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How to Grow Your Own Herbs for Tea

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Imagine sipping a hot cup of tea, knowing that you grew each leaf yourself! Not only do you get the joy of gardening (and a beautiful, fragrant summer garden) but you get an abundant supply of fresh, organic tea leaves.

You don’t need a lot of space to grow enough for an entire winter season of tea. This article will show you how!

Choosing the Right Plants

Most fragrant herbs are delicious in tea! These are our top 4 choices plus a must-have for natural sweetness. All are easy to grow, and most are perennial in USDA zones 4 or warmer.

Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora) (Shop here): Known for its intense fragrance, lemon verbena makes a refreshing and uplifting tea. This tender perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it a delightful addition to your garden.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) (Shop here): With its vibrant lemon scent, lemon balm adds a delightful citrus note to your tea. This herb is resilient and grows well in partial shade to full sun. It’s also known for its stress-relieving benefits.

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) (Shop here): Peppermint is a perennial, vigorous grower and a popular choice for teas. Its strong minty flavor is perfect for soothing digestive issues and even is a strong mosquito repelling plant! It will grow well in containers too.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) (Shop here): Lavender tea offers a unique floral flavor and a calming aroma. This drought-tolerant plant loves full sun and well-drained soil. It’s also a beautiful addition to any garden with its striking purple flowers.

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) (Shop here): Stevia is a natural sweetener that can enhance the sweetness of your tea without adding calories. This easy-to-grow herb prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Grow it in containers or in your garden and just pinch off a leaf or two for instant sweetness.

Preparing Your Garden Space

Creating the ideal environment for your tea plants is crucial for their growth and health. Here’s how to prepare your garden space:

Sunlight and Soil: Most tea herbs prefer full sun, though some can tolerate partial shade. Ensure your garden area receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. The soil should be well-draining and rich in organic matter. If your soil is heavy clay or sandy, amend it with compost to improve its texture and fertility.

Containers or Ground: These plants work both in-ground or in containers. They all have lovely leaf structure and some have flowers so they do well in patio pots or even window boxes mixed with annual flowers. Perennials herbs make stunning foundation plantings or a pretty addition to a regular veggie garden (and they make great companion plants! Just note that perennial plants in pots will not survive freezing temps unless you protect the roots.

Watering: These herbs prefer consistent moisture but not soggy soil. Some like lavender even do better if left to slightly dry out between waterings. Water your plants early in the morning to allow leaves to dry out during the day and water from the bottom instead of overhead. When watering be sure to give enough so the water gets to the bottom of the root structure.

Planting and Care Tips

Follow the planting recommendations for depth and spacing that’s on the plant tag. Once planted, apply a layer of mulch around your plants to help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Organic mulches like straw, shredded leaves, or bark are excellent choices.

Herbs are generally not heavy feeders, but they benefit from a light application of compost or a balanced organic fertilizer during the growing season. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to lush foliage with less flavor.

Harvesting, Brewing, and Drying Your Tea

Once your plants are flourishing, it’s time to harvest and prepare your tea leaves.

Pruning and Harvesting: Regularly prune your herbs to encourage bushier growth and prevent them from becoming leggy. Harvest leaves in the morning after the dew has dried but before the heat of the day. This timing ensures the highest concentration of essential oils, which contribute to the flavor and aroma of your tea. Avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at a time to ensure continued growth. All of these herbs will continue to grow until the first hard freeze.

Blending and Brewing: Experiment with different combinations to create your unique tea blends. A good starting blend might include lemon balm or lemon verbena with a touch of peppermint for a soothing, aromatic tea.

How to Make Fresh Tea: You can use herbs right out of the garden. Simply harvest a handful of leaves, rinse them gently to remove any dirt or insects, and pat them dry. For a single cup of tea, use about a tablespoon of fresh herbs. Place the herbs in a tea infuser or directly into your cup, then pour hot water over them. Allow the tea to steep for 5-7 minutes to extract the full flavor. Fresh herbs tend to have a milder taste compared to dried ones, so you might want to use a bit more if you prefer a stronger flavor.

How to Dry Herbs for Tea: To dry your herbs, spread them out on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight. Or You can also use a drying rack or hang small bunches upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area or dry with an electric dehydrator. Ensure they are completely dry before storing to prevent mold growth. Use about one teaspoon of dried herbs per cup of hot water, steep for 5-10 minutes, and enjoy.

Store fresh herbs in a glass of water or in a container in the refrigerator. Store dried herbs in airtight containers away from light and heat.

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How To Grow Fresh Herbs Indoors.

You don’t have to give up on fresh herbs once gardening season is over! You can grow all your favorites through the winter and all you need is a few pots, some soil, and a sunny window. Some gardeners move outside potted herbs inside in the fall but this can be stressful for the plant and runs the risk of introducing outside pests to your indoor growing environment. And usually by the end of one growing season, herbs have either gotten too large to move or have gone to flower and seed, neither of which gives you tasty fresh herbs. We recommend starting with fresh, new plants that you’ll keep inside until next spring. This article will teach you how to plant, grow, and maintain and indoor herb garden.

Choosing the Right Herbs

Some herbs such as mint do not do well indoors as they need room to spread and a long period of sunshine to grow. Choose instead herbs that you’ll use frequently in winter cooking such as thyme, oregano, sage, or rosemary. These herbs also grow in a compact style so they won’t need extra-large pots or a lot of room.

Start with a pot about two times the size of the plant’s root ball and one that has good drainage.. Be sure to put a drip tray underneath it! We recommend one herb per pot so you can better control each one’s light and inputs. Some may grow faster than others and could compete with a pot companion for light, water, and nutrients.

Light Needs for Indoor Herb Gardens.

Position your indoor herb garden near a south- or west-facing window so your herbs will get at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. Just make sure it’s not too cold or drafty close to the window. You can also supplement a full-spectrum grow light placed 6 to 12 inches above the herbs for 12 to 16 hours a day or plant your herbs in an all-in-one tabletop herb garden.

Soil, Water, and Feed Needs of Indoor Herbs

Most herbs will do just fine with a regular potting soil mix as long as they have good drainage. Like all potted plants, though, they need more frequent feeding. Be sure to choose a food- and pet-safe fertilizer.

Speaking of pets, like many household plants, some common herbs are toxic to cats and dogs. Be sure to research the plant you’re bringing in and keep it in a location your pets can’t reach.

Just like outside plants, your indoor garden will need regular watering. Unlike outdoor plants, though, they will not have their preferred humid environment (you’d be surprised how much plants get from humid air). If possible keep a small humidifier going near your plant (not straight on them). Alternatively, fill your waterproof drip trays with decorative pebbles and let the water sit in them to slowly evaporate around the plant.  

Many herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and sage are susceptible to overwatering so allow your plants to dry slightly out between watering. This especially true as winter days shorten which signals to your plants to use less water and nutrients and slow down growing. Adding a grow light during the darkest days of winter will help ease this change. Use either filtered water or let plant water sit for a few hours in an open container to off-gas chlorine and other chemicals in treated city water.

Like all houseplants, indoor herb gardens are susceptible to pests. Keep an eye out for common indoor pests like aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies and treat appropriately with food-safe methods.

To use herbs, just snip off as much as you need for cooking or drying but leave at least one-third of the plant for regrowth. Don’t let your herbs flower or go to seed (unless you want the seed) because this greatly slows down leaf growth.

Once spring rolls around again, you can plant these herbs outside to get a head start on the season. Just make sure you properly harden them off so you don’t shock their systems with an outdoor lifestyle!

Now is a great time to plant an indoor herb garden so you’ll never be without fresh herbs. We have sage, rosemary, thyme, and few other varieties still in stock but they are going quickly. Shop here.

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10 Best Herbs to Plant with Veggies

Companion planting is a great way to maximize garden space and promote natural, healthy growth of your vegetables. When planted strategically together, plants will protect each other from pests and insects; nurture the soils; enhance the flavor; and even provide a support structure and shelter from wind or sun.

Shop all of These Herb Plants Here | Buy 2, Get 1 Free!

Using herbs as your companion plants also brings the added bonuses of a ready supply of fresh herbs that also look beautiful in your garden. Many of these herbs on this list also attract pollinators which benefits every plant, tree, and bush growing in your yard. And some (basil, mint, thyme, and lavender) naturally repel mosquitoes! Table is included at the end of this blog post. (Brassicas include: Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Brussels Sprouts.)

Basil + Tomatoes or Peppers: Basil repels repel whiteflies, mosquitoes, spider mites, and aphids and improve the flavor of the fruit. Avoid planting near chamomile or mint.

Lavender + Brassicas and Fruit Trees: Lavender will repel cabbage moths and codling moths that are drawn to apple trees.

Mint + Peas: Deters white cabbage moths, aphids, and flea beetles. Do not plant near parsley and beware because Mint is a vigorous spreader.

Nasturtiums + Cucumbers: Nasturtiums are edible and also attract aphids, cucumber beetles, and squash bugs.

Oregano + Almost Anything: Oregano is a great garden buddy for most plants that are affected by insects like aphids.

Rosemary + Brassicas, Collards, Beans, or Carrots: Repels mosquitoes, cabbage moths, Japanese beetles, and carrot flies.

Sage + Brassicas: Sage repels cabbage moths, cabbage worms, and black flea beetles. Avoid planting with fennel or cucumbers.

Sweet Marjoram + Brassicas or Asparagus: Marjoram is good at repelling cabbage moths and fit well between rows for good coverage.

Tarragon + Eggplant: Tarragon pairs well with most plants but provides the best partner with eggplant. Do not plant with parsley or dill.

Thyme + Brassicas and Strawberries: Deters cabbageworm, whiteflies, and cabbage maggots.