Herbs are most definitely the best bang for effort and buck.
I simply can’t keep japanese beetles off the basil. If left unattended for a weekend in the summer, I will find an entire basil plant stripped bare by those little bastards....
Our friend a neighbor built an incredible greenhouse in which she grows all sorts of vegetables and herbs year-round. Somehow aphids found their way in and their population can explode overnight. She uses beneficial wasps to control the aphid population. She was showing us photos of the aphid husk left behind after the wasp eggs hatch in the aphid and find their way out. It was pretty incredible.
She can’t eliminate them, but keeps the population under check. Fortunately, we don’t have Japanese Beetles here in North Idaho. I remember my mom always battling them in her rose gardens in upstate NY and west of Philadelphia. Horrible pest.
For what herbs cost to buy, they are worth growing.
I grow garlic every years.
I have an oregano patch that is taking over the raised bed it’s in. That and sage are perennials.
Thyme is a little tougher to grow, but can do well. I had great luck with it in NY and have not done well with it here in NH.
Most of the common herbs do well in a garden even in the northern states.
mark
I liked Peaches the best
I use more cilantro in my cooking than I seem to be able to grow, so that’s one of the only ones I purchase year round anymore.
If anyone has tips for growing cilantro in zone 5b/6a, I’m all ears.
I pick up my herb at the store by the ounce grown by professionals
L8r
I always grow a number of Basil varieties for my own use and let them flower later in the season for pollinators. Flowering stalks of Basil also make lovely bouquet ‘fillers’ with Zinnia and other summer flowers.
I have two Rosemary plants that I’ve been able to over-winter for two years in a row now; they’ve been moved back to the greenhouse for the season, yesterday.
I don’t use much Cilantro, but it is very easy to grow. Some years I grow garlic. I absolutely LOVE French Tarragon on chicken, in soups and with eggs/omelettes. :)
If you need to buy herbs, The Spice House has great prices. They sell ‘flat packs’ with no shipping on most herbs and blends.
My wife and a neighbor have a large pot (28” diameter) with Basil, Cilantro, Curly Parsley and Chives. Easy to maintain and use with plenty for both 2-person households.