A Guide to Growth for New Gardeners
Are you new to gardening and not sure where to begin? You’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll share our favorite beginner-friendly plants along with easy tips to help your first garden thrive. Even if you’ve never planted anything before, these suggestions are a great way to start strong—and harvest confidently.
Why listen to us?
Gardening can feel overwhelming at first, but we’re here to make it simple. With over 30 years of experience in organic growing, we’ve tested hundreds of varieties and learned (sometimes the hard way!) what works best—especially for beginners. This series is our way of sharing that knowledge with you, so you can skip the guesswork and get straight to the good stuff.
This is the first post in our “Guide to Growth” series, where we’ll walk through some of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow. We’re kicking things off with herbs—a flavorful, low-maintenance starting point for any garden. Future posts will explore tomatoes, peppers, and a miscellaneous roundup of beginner-friendly veggies like zucchini, leafy greens, and brassicas.
So let’s dig in—starting with one of the most versatile and satisfying things you can grow: herbs!
🌿 Basil
Basil is a must-have for any new gardener thanks to its bold flavor and easygoing nature. For that classic taste, we recommend starting with Italian Large Leaf or Genovese Basil. This herb thrives in full sun, appreciates moist—but not soggy—soil, and grows best when you pinch off the flowers as they appear. While the tiny blossoms are pretty, leaving them on will slow the plant’s growth and turn the leaves bitter. With regular harvesting, basil will keep producing all season, making it perfect for pesto, pastas, salads, and more.
🌿 Rosemary
Rosemary is a strong, woody herb that’s both beautiful and easy to care for, making it a favorite for beginner gardeners. It thrives in full sun and prefers slightly dry, well-draining soil—perfect for those who might forget a watering day here and there. While it’s a slow grower at first, trimming it regularly will encourage bushier growth and prevent it from becoming too woody. Rosemary’s pine-like aroma and savory flavor make it perfect for roasted vegetables, breads, and marinades, and it grows just as well in a container as it does in the ground.
🌿 Sage
Sage is an aromatic, silvery-green herb that’s as low-maintenance as it is beautiful. It loves full sun and well-drained soil and doesn’t need frequent watering once established. Sage thrives when trimmed regularly, which helps it stay compact and flavorful. Be sure not to overwater—this herb is drought-tolerant and prefers to dry out between drinks. Sage leaves add a savory depth to dishes like roasted meats, soups, and pastas, and its soft texture makes it a charming addition to garden borders or containers.
🌿 Oregano
Oregano is a hardy, fragrant herb that’s a breeze to grow, even for first-timers. It does best in full sun and drier soil conditions and can tolerate some neglect once it’s settled in. Regular harvesting will keep the plant full and flavorful, and like basil, it’s best to pinch back any flowers to keep the leaves tasting their best. Oregano brings a bold, earthy flavor to Italian and Mediterranean dishes and also makes a great groundcover if planted in garden beds.
🌿 Thyme
Thyme is a compact and highly fragrant herb that’s perfect for small spaces or containers. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and only needs moderate watering—too much moisture can actually harm it. It’s a slow grower at first but becomes a hardy perennial with minimal upkeep. Regular trimming encourages new growth and keeps the flavor fresh. With its subtle, earthy notes, thyme enhances everything from roasted vegetables to soups and stews and is a staple in any kitchen garden.
🌿 Dill
Dill is a feathery, aromatic herb that’s surprisingly easy to grow and quick to reward you with flavor. It thrives in full sun and prefers soil that stays evenly moist, especially when it’s young. Dill grows tall and delicate, so it may benefit from a bit of staking in breezy areas. Like basil, pinching off flowers early helps extend the harvest and improve taste. It’s a go-to for pickling, seasoning seafood, or mixing into dips and dressings—and its soft, lacy foliage adds beauty to the garden as well.
🌿 Parsley
Parsley is a hardy, beginner-friendly herb that’s as practical as it is pretty. It prefers full sun to partial shade and benefits from regular watering to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Parsley can be grown as either curly or flat-leaf (Italian), both of which are flavorful and versatile in the kitchen. To keep your plant producing, harvest from the outer stems and avoid cutting the center. Parsley is perfect for garnishes, tabbouleh, soups, and adding a fresh green boost to just about any dish.
🌿 Chives
Chives are an easy, low-maintenance herb that returns year after year, making them a fantastic starter plant. They prefer full sun and regular watering but are fairly drought-tolerant once established. Chives grow in tidy clumps and can even flower with pretty purple blooms that are edible and bee-friendly. Snip them with scissors to encourage regrowth, and use the mild onion-flavored stems in salads, omelets, or on top of baked potatoes. They’re as decorative as they are useful!
🌿 Mint
There are many varieties of mint, each with their own subtle flavor differences, but all are refreshing and easy to grow. Mint thrives in sunny to partially shaded areas and prefers soil that stays consistently moist. One very important note—mint is extremely invasive when planted in the ground and can quickly take over a garden bed. Because of this, we strongly recommend growing it in pots or containers only. Just a few sprigs are enough to brighten drinks, desserts, or savory dishes, making mint a rewarding and fragrant addition to your garden!
Ready to Start Planting?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re already well on your way to a successful garden season. Herbs are an ideal place to begin—they’re low maintenance, highly rewarding, and delicious to use in everyday cooking and baking. Whether you're planting in a raised bed, window box, or sunny patio pot, we hope this guide gives you the confidence to dig in and grow.
🌱 Stay tuned for Part Two, where we’ll dive into beginner-friendly tomato varieties—packed with color, flavor, and sunshine.
In the meantime, stop by Biver Farms at the Tower Grove Farmers Market on Saturdays, shop online here for farm pickup, or shop our organic starter plants at various STL retailers to pick up your favorite herb starts or reach out with questions—we’re always happy to help you grow.
Your garden journey starts here. Let’s grow something great together.