Here at home, I tend to look at the question a little differently.

The best herbs to start growin’ are usually the ones you’ll actually use.

If your family loves mint for sweet tea, lemon balm for summertime drinks or chives on a sandwich around midsummer – then it really doesn’t matter what tops a list of popular herbs.

An herb you use regularly will quickly become far more valuable than some unusual variety that rarely makes its way out of the garden bed. And who knows? Over time, you may even be able to divide and propagate your favorite herbs and share ’em with friends and family.

For many beginners, it’s often wiser to start with a handful of favorites rather than trying to grow everything all at once. Chives, mint, lemon balm, oregano, thyme and parsley are great examples of herbs that are relatively easy to grow while also being useful in everyday cooking.

A small harvest that’s regularly used can often be more rewarding than a large collection of plants you rarely touch.

One of the great things about herbs is how adaptable they are.

Many varieties grow beautifully in: Pots. containers, raised beds, garden boxes and traditional kitchen gardens. Some herbs can even be brought indoors for part of the year, providing fresh harvests just a few steps from the kitchen.

That flexibility makes herbs one of the easiest crops for new gardeners to experiment with.

Here at Alhaga homestead, I see herbs as one of the easiest gateways into gardening. They usually take up very little space, provide quick rewards, and can become part of your daily cooking from the very first season.

For someone just getting started, that’s hard to beat.

If you’re unsure where to begin, try asking yourself:

Which herbs do I already buy and use today?

The answer to that question is often a much better guide than any top-ten list you’ll find online. So start with what you already enjoy, and you’ll be far more likely to stick with it.

How about you?

Which herbs do you use most in your own kitchen? Is there a favorite herb ya always try to keep growing in the garden, on the patio or on a sunny windowsill?

I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Sometimes the best ideas come from hearing how other gardeners make herbs a part of their everyday lives.

Fredrik