9 Herbs That Grow Best in the Pacific Northwest

If you haven’t already planted an herb garden, you should know that there are a number of herbs that truly love the Pacific Northwest. Planting and maintaining a happy little herb garden in Seattle is easy if you know which herbs are most likely to thrive here. And May is the ideal time to establish a new herb garden because it’s typically well past the last frost date.

Choose a sunny location for your herbs by either digging out soil or creating a raised bed or rock garden. Container herb gardens also work nicely in this part of the world because herbs don’t usually require a lot of fertilizer or deep soil. Herbs like being planted directly into the ground but they also enjoy life in a roomy pot. Below are 9 herbs that grow easily in the Pacific Northwest:

• Thyme – Plant this herb in a dry, sunny location. It grows low to the ground so it would do best along a wall or a path. Use fresh thyme to spice your spaghetti sauces.
• Lavender – Choose a hardy variety of this herb such as English lavender (Munstead or Hidcote) and it will last forever despite cold winter weather.
• Mint – This plant prefers to have a little bit of sun and a little bit of shade, but generally, mint will thrive in the Pacific Northwest climate no matter where you plant it.
• Oregano – Oregano is a member of the mint family. Harvest the foliage each summer to control the spread of your oregano plant and it will come back year after year.
• Bee Balm – This herb attracts hummingbirds and provides an attractive red color to your garden. Transplant it to other areas of your garden for highlights when it starts to spread.
• Rosemary – This herb generally does well as long as the winter isn’t too harsh. It grows to the size of a shrub in the Pacific Northwest. It would do best if planted in an area sheltered from cold winter winds.
• Sweet Woodruff – This herb disappears over the winter, but reappears each spring, blossoming with tiny white flowers in May. It spreads slowly, but it makes a good groundcover to prevent weeds.
• Basil – Basil loves a little heat. Plant it in a sunny, warm spot in late May or early June and then keep it clipped. Pluck the leaves for use in sauces or pesto. Basil is an annual so you’ll need to replant it again the next year.
• Chives – Chives can add aesthetic interest to your herb garden with their spiky appearance and purple pom-pom flowers. Use it to make a hedge and take clippings to toss into salads or mashed potatoes.

An herb garden is a great way to make dishes healthier and more flavorful. Visit Greenwood Hardware to get your own personal herb garden started this spring! Come on in, or contact us today.