My Simple Herb Garden: What I’ve Learned in 2 Years of Growing Herbs
When I started gardening two years ago, I knew next to nothing, except that I loved the idea of stepping outside to snip a few fresh herbs while making dinner. Now, in my second year, I’ve started to get a feel for what works, what doesn’t, and what herbs are worth the space in my small Michigan (zone 6) garden.
This post is all about herbs, specifically the ones I’ve grown myself and how I’m learning to make the most of them, one season at a time.
🌱 What I Planted This Year
This season, my herb garden included:
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Peppermint
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English thyme
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Chives
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Basil
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Parsley
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Cilantro
I picked up starter plants from local greenhouses because, to be honest, seeds still feel a bit intimidating. (Maybe someday!)
I grow my herbs in a raised garden bed I bought a couple of years ago, and I still love it.
👉 Here’s the one I use from Amazon if you're looking for something simple and sturdy (Amazon affiliate).
🌿 What I Grew Last Year
Last year, I started smaller with just:
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Peppermint
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Chives
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Thyme
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Cilantro
Everything did fairly well except the cilantro, which died off almost immediately. I chalked it up to not knowing how to care for it properly.
Fast forward to this year: I gave cilantro another try… and after just a few days of extreme heat, it died again.
Lesson learned: cilantro is fussy and does not love Michigan's sudden hot spells. I might try growing it earlier in the season next year or find a shadier spot for it.
🧑🌾 Herb Companions: What Grows Well Together
One thing I’ve learned is that not all herbs like to be planted side-by-side. Some need different conditions, and a few can even stunt each other’s growth. Here’s what I’ve figured out so far:
👯♀️ Good Herb Neighbors
These herbs enjoy similar light, watering, and soil conditions:
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Basil + Parsley – Both love rich, moist soil and plenty of sun.
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Thyme + Chives – Hardy, low-maintenance, and do well in drier, slightly rockier soil.
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Cilantro + Parsley – These leafy herbs don’t mind a little shade and grow best in cooler weather.
🚫 Keep These Apart
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Mint (like Peppermint) – Mint spreads fast and will take over any container or bed. I keep mine in its own separate pot to stop it from crowding everything else.
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Basil + Mint – These two don’t like each other much. Basil prefers hotter, sunnier spots while mint prefers a bit of shade and moist soil.
If you’re just starting out, containers are your best friend. I grouped herbs with similar needs in medium-sized pots and kept mint in its own container (with a plate underneath to contain its wanderlust).
🌞 Gardening in Michigan: What to Know
Michigan weather can be unpredictable. I’ve learned to wait until after Mother’s Day to plant herbs outdoors. Before that, we still get frost that can damage tender plants like basil and parsley.
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Basil hates the cold. It’s the first to wilt in cool nights.
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Thyme and chives are more forgiving and will even come back year after year in the right conditions.
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Cilantro prefers the cooler parts of spring and fall, but struggles with sudden heatwaves, as I’ve now learned twice.
📝 Final Thoughts
I’m still learning, and that’s part of the joy. Each year, I figure out a little more about which herbs thrive in Michigan, what pairs well together, and how to make the most of what I grow.
If you’re just starting your own herb garden, my advice is this:
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Start small.
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Use containers.
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Group herbs with similar needs.
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Don’t give up if something fails (like cilantro).
What are your favorite herbs to grow? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Sensibly & simply yours,
Kat
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