Here is a nice approach to putting in a simple herb garden from Rebecca's Garden. Hers is quite large at twelve feet by twelve feet. You might only start with a four by four foot square, using some or all of the herbs below if they appeal to you. Add a bench and perhaps a sundial, and voila! As you gain confidence, you can enlarge the garden and add more plants.*
Begin with something familiar.
Parsley is a nice herb to start with. It comes in two types, a flat leafed Italian type and the curly, extra curly or sometimes even extra curly dwarf type. They all taste like parsley so pick the one you like the look of. Some cooks prefer the Italian and say it has a better flavor, but honestly, I think the curly is prettier when you use it as a garnish. It also looks tidier in the garden.
Basil is popular, too. Most of us have eaten and enjoyed it in spaghetti sauce. It is also easy to grow. There are lots of varieties of basil on the market and some people make a big fuss over which type to grow. If you are starting out, try the plain old sweet basil and maybe a purple-leafed variety just for some extra color in the garden.
Mint is also familiar and most people like the flavor. Mint needs moist soil and can take over the garden so grow it in a big pot which you can keep well watered. Mint is the official "Herb of the Year" this year so there is an almost bewildering variety of named types to chose from. Spearmint is yummy in fruit salad and in your iced tea, peppermint tastes a bit stronger, some of the mints have two-toned decorative leaves and so on. Your best bet is to bruise a leaf and buy the one that smells the best.
Chives are a nice addition to the herb garden if for no other reason than their blooms. Ordinary garden chives produce purple blooms in May, garlic chives bloom later in white. Garlic chives have a flatter leaf and a stronger oniony taste. I use ordinary chives in my flower garden and garlic chives in my vegetable garden so that tells you what I think!
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