Six Herbs for Spring

Spring is the season of beginnings — tender leaves, fresh flavors, and gardens waking up after winter’s rest. While many gardeners rush toward tomatoes and peppers, experienced herb growers know that the real magic of spring starts with herbs.

These early-season herbs do far more than flavor your kitchen. They improve soil health, attract pollinators, repel troublesome insects, and support neighboring plants through natural companion planting. In many ways, herbs act as the quiet caretakers of the garden, creating balance long before summer arrives.

 

Planting a thoughtful mix of herbs in spring sets the tone for the entire growing season. The six herbs below are hardworking companions that nurture both your garden ecosystem and your spring table.

 

Basil: Basil can benefit the growth petunias and the flavors of tomatoes, asparagus, peppers and oregano; it should not be planted near common rue or sage, and it will kill rosemary. To increase the essential oils in your basil, plant chamomile or anise.

 

Borage: Borage acts as a deterrent to tomato hornworms and cabbage worms and is known to attract bees and wasps. It also improves soil composition and helps any plants near it be more resistant to both pests and disease. Plant borage with strawberries, tomatoes or squash to enhance both the flavor and amount of your fruit or vegetable harvest.

 

Chamomile: In addition to increasing the essential oils of any nearby herbs, chamomile can help basil, wheat, onions, cabbage and cucumber plants. This herb also attracts hoverflies and wasps, which assist in pollination and prey on aphids and other pest insects.

 

Chives: A long-term investment, chives are often planted in conjunction with tomatoes, carrots, apple trees and roses. At first growth they will repel aphids from tomatoes, mums and sunflowers, and after about three years they have known to prevent apple scab and rose black spot.

Cilantro / Coriander: This familiar kitchen spice will deter aphids, potato beetles, and spider mites. It’s a good companion to anise, caraway, spinach and dill. If you have continued problems with spider mites, a tea made from coriander can repel them.

 

Dill: Companion to lettuce, cabbage, onions, sweet corn and cucumbers, dill should not be planted near carrots, caraway, lavender or tomatoes (it attracts tomato horn worms). This herb will keep aphids, spider mites and squash bugs from taking over your garden and will attract hoverflies, wasps, and honeybees. To avoid cross-pollination, don’t plant dill near fennel.

 

Simple Recipes Using Your Six Spring Herbs

One of the joys of growing herbs is walking from garden to kitchen with fresh ingredients in hand. These easy recipes celebrate the bright, clean flavors of spring and encourage frequent harvesting — which keeps plants thriving.

Spring Garden Herb Butter

Perfect for vegetables, grilled meats, potatoes, or warm bread.

• 1 stick softened butter
• 2 Tbsp fresh chives, minced
  
  
  
• 1 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tsp fresh dill
• 1 tsp chopped cilantro
• Pinch lemon zest
• Optional: edible borage flowers for garnish

Directions
Mix all ingredients until smooth. Roll into parchment paper to form a log and chill. Slice as needed.

Tip: Freeze extra herb butter for summer grilling season.

Herbal Spreads and butters were among the first blends I created and are still the most popular, see a list of all of them here: Herb Butters

Chamomile & Basil Spring Tea

• 1 Tbsp fresh or dried chamomile flowers
• 3–4 fresh basil leaves
• 2 cups hot water
• Honey or lemon (optional)

Directions
Steep herbs for 5–7 minutes. Strain and enjoy warm or chilled.

Of if you want a more rounded tea flavor featuring Chamomile, check out these teas from Backyard Patch Herbs.

Fresh Spring Herb Salad Dressing

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice or herbal vinegar
  
  
  
• 1 Tbsp chopped dill
• 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro
• 1 Tbsp chopped chives
• ½ tsp honey
• Pinch black pepper

Directions
Whisk together and toss with fresh greens, cucumbers, or roasted asparagus.

For A set of our Salt-free Salad Dressing mixes, check out this: Salad Dressing bundles

Borage Blossom Strawberry Salad

• Fresh strawberries, sliced
• Baby greens
• Borage flowers
• Goat cheese or toasted nuts
• Light vinaigrette

Directions
Combine ingredients and top with borage blossoms just before serving. Their cucumber-like flavor highlights spring fruit beautifully.

Spring herbs remind us that gardening is not just about harvest — it is about relationships. These plants feed pollinators, protect neighboring crops, enrich soil, and reward us with fresh flavor long before the main garden reaches its peak.

By planting basil, borage, chamomile, chives, cilantro, and dill, you create a garden that works with nature instead of against it. A few thoughtfully placed herbs can transform both your garden beds and your meals, inviting you to slow down, harvest often, and celebrate the season of renewal.

Plant generously, harvest freely, and let spring begin with herbs.

 

Rose and Anise Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

This month we have a couple of uncommon herbs to use in our tea. Yarrow and Anise hyssop.  The both make a sweeter, yet earthy tea flavor and are great compainons to the added citurs flavors of this blend.

Yarrow has a number of surprising benefits, including helping wounds heal faster, reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure.  It assists with blood clotting and regulating asthma symptoms. It also helps maintain a regular period. It has also been know to reduce anxiety.

Anise Hyssop - Used as an infusion in tea and cold remedies will relieve congestion. It is also used to strengthen a weak heart. A hot infusion will induce perspiration and is therefore useful in treating fevers. A cold infusion of Agastache foeniculum leaves is used to relieve pains in the chest from excessive coughing.

Rosehips- Rosehips are the seed-filled bulbs that grow at the base of the blossom of a rose. They have been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Native Americans have used rosehip tea to soothe sore throats and indigestion.  Rosehips contain vitamins C, E, and B as well as other minerals and antioxidants.  They also contain a substance that may ease inflammation.

Bee Balm – a native of North America the possess vibrant, tube-shaped flowers, in shades of red, pink, purple which attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. In tea it is great for digestive problems and boosting immunity. An antioxidant it is also supportive to the respiratory and urinary systems.

Rosehip and Anise Hyssop Tea

• 2 parts Rose Hips
• 3 parts Anise Hyssop
• 3 parts Yarrow
• 1 part Bergamot

Combine ingredients and use 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup of hot water. Allow to steep 5 to 7 minutes.

Stimulating Tub Tea - Bath Blend of the Month

This blend is perfect for energizing in the before spring doldrums.  It has lavender and lemon verbena as well as citrus peel.

The lavender is balancing and will rejuvenate when combined with citrus scents. With lemon verbena the scent is relaxing and the effect is anti-bacterial.  Add to that the antibacterial and anti-viral properties of the citrus peel and you have a blend that will stimulate as well as heal. And the lemongrass essential oil is a great germ-fighter.

Stimulating Bathtub Tea

• ½ cup lavender flower buds
• ½ cup lemon verbena (or lemon balm) leaves
• ½ cup chopped lemon or orange peel
• 10 drop lavender essential oil
• 6 drops lemongrass essential oil

Mix well in a large bowl.  Add essential oil.  Place ¼ cup of mixture into a cotton sachet or the center of a wash cloth and tie shut. 

To Use: Place sachet in hot bath water for 3 to 5 minutes before sliding in to enjoy the bath.