable for. Although most of these herbs are hardy, they do significantly better when kept to their hardiness zones. The herbs listed here will be very easy to care for, and shouldn’t require a whole lot of extra effort to tend.

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