🌿 Grow Your Own Flavor: Outdoor Herbs for Your Kitchen Garden
Is there anything better than stepping outside, snipping a few fresh herbs, and tossing them right into your dinner? Outdoor herb gardens are the perfect blend of beauty and practicality—especially for those of us who love to cook with fresh, local ingredients.
In Wisconsin, our growing season may be shorter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a thriving herb garden right in your backyard, porch, or patio container. Many herbs are hardy, fast-growing, and love our Midwest sunshine.
Here are our favorite kitchen herbs to grow outdoors—and how to make them thrive:
🌱 1. Basil
A warm-weather favorite, basil loves full sun and well-drained soil. Wait until after the last frost (usually mid-to-late May in Wisconsin) to plant it outside, and harvest often to encourage bushy growth.
Use it fresh in pesto, pasta, or paired with tomatoes for a garden-fresh caprese.
🌱 2. Thyme
Thyme is a hardy perennial in southern Wisconsin and thrives in dry, sunny spots. It handles cool nights well and spreads nicely in the garden or in pots.
Snip it for soups, roasted veggies, or marinades—it’s a flavor powerhouse.
🌱 3. Chives
Chives come back year after year and are one of the easiest herbs to grow in our region. They tolerate the cold, and their purple blooms are not only pretty but edible too!
Use them like green onions—perfect for potatoes, eggs, and dips.
🌱 4. Parsley
Parsley is biennial here, meaning it typically grows for two seasons before going to seed. Plant it in a partly sunny spot with moist soil, and you’ll be using it all season long.
Flat-leaf parsley has a stronger flavor for cooking, while curly parsley makes a lovely garnish.
🌱 5. Mint
Mint is a fast grower and thrives in Wisconsin's cooler climate—but keep it contained in a pot or raised bed. It spreads aggressively!
Great for teas, cocktails, and desserts—or muddled into fresh lemonade.
🌱 6. Oregano
This cold-hardy herb is another perennial in southern Wisconsin and loves the heat once established. Let it dry out slightly between waterings and give it space to sprawl.
A must-have for Italian and Mediterranean dishes.
🌱 7. Rosemary
Rosemary isn’t winter-hardy here, but it thrives in a sunny outdoor container all summer long. Bring it indoors before frost to keep it going through winter.
Use it in breads, roasted meats, or even infused oils.
🪴 Tips for Outdoor Herb Gardening in Wisconsin
Wait to Plant Warm-Weather Herbs: Basil, rosemary, and others should go outside after the last frost (mid-to-late May).
Use Containers for Flexibility: Great for patios, decks, or to keep mint contained.
Harvest Regularly: Trimming your herbs encourages new growth and better flavor.
Sun is Key: Most herbs need 6+ hours of sun per day—south or west-facing areas are best.
Water Smart: Morning watering helps prevent disease and lets soil dry out by evening.
Growing herbs outdoors is one of the easiest ways to connect your garden to your kitchen. Whether you're cooking up a feast or just adding a little flavor to your lunch, you'll love the convenience—and the taste—of fresh-picked herbs from right outside your door.
Stop into the garden center for healthy herb starts, outdoor-friendly pots, and soil that sets your garden up for success. Let’s grow your kitchen garden, one snip at a time! 🌿