21 Best Homesteading Herbs For Your Spring Garden - A Comprehensive Guide!

Spring has nearly sprung, homesteaders. And it’s time to dig into the dirt with gusto! Let’s transform your garden into a flavor-packed paradise with our 21 best homesteading herbs list. These delicious herbs are perfect for snipping, sipping, and savoring all season.

Epic rock garden spiral with lovely herbs growing and flourishing.

Sound good?

Then, let’s sow some magic and harvest the good life together!

21 Best Homesteading Herbs Perfect For Spring Sowing

Imagine walking a few steps from your kitchen door to snip fragrant herbs that transform ordinary meals into extraordinary flavor! It all starts with these 21 fragrant, helpful, easy-to-grow herbs.

1. Chervil

A wooden sign in the garden next to the summer chervil herb plant.

Chervil brings a delicate anise-like flavor that elevates everyday dishes to French bistro status. It’s easy to love this feathery herb for its early spring appearance when the rest of the garden is barely awake.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7.
When To Sow Outdoors: In early spring, as soon as you can work the soil.
Plant Height: 12 to 24 inches.
Flavor: Delicate anise with parsley notes. Often described as a milder tarragon.

Chervil is perfect for brightening egg dishes and spring soups while serving as a natural companion plant that deters many garden pests. The subtle flavor diminishes with cooking, so adding a fresh pinch before serving is best.

2. Borage

Purple borage flowers blooming and growing in the garden.

Borage is a multitasking marvel for homesteaders with striking star-shaped blue flowers and cucumber-flavored leaves. And these edible flowers aren’t just beautiful garnishes for summer cocktails and salads! They also attract beneficial pollinators that boost your entire garden’s productivity.

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11.
When To Sow Outdoors: After the last frost, directly in the garden.
Plant Height: 1 to 3 feet.
Flavor: Mild cucumber taste in young leaves. Flowers have a sweet honey-like flavor.

Borage is also a dynamic self-seeding annual that provides beauty and function year after year with minimal effort.

3. Dill

Fresh dill plant growing in the backyard organic garden.

Dill is the homesteader’s preservation powerhouse! Beyond its crucial role in pickling, its feathery fronds add brightness to homegrown potatoes and garden-fresh fish. Dill flowers also attract beneficial garden bugs like ladybugs and predatory wasps that help control garden pests naturally.

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11.
When To Sow Outdoors: Early spring, 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost.
Plant Height: 2 to 4 feet.
Flavor: Grassy with anise-like sweetness. Seeds have more intense caraway notes.

For a continual harvest, succession plant dill every few weeks during the growing season, as it quickly goes to seed in hot weather.

4. Mint

Gorgeous mint plant with lush green leaves growing in a small pot.

Mint is the herb garden’s most enthusiastic resident! This prolific herb transforms simple ingredients into special treats – turning garden-fresh peas into mint-infused soup or homegrown berries into spectacular desserts. However, we confess that mint also spreads quickly and requires firm boundaries!

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 11.
When To Sow Outdoors: Spring after frost danger passes.
Plant Height: 1 to 3 feet.
Flavor: Cool, refreshing with sweet undertones. Taste also varies by variety.

Plant your mint in containers or install barriers at least 12 inches deep to prevent it from colonizing your garden through its vigorous underground runners.

5. Sage

Fresh green sage plant growing in the backyard herb garden.

Sage is a delectable, hardy perennial that brings robust flavor and healing properties to the homestead garden. Its velvety leaves are perfect for holiday meals. Sage also works year-round in sausage making, bread baking, and as a natural preservative for homestead meats.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 11.
When To Sow Outdoors: Spring after the last frost.
Plant Height: 1 to 2.5 feet.
Flavor: Earthy, slightly peppery with pine notes. Aromatic and savory.

Beyond culinary uses, many old-school homesteaders treasure sage for its cleansing properties and burn dried bundles to purify spaces. Sage tea is also famous for soothing sore throats.

6. Thyme

Healthy green thyme plant growing in the backyard garden.

Thyme epitomizes resilience in the homestead garden! It thrives in poor soil where other herbs struggle and forms beautiful low-growing mats. These mats suppress weeds while releasing their aromatic oils with each footstep. Thyme’s tiny leaves also pack intense flavor into homestead staples like bone broths, roasted meats, and preserved vegetables.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9.
When To Sow Outdoors: Spring after the soil has warmed.
Plant Height: 6 to 12 inches.
Flavor: Earthy, slightly floral with subtle mint and lemon notes.

For self-sufficient gardeners, thyme serves multiple purposes – as a culinary essential, a pollinator magnet, and a traditional remedy for coughs and respiratory ailments when steeped into a fortifying tea.

7. Fennel

Fennel plants with thick healthy bulbs growing in the backyard garden.

Fennel transforms the homestead garden into a wildlife sanctuary. It provides two distinct harvests – feathery fronds and crisp, anise-flavored bulbs. The tall, architectural plants become bustling habitats for beneficial insects, particularly as host plants for swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9.
When To Sow Outdoors: Early spring, 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost.
Plant Height: 3 to 5 feet.
Flavor: Sweet anise or licorice. Bulbs are more delicate with a slight sweetness.

Fennel bulbs work wonderfully for adding complexity to roasted vegetable medleys. The fronds also brighten homemade salad dressings and fish dishes. Harvested seeds are perfect for seasoning sausages or brewing into a traditional digestive tea that soothes upset stomachs.

8. Parsley

Freshly harvested garden parsley resting in a wicker basket.

Parsley brings persistent nutrition to the homestead. It offers vitamin-rich leaves even under snow in moderate climates. This biennial powerhouse packs more vitamin C than oranges and more iron than spinach, making it far more than just a zesty garnish.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9 (biennial, typically grown as annual).
When To Sow Outdoors: Early spring or fall.
Plant Height: 12 to 18 inches.
Flavor: Fresh, slightly peppery. Flat-leaf varieties have a stronger flavor than curly.

Kitchen-savvy homesteaders add parsley to daily meals through homemade chimichurri sauce, tabbouleh, or simple parsley pesto. It also has other benefits. The plant’s deep taproot helps break up compacted soil, improving garden beds for future plantings while attracting beneficial insects with its tiny flowers in its second year.

9. Oregano

Beautiful green oregano plant growing under the sun.

Oregano is the hardworking cornerstone of the homestead herb garden. It returns reliably each year while expanding to form a weed-suppressing ground cover. Its intense flavor concentrates during drying, perfect for winter pasta sauces, hearty stews, salads, and marinades.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 10.
When To Sow Outdoors: Spring after the last frost.
Plant Height: 1 to 2 feet.
Flavor: Pungent, spicy with earthy bitterness. Greek varieties are typically the most flavorful.

Beyond seasoning homegrown tomato harvests, oregano is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antitumor properties. The flowering plants also attract diverse pollinators while repelling many common garden pests.

10. Stevia

Epic and fresh stevia plants growing in the backyard garden.

Stevia brings potent natural sweetness to the self-sufficient homestead! This sweet leaf offers an alternative to store-bought sugar directly from the garden. The intensely sweet leaves can instantly upgrade summer teas. You can also dry or use it in homemade yogurts or preserves for year-round use.

USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 11 (grown annually in colder regions).
When To Sow Outdoors: After all the danger of frost, when soil is warm.
Plant Height: 1 to 3 feet.
Flavor: Intensely sweet with a slight licorice aftertaste. 30 to 40 times sweeter than sugar.

A small stevia patch provides guilt-free sweetening for countless homemade goodies. But unlike many perennial herbs, stevia requires winter protection in colder climates.

11. Lovage

Robust and thick spice lovage herb growing in the garden.

Lovage stands tall in the homestead garden, often reaching six feet with its celery-like intensity that transforms humble homegrown potatoes and beans into distinctive dishes. This perennial powerhouse returns reliably for years. They also provide epic hollow stems that you can use as biodegradable straws for garden-fresh tomato drinks.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9.
When To Sow Outdoors: Fall or early spring.
Plant Height: 3 to 6 feet.
Flavor: Intense celery with hints of anise and parsley. All parts are edible.

The leaves intensify soups and stocks, while harvested seeds rock for creating homemade celery salt. Lovage’s deep roots also help break up compacted soil, improving drainage throughout the garden while requiring little attention once established.

12. Nasturtium

Orange and beautiful nasturtium flowers growing in the garden.

Nasturtium brings edible beauty to the homestead garden! They deliver trailing vibrant blooms across garden beds or cascading from hanging baskets. These peppery flowers transform everyday salads into visual feasts. You can also pickle the seed pods as wild “capers” for winter antipasto platters.

USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual).
When To Sow Outdoors: After the last frost when the soil has warmed.
Plant Height: 12 inches (bush varieties) or trailing vines up to 10 feet.
Flavor: Peppery and slightly sweet. Similar to radish but milder.

Nasturtiums thrive in poor soil without added fertilizer. They’re perfect for garden edges and neglected corners that need beauty and function.

13. Rosemary

Rosemary plants with purple blossoming flowers growing in the backyard garden.

Rosemary is an aromatic sentinel in the homestead landscape! It develops woody stems and silver-green needles for year-round harvests in moderate climates. Rosemary (a Mediterranean native) also brings intense flavor to homestead staples like roasted meats, homemade bread, and preserved olives. You can even use rosemary’s sturdy stems as flavor-infused skewers for garden vegetables on the grill.

USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10.
When To Sow Outdoors: Spring after the last frost (typically propagated from cuttings).
Plant Height: 2 to 6 feet.
Flavor: Pine-like, woody aroma with notes of citrus and sage.

The oil-rich leaves have traditionally helped make homemade hair rinses, furniture polish, and natural moth repellents, making rosemary a multipurpose addition to self-sufficient living.

14. Marjoram

Healthy sweet marjoram leaves growing in the backyard garden.

Marjoram brings a gentle warmth to the homestead kitchen, offering sweet-spicy notes that enhance rather than dominate garden-fresh ingredients. It’s a tender perennial that deserves prime garden placement, where its delicate flavor can be easily captured by brushing against the plants while harvesting other vegetables.

USDA Growing Zones: 9 to 10 (grown annually in colder regions).
When To Sow Outdoors: After the last frost when the soil has warmed.
Plant Height: 1 to 2 feet.
Flavor: Milder and sweeter than oregano with subtle citrus and pine notes.

Though closely related to oregano, marjoram’s distinctive floral quality makes it perfect for homegrown poultry seasoning, handcrafted sausages, and garden vegetable medleys. Pot plants in cold climates in spring and before winter, ensuring fresh marjoram continues to brighten winter meals from a sunny windowsill.

15. Cilantro (Coriander)

Lovely coriander plants growing in the backyard soil plot.

Cilantro delivers double-duty value on the homestead! It offers bright, citrusy leaves and aromatic seeds (coriander) from the same plant. This garden multitasker enhances homemade salsas, salads, guacamole, Mexican dishes like tacos and burritos, Indian chutneys, Thai curries, Middle Eastern salads like tabbouleh, and rocks as a garnish for soups and sandwiches.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 11 (annual).
When To Sow Outdoors: In early spring and again in late summer for the fall harvest.
Plant Height: 1 to 2 feet.
Flavor: Leaves have a bright, citrusy flavor. Seeds (coriander) have warm, spicy notes.

The flowering plants attract beneficial parasitic wasps that help control garden pests naturally, making cilantro as applicable for garden health as culinary diversity.

16. Catnip

Orange tabby cat snacking on some backyard catnip in the garden.

Catnip earns its place in the homestead garden through versatility that extends far beyond feline entertainment. This vigorous member of the mint family works as a natural insect repellent when leaves are crushed and rubbed on the skin – it can protect you during summer harvests! The calming properties also make catnip tea a homestead remedy for restless sleep.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 9.
When To Sow Outdoors: Spring after the last frost.
Plant Height: 3 to 4 feet.
Flavor: Minty with lemony undertones – makes a calming tea for humans.

Catnip is also perfect if you have a few feline friends who love nothing more than to frolic in your herb garden.

17. Sorrel

Lovely sorrel plant with thick green leaves growing in the homestead garden.

Sorrel delivers a bright, lemony flavor to the homestead months before citrus fruits ripen in northern climates. This perennial green returns reliably each spring, providing vitamin-rich leaves for refreshing soups and salads when the garden is just waking up.

USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9.
When To Sow Outdoors: Early spring.
Plant Height: 12 to 18 inches.
Flavor: Bright, lemony tang with slight tartness. French varieties are milder.

French sorrel’s tangy punch transforms ordinary potatoes and eggs into distinctive meals, while its vibrant green sauce serves as the perfect complement to homestead-raised fish.

18. Basil

Thick green and healthy Italian basil plant growing in the organic garden.

Basil brings Mediterranean sunshine to the homestead garden! It forms the aromatic foundation of countless summer meals to help celebrate garden abundance. Beyond classic pesto that preserves the harvest, basil elevates homegrown tomatoes, zucchini, and eggplant into memorable meals.

USDA Growing Zones: 10 to 11 (grown annually in most regions).
When To Sow Outdoors: After thoroughly warming soil, typically late spring.
Plant Height: 12 to 24 inches (varies by variety).
Flavor: Sweet and aromatic – varies by variety from cinnamon to lemon or traditional Italian.

Basil is a heat-loving annual with many cultivars – from Thai to lemon to cinnamon. It also signals homesteaders to cold temperatures, as its tender leaves blacken at the first hint of frost.

19. Chives

Purple onion chive flowers growing and flourishing in the garden.

Chives return faithfully each spring, providing homesteaders a fresh harvest as the garden awakens. These perennial alliums offer mild onion flavor in early spring soups and salads, while their edible purple pompom flowers add distinctive color and flavor to herb vinegar.

USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 10.
When To Sow Outdoors: Early spring.
Plant Height: 12 to 18 inches.
Flavor: Mild onion flavor. Flowers have a more pungent, spicier taste.

Chives are another herb perfect for indoor winter growing. Dig small clumps in fall to grow on a sunny windowsill for winter harvests, ensuring fresh garden flavor during the coldest months.

20. Tarragon

Lovely and fresh tarragon plant growing with green fluffy leaves.

Tarragon brings sophisticated anise notes to the homestead kitchen! It elevates backyard eggs and garden vegetables with its distinctive French flair. Unlike many herbs, tarragon’s flavor intensifies with gentle cooking, making it perfect for creamy sauces featuring your favorite dairy products.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9.
When To Sow Outdoors: Spring after the last frost (French tarragon must propagate from cuttings).
Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet.
Flavor: Bittersweet with anise to licorice notes. French varieties have superior flavor.

For maximum production, you can divide tarragon plants every few years and harvest frequently to encourage tender new growth throughout the season.

21. Lemon Balm

Harvesting lemon balm leaves from the organic herb garden.

Lemon Balm brightens the homestead garden with crinkled leaves that release an intense citrus fragrance with each touch. This vigorous mint family member returns reliably each spring, providing calming tea that you will treasure for its gentle, relaxing properties. The bright, lemony leaves also upgrade homemade ice creams, shortbreads, and fruit salads with a naturally sweet flavor.

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9.
When To Sow Outdoors: Spring after the last frost.
Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet.
Flavor: Bright lemon with mint undertones. It’s sweeter than lemongrass.

Like its mint cousins, lemon balm spreads enthusiastically. Still, use this to your advantage by planting it where its runner-forming habit helps control slope erosion. It also attracts beneficial pollinators to the garden!

Conclusion

Mint plants growing in a massive hefty garden pot.

The humble herb garden is (arguably) the most efficient square footage on any homestead! It offers independence from grocery store spice aisles while connecting you to centuries of traditional wisdom. Start with just a handful of these resilient plants, and watch as they become the secret ingredients to better meals and a more vibrant, productive, and self-sufficient homestead.

What about you?

What herbs are you going to grow this spring?
Do you use herbs for tea, roasting, baking, or aromatherapy?
Are there any good homesteading herbs we should add to our list?

Thanks for reading

Have a great day!