Herb Gardening

14 Jan, 2022

There is nothing quite like having a well-stocked, healthy herb garden, and it's easy to start your own, even if you’re a beginner gardener.

Wet Herbs

‘Wet’ herbs like to be in constantly moist soil, which is still free-draining.

Basil

A delicious wet herb that is best in moist soil, both in pots and in the garden. Grow in full sun for large leaves. Basil is an annual, so you can grow a new plant from seed the following spring.
Use: in pesto, sauces, salads, soups, pasta, as a pizza topping, and to make flavoured oil

Chives

A relative of onion, garlic and shallots, chives are happiest in moist soil which is rich in organic matter and are best planted with other wet herbs.
Use: in vinaigrettes, salads and with meat, including fish and chicken

Coriander

Also known as cilantro, coriander is a wet herb and can be grown in full sun, however, they can bolt to flower and seed quickly in summer, so plant in a pot and move to part shade in the hotter months.
Use: in curries, spice rubs, sauces and soups and with fresh veggies and salads

Mint

As a wet herb, mint likes to be in moist soil, though it can to a certain extent withstand dry areas as well. If you don’t want it to spread, plant it in a large pot to help contain its vigorous growth.
Use: in sauces, drinks, salads, tea and as an extract

Dry Herbs

'Dry’ herbs can withstand less watering and be in dry soil for longer once established.

Rosemary

This extremely tough dry herb is available in both upright varieties (which can be used as a hedge) and prostrate varieties (which can be used as a dry groundcover).
Use: in tea, soups, salads, stews, with roasted meats and veggies

Thyme

An easy-care dry herb that needs full sun and free-draining soil. It can be grown as a groundcover or gap filler, and the flowers are bee-friendly.
Use: in teas, soups, pasta, sauces, sprinkled over roasted meat and veggies and on top of pizzas

Sage

Once established, sage is a vigorous grower that is best planted along with other ‘dry’ herbs.
Use: in sauces (burnt butter and sage is a favourite), with meat and veggies

Expert Tip

When starting a herb garden, make sure that it gets full sun, or at least six hours of sunlight a day.


If you are starting from scratch, we recommend you use Living Earth Organic Veggie Mix or Tui Herb Mix to fill a raised garden bed. Otherwise, top up your existing bed with Kings Organic Compost, making sure that it is at a ratio of 2 parts of your original soil and 1 part compost.


If you are growing in pots, make sure that it is a medium to large size and don’t plant too many together as they will compete for light and space. Use Kings Container Mix when planting.


Consider what type of herbs you are going to plant – and plant dry varieties together, and the same with wet varieties. Fertilise a couple of weeks after planting with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster, and repeat once a month.

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