How to Choose the Right Herbs for Your Farm

Through my work at Meeting House Farm, I get to know a lot of other small growers. Many are just beginning to explore herbs as a crop, while others are already growing a few varieties and want to know what to add next. Both groups often ask the same question: "Which herbs should I actually be growing?"

Whether you're planting your first herb bed or expanding an established operation, the principle is the same: you don't need to grow everything. Starting focused, or expanding strategically, allows you to master the growing, harvesting, and drying process without spreading yourself too thin.

Here's how to think about choosing herbs that make sense for your farm, no matter where you are in your herb-growing journey.

Start With What You Already Have

Some of the most valuable herbs might already be growing on your property. Some are plants you've been pulling out as weeds for years. For new herb growers, these offer a no-risk entry point. For experienced growers, they're often overlooked revenue opportunities hiding in plain sight.

• Nettle – Often dismissed as a weed, it can be one of the best sellers; It is commonly used in teas and nourishing herbal preparations

• Yellow Dock – A root harvest; traditionally included in herbal preparations that  support liver and digestive functions

• Burdock – Both the root and seeds are valued for culinary purposes, and it has a long history of use in traditional herbal preparations

• Dandelion – Often considered a weed, the leaves are often used for culinary purposes while the roots are commonly included in traditional herbal formulas

• Yarrow – Often sought for its drought resistance and ability to attract pollinators; both the flowers and leaves have been traditionally used in wound healing and reproductive and digestive support

• Mullein – An attractive, flowering biennial; often used for respiratory support

Consider Herbs That Double as Cover Crops

Often farmers are seeking cover crops to support their soil health and to act as weed control. Some common, high-value herbs can serve dual purpose as cover crops while adding to your income stream as medicinal herbs. 

• Milky Oats – Harvested at their immature milk stage, these buds are often used in teas and extracts to provide nervous system support; as cool-season cover crops they add biomass, prevent erosion, and improve soil health; winter-kill in most zones leaves an easy-to-manage mulch for spring planting

• Red Clover – This consistent-selling herb is an excellent cover crop working as a nitrogen fixer, improving water retention, and breaking down roots in compacted soil; as an herb its flowers are used for culinary purposes and to support women's health

When you can harvest a crop and build your soil at the same time, that's smart farming, whether it's your first herb or your fiftieth.

Think in Time Horizons: Annuals, Perennials, and Roots

Different herbs require different levels of patience and investment. Understanding these timelines helps you plan for both short-term returns and long-term stability.

If you're new to herbs, annuals give you quick feedback and help you build processing confidence while producing a harvestable crop the first year. If you're already growing herbs, mixing in perennials and roots creates a more diversified, resilient operation that can reduce labor and costs over time.

Annuals for Quick Returns (Year 1)

• Culinary herbs such as Basil, Dill, Oregano, Parsley – These easy-to-grow and well-known herbs are popular for culinary uses; sell them fresh at market or dried

• Tulsi (Holy Basil) – A high-demand medicinal basil commonly included in herbal practices to manage stress; it adapts well to various climates and while a perennial in India can be grown as an annual in almost all of the United States

• Calendula – A vibrant flowering herb and excellent pollinator plant; frequently used in topical preparations and skin support

• Chamomile – Familiar to consumers and easy to start from seed; often used in teas

Reliable Perennials (2 to 3 Years)

• Lemon Balm – Member of the mint family; often used in calming teas

• Skullcap – Also in the mint family; traditionally used in herbal preparations focused on nervous system balance

• Catnip – Popular with pet owners and also used by herbalists in tea blends

• Other Mint Varieties – Apple mint, spearmint, and peppermint all sell well and are popular for culinary uses

Roots: A Longer-Term Investment (3 to 4 Years)

• Echinacea purpurea – This variety offers the benefit of harvesting leaves and flowers in year 1, with roots ready around year 3; often included in immune focused herbal blends

• Marshmallow – Leaves and flowers on this herb can also be harvested in year 1, with roots in year 3; often used in teas for its soothing properties to support both the respiratory and digestive systems

• Ashwagandha – An annual root crop (can be harvested in year 1), it is popular with herbalists for a range of potential health benefits including nervous system support and anti-inflammatory properties

• Valerian – This root has strong demand as sleep and nervous system support

• Solomon's Seal – A native woodland herb with roots commonly used to support joints and digestion

Focus on Proven Market Demand

While it's fun to experiment, your core herb selections should focus on herbs with established market demand. Whether you're choosing your first three herbs or deciding what to add to your existing dozen, start with proven sellers.

The herbs I've listed above aren't just easy to grow, they're consistent sellers. At Meeting House Farm and across our collaborative of 50+ growers, we sell out of nettle, milky oats, red clover, calendula, and echinacea every year. These aren't niche herbs, they're sought after by herbalists, apothecaries, tea companies, and health-conscious consumers.

That said, don’t be afraid to experiment once you’ve built your foundation of herbs with reliable demand.

Match Herbs to Your Climate and Soil

All the herbs I've mentioned thrive in zones 4-7, which covers much of the United States. If you're in a different region (like California or the South), you'll want to adjust your selections to suit your climate, but the principles remain the same:

• Harvest what might already be growing on your land

• Start with (or add) herbs that grow easily in your climate

• Choose herbs with proven demand

• Mix quick returns (annuals) with long-term investments (perennials and roots)

Start Small, Scale Thoughtfully

You don't need a huge footprint to generate meaningful income from herbs. A quarter acre can produce over a thousand pounds of dried herbs annually if you have the infrastructure to dry and process them properly. Whether you're new to herbs or expanding, your drying capacity should guide how much you grow, not the other way around.

For new growers: Start with a small, focused selection. Learn what sells. Master your post-harvest process. Then expand intentionally.

For experienced growers: Before adding more varieties or acreage, make sure your dry room can handle the volume. Scaling your infrastructure should happen before, or alongside, scaling your production.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right herbs isn't about growing the most varieties, it's about growing herbs that fit your land, your skills, your infrastructure, and your market.

If you're just starting out, begin with what's already on your land, and then add one or two annuals for quick feedback and returns. When that is working well, add in some perennials for growing returns.

If you're already growing herbs, look for gaps in your offerings. Are you missing high-demand perennials? Could cover crop herbs add value to your rotation while improving your soil? Do you have the drying capacity to add roots?

Remember: herbs don't need to replace the core crops you already grow, such as vegetables or flowers. But, they can expand what's possible.