Growing herbs in your homestead garden is both a rewarding and practical endeavor. Not only do herbs enhance the flavor of your culinary creations, but they also offer medicinal benefits, support pollinators, and add aesthetic value to your garden. Here, we’ll explore thirteen essential herbs that every homesteader should consider, detailing their uses, growth habits, and how to harvest them effectively.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
1. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Uses:
- Culinary: Widely used in Italian cuisine, particularly in pesto, salads, and sauces.
- Medicinal: Known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Used in traditional medicine to relieve stress, asthma, and diabetes.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Basil thrives in warm, sunny environments with well-drained soil. It requires full sunlight (at least 6-8 hours a day) and regular watering.
- Harvesting: Begin harvesting once the plant has 6-8 leaves. Pinch off the leaves just above a pair of leaves to encourage bushier growth. Avoid taking more than one-third of the plant at a time.
2. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Uses:
- Culinary: Excellent for seasoning meats, potatoes, and bread.
- Medicinal: Contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Traditionally used to improve memory and digestion, and alleviate muscle pain.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought-tolerant once established.
- Harvesting: Snip the top 2-3 inches of the stems regularly to encourage new growth. Best harvested in the morning after the dew has dried but before the sun gets too hot.
3. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Uses:
- Aromatherapy: Lavender essential oil is renowned for its calming and relaxing properties.
- Medicinal: Used to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Culinary: Can be used in baking, infusions, and as a flavoring for desserts and beverages.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Needs full sun and well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. Tolerates drought and poor soil.
- Harvesting: Harvest just before the flowers fully open. Cut the stems early in the morning, and hang them upside down in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated area to dry.
4. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Uses:
- Culinary: Commonly used to season meats, soups, and stews.
- Medicinal: Known for its antiseptic, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Traditionally used to treat coughs, bronchitis, and gastrointestinal issues.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought-tolerant once established.
- Harvesting: Harvest the leaves just before the plant flowers by cutting the top 5-6 inches of growth. It can be used fresh or dried for later use.
5. Mint (Mentha spp.)
Uses:
- Culinary: Used in teas, salads, and as a garnish for desserts and beverages.
- Medicinal: Helps with digestion, relieves headaches, and has antimicrobial properties. Used in traditional medicine for nausea, colds, and sore throats.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Thrives in partial shade to full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Can become invasive, so it’s best grown in containers.
- Harvesting: Regularly harvest the leaves by pinching off the stems. This encourages bushier growth and prevents the plant from becoming leggy.
6. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile)
Uses:
- Medicinal: Commonly used in teas to promote relaxation and sleep. Also used for its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.
- Cosmetic: Used in skincare for its soothing effects.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Can tolerate light shade.
- Harvesting: Harvest the flowers when they are fully open. Cut the stems at the base and dry the flowers in a dark, well-ventilated area.
7. Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Uses:
- Culinary: Used to flavor meats, stuffings, and sauces.
- Medicinal: Contains antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Traditionally used to treat digestive issues, sore throats, and memory enhancement.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought-tolerant once established.
- Harvesting: Harvest the leaves before the plant flowers by cutting the stems from the base. Can be used fresh or dried.
8. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Uses:
- Culinary: Essential in Mediterranean cuisine, used to season pizzas, pasta, and grilled meats.
- Medicinal: Has potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Used in traditional medicine for respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It’s drought-tolerant once established.
- Harvesting: Harvest the leaves just before the plant flowers by cutting the stems. Best used fresh but can also be dried for later use.
9. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Uses:
- Medicinal: Known for its healing properties, particularly for skin conditions like wounds, rashes, and burns. Has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
- Cosmetic: Used in creams and lotions for its soothing effects.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
- Harvesting: Harvest the flowers when they are fully open. Dry the flowers in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated area.
10. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Uses:
- Medicinal: Renowned for its immune-boosting properties. Used to prevent and treat colds, flu, and infections.
- Cosmetic: Used in skincare products for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Tolerates drought once established.
- Harvesting: Harvest the flowers and roots in the fall. Dry the flowers and store them in a dark, dry place. The roots can be dried and used in teas and tinctures.
11. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Uses:
- Medicinal: Known for its respiratory benefits, particularly for treating coughs, bronchitis, and asthma. Also used for earaches and skin conditions.
- Cosmetic: Used in skincare for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Tolerates poor soil and drought conditions.
- Harvesting: Harvest the leaves in the first year and the flowers in the second year. Dry the leaves and flowers in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated area.
12. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Uses:
- Medicinal: Widely used for its antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties. Also used to treat wounds, burns, and nerve pain.
- Cosmetic: Used in skincare for its healing and anti-inflammatory effects.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Can tolerate poor soil and drought.
- Harvesting: Harvest the flowers and upper stems in mid-summer when the flowers are in full bloom. Dry in a dark, well-ventilated area.
13. Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
Uses:
- Medicinal: Known for its soothing properties, particularly for the respiratory and digestive systems. Used to treat coughs, sore throats, and gastrointestinal issues.
- Cosmetic: Used in skincare for its hydrating and anti-inflammatory effects.
Growth and Harvesting:
- Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Thrives in marshy areas.
- Harvesting: Harvest the roots in the fall of the second or third year. Dry the roots in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated area.
Scientific Studies and References
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- Singh, G., Maurya, S., Catalan, C., & De Lampasona, M. P. (2004). Chemical constituents, antimicrobial investigations, and antioxidant potentials of holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) essential oils. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(9), 3296-3301.
- Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
- Rašković, A., Milanović, I., Pavlović, N., Ćebović, T., Vukmirović, S., & Mikov, M. (2014). Antioxidant activity of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oil and its hepatoprotective potential. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14(1), 225.
- Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
- Cavanagh, H. M. A., & Wilkinson, J. M. (2002). Biological activities of lavender essential oil. Phytotherapy Research, 16(4), 301-308.
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
- Soković, M., Glamočlija, J., Marin, P. D., Brkić, D., & Van Griensven, L. J. (2010). Antibacterial effects of the essential oils of commonly consumed medicinal herbs using an in vitro model. Molecules, 15(11), 7532-7546.
- Mint (Mentha spp.)
- McKay, D. L., & Blumberg, J. B. (2006). A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.). Phytotherapy Research, 20(8), 619-633.
- Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
- McKay, D. L., & Blumberg, J. B. (2006). A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.). Phytotherapy Research, 20(7), 519-530.
- Sage (Salvia officinalis)
- Hamidpour, R., Hamidpour, S., Hamidpour, M., & Shahlari, M. (2014). Chemistry, pharmacology, and medicinal property of sage (Salvia) to prevent and cure illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, depression, dementia, lupus, autism, heart disease, and cancer. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 4(2), 82-88.
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- Viuda-Martos, M., El Gendy, A. E. N. G., Sendra, E., Fernández-López, J., Abd El Razik, K. A., & Pérez-Alvarez, J. A. (2010). Chemical composition and antioxidant and anti-Listeria activities of essential oils obtained from some herbs cultivated in Egypt. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58(15), 9063-9070.
- Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
- Preethi, K. C., Kuttan, G., & Kuttan, R. (2009). Anti-inflammatory activity of flower extract of Calendula officinalis Linn. and its possible mechanism of action. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 47(2), 113-120.
- Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
- Barrett, B. (2003). Medicinal properties of Echinacea: A critical review. Phytomedicine, 10(1), 66-86.
- Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
- Turker, A. U., & Camper, N. D. (2002). Biological activity of common mullein, a medicinal plant. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 82(2-3), 117-125.
- St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
- Linde, K., & Mulrow, C. D. (2000). St John’s wort for depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2).
- Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
- Kamatou, G. P., Vermaak, I., & Viljoen, A. M. (2013). An updated review of Adansonia digitata: A commercially important African tree. South African Journal of Botany, 88, 95-111.
These thirteen herbs are not only essential for their versatility in the kitchen and medicine cabinet but also for their ease of cultivation and harvest. Integrating these herbs into your homestead garden will not only enhance your self-sufficiency but also provide a natural pharmacy right at your doorstep.
Putting it all together
Herbs are a fundamental component of a thriving homestead garden. They offer numerous benefits, from culinary uses to medicinal applications. By growing these essential herbs, you ensure a constant supply of fresh, organic ingredients while promoting biodiversity and sustainability in your garden. This is by no means and exhaustive account of all these amazing plants can do, and in the coming months we will be deep diving into each one individually, so you can get the full picture of what these herbs can do!
Happy gardening, and may your homestead be ever prosperous!
Leave a Reply