May 12, 2026
You spent the money on herbs. You watched them grow. Now what?
There's a whole season of flavor sitting in your garden, and most of it never makes it to your kitchen. This episode walks you through how to actually use what you grow — fresh, dried, frozen, and blended — from the first oregano harvest in spring all the way through cilantro in winter.
Free Download: Herbs Quick Reference Chart A handy cheat sheet for growing and using your favorite kitchen herbs. http://journeywithjill.net/herbchart
🌿 Live Workshop — Everyday Kitchen Herbs (Tuesday, May 19th) Join Jill live in her garden as she walks you through 12 kitchen herbs — growing, harvesting, and using each one. You can ask questions in the chat in real time. Register here → https://journeywithjill.net/herb-workshop
Key Takeaways
- Harvest perennial herbs like oregano, mint, and thyme in spring when they're at their peak — before summer heat sets in
- Preserve flavor by storing dried herbs whole in jars, then grinding only when you're ready to use them
- Basil pesto freezes beautifully in silicone trays, giving you homegrown flavor all winter long
- Cilantro does best when you let it self-seed and volunteer — your fall and winter harvest will be stronger for it
- You don't have to do all of this at once — pick one herb, one method, and start there
Resource Links
Free Download: Herbs Quick Reference Chart → http://journeywithjill.net/herbchart
Everyday Kitchen Herbs Workshop (May 19th, live) → https://journeywithjill.net/herb-workshop
Connect with Jill:
- Friday Emails → https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup
- YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos
- Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/
- Podcast Archive → https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/
- Oregano vs. Marjoram — What's the Difference? https://journeywithjill.libsyn.com/338-oregano-vs-marjoram
Ready for a simple system to plan and track your whole garden? My Complete Garden Planner makes it easy → https://shop.journeywithjill.net/
Sponsors for This Episode
Garden in Minutes — Easy-to-install garden bed irrigation that takes the guesswork out of watering. Use code Jill at checkout for 7% off regular-priced items → http://journeywithjill.net/gardeninminutes
Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.
Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.