Having your own organic herb garden in your home isn’t as hard as you think! Here’s a quick rundown on the basics to help you get started with tending to your own herbs.

Choose the right herbs. This is the first step before you can really start anything. As they say, you need to choose wisely. It’s best to research which herbs grow best in the Philippines’ climate. You need to know if the herbs can tolerate partial or full sunlight, how much you need to water them and so on. 

SEE: Herbs you can grow at home

Start Small. If you’re new to herb gardening, keep in mind that you need to start small. Don’t go crazy with the tools and the herbs and spending your money just yet. Just start with a few herbs you know you can give your utmost attention to and cultivate those first. Perhaps starting with one or two herbs first, particularly basil and mint due to the easy maintenance, to get you started.

From Seeds or Seedlings? This is a typical question when you start gardening, should you start growing herbs from seeds or seedlings? Ultimately, it’s up to you, but note that growing herbs from seeds can take a lot longer to grow until they are ready for harvest. If you’d prefer to use seedlings, take a look at your local garden store! 

Plant Maintenance. The good thing about herbs is that they require very little maintenance. Usually, when herbs are exposed to direct sunlight, their flavor and aroma become more intense. Most herbs also benefit from regular pruning as it helps them grow more leaves. Pruning herbs means simply cutting off the top two layers right before the third node. These cuttings may be dried under direct sunlight and stored for future use.

If you’re growing herbs in containers, you should remember to use well-draining soil. This soil should have a good mix of compost, coco, peat, and perlite. In case you don’t have perlite, small rocks or pebbles can be used to line the bottom of the pot. Herbs rarely need fertilizers, but it helps to add compost into the soil at least once a month. Herbs are also usually pest resistant and some can actually help repel common insects. This is why herbs are the perfect companion for other plants you might have at home.