Growing herbs from seed is not only rewarding but can also save you money and trips to the grocery store. Fresh herbs easily elevate even basic dishes and are extremely easy to grow — all you need are seeds, soil and pots, and you're ready to get started.
Our top pick, Home Grown's Vault - Heirloom Herbs Garden, comes with a dozen varieties and an informative booklet to help your garden thrive.
When buying herb seeds, the first thing to decide on is what types of herbs you want to grow. You can buy single-variety packs of seeds if you're only looking to grow one type of herb. If you want to cultivate a full herb garden, choose a pack that contains a range of herb types. Common herbs to grow include basil, cilantro, parsley, chives and dill. Less common options include chamomile, savory and anise.
Consider whether you want to grow your herbs indoors or outdoors. The great thing about herbs is that all varieties are suitable for both indoor and outdoor growing, but depending on the climate where you live, some won't thrive outdoors year-round. Basil, for instance, requires sun and warmth to thrive. While you can grow it indoors on a sunny windowsill year-round, it will die outside at the first sign of frost, which means it has a very short growing season in some areas.
In theory, heirloom herb seeds are more unusual or heritage varieties that you'd be unlikely to find in stores and have been grown and maintained by gardeners and small-scale farmers over the years. In practice, the term "heirloom" in relation to seeds has no legal definition, so pay attention to the varieties you receive.
Open pollinated seeds grow true to type year after year, which is vital if you want to save seeds from the herbs you grow.
You can pay as little as $1-$2 for a single packet of herb seeds, whereas large sets with a dozen varieties or more and thousands of seeds can cost up to $50.
A. This depends on the variety. Herb seeds can take as long as two to four weeks to germinate, so be patient. After germination, some herbs including basil and cilantro grow large enough to harvest from within another month or two. Shrubby perennial herbs like rosemary are slower to grow and can take a year or two to reach a size where you get a decent harvest.
A. The number of herb seeds in a pack can range from 10 or 20 in a single small pack of seeds to as many as 10,000 in a large seed variety pack. Think about how many herb plants you're likely to grow, the germination rate and whether or not you'll get through them before they expire. While you can grow herbs from old seeds, the germination rate often drops over time.
Home Grown's Vault - Heirloom Herbs Garden
What you need to know: Containing more than 4,500 plus seeds of 15 varieties, this is a great choice for anyone who wants fresh herbs.
What we like: With an excellent germination rate, this set contains a mix of culinary and medicinal herbs. All seeds are non-GMO and open pollinated.
What you should consider: There have been a few complaints of an inconsistent number of seeds in each package.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
NatureZ Edge’s Heirloom Herb Seeds Variety Pack
What you need to know: An amazing value, this comes with a dozen herb varieties and roughly 8,500 seeds.
What you'll love: These quality seeds come from a small family business. They have a decent germination rate and are non-GMO. The heirloom varieties are different from those you'd find in the store.
What you should consider: There are more seeds than most people can use before they expire.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sustainable Seed Company’s Culinary Herb Seeds Collection
What you need to know: While these seeds have a few flaws, you get plenty for your money with 10 packs of herb seeds and coconut coir pucks to grow them in.
What you'll love: This set contains nine popular culinary herbs plus lavender, which can be cooked with but is often grown decoratively. They come in eco-friendly packaging. The seeds are non-GMO.
What you should consider: There have been some complaints of missing seeds, fewer seeds than advertised and poor germination rates.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
