How to Create a Tea Garden: Herbs to Grow, How to Cultivate Them, and Ways to Harvest & Use Them
I love tea in the evening. Something is soothing about a warm cup of tea with honey as you relax in your comfy chair. But my evening indulgence meant I had to purchase tea and often couldn’t find the specific herbal tea I loved. There were blends, and I didn’t know where the tea was coming from or what was in it or even how fresh it was. It was time to think about growing my own supply. But where to start? It’s surprisingly very easy.
Growing a tea garden is one of the most rewarding ways to bring beauty, fragrance, and wellness into your daily life. Whether you’re working with a sprawling backyard or a sunny balcony, you can grow flavorful herbal tea plants that turn ordinary moments into soothing rituals. You have to think about the best herbs to choose, how to plant and care for them, and how to harvest and use your garden-grown ingredients.
Why Grow a Tea Garden?
A home tea garden combines flavor, therapy, and sustainability:
• Freshness: Homegrown herbs taste brighter and richer than store-bought dried teas.
• Purity: You control soil, water, and fertilizer—ensuring your tea is free from additives or pesticides.
• Beauty: Tea herbs are ornamental and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
• Health: Many herbs promote relaxation, digestion, respiratory health, and general wellness.
Most tea herbs are hardy and low-maintenance, making this a beginner-friendly gardening project.
Choosing the Best Herbs for a Tea Garden
A great tea garden blends soothing herbs, aromatic plants, and flavorful additions. Below are the top choices, including growing details, flavor notes, harvest instructions, and how to use them in tea.
1. Mint (Peppermint, Spearmint, Apple Mint) (Peppermint is my first choice)
Mint forms the backbone of many herbal tea blends. Peppermint is bold and cooling, while spearmint is gentler and sweeter.
Growing Conditions:
• Sun: Partial sun to full sun
• Soil: Moist, rich soil
• Notes: Mint spreads aggressively—keep it in pots unless you want it to naturalize.
Harvesting:
Cut leafy stems regularly just above a leaf node to encourage fuller growth.
How to Use:
Excellent fresh or dried. Mint aids digestion and creates a refreshing tea on its own or in blends with lemon balm and chamomile.
2. Chamomile (German or Roman)
Chamomile produces delicate flowers with a light apple-honey aroma known for relaxation.
Growing Conditions:
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining
• Type: German chamomile is best for tea due to higher flower yield.
Harvesting:
Pinch off blooms when fully open. Dry them on a screen for long-term storage.
How to Use:
A soothing bedtime tea or perfect blend partner for lavender and lemon balm.
3. Lemon Balm (A personal favorite)
A citrusy, uplifting herb in the mint family, lemon balm is both flavorful and calming.
Growing Conditions:
• Sun: Partial shade preferred
• Soil: Moist, rich soil
• Notes: Cut back if it becomes leggy.
Harvesting:
Pick leaves before flowering for the most intense lemon flavor.
How to Use:
Add to relaxing evening blends, cold-brewed teas, or mint-based mixes.
4. Lavender (English Lavender)
Lavender brings beauty, fragrance, and a floral sweetness to your tea blends.
Growing Conditions:
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Dry, sandy, well-draining
• Notes: English lavender varieties offer the best culinary quality.
Harvesting:
Cut stems when buds swell but have not yet opened fully.
How to Use:
Use sparingly—lavender can overpower other herbs. Combine with chamomile, mint, or lemon verbena.
5. Lemon Verbena
Lemon verbena offers one of the purest, brightest lemon flavors available from any plant.
Growing Conditions:
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained
• Notes: Overwinter indoors in cold climates.
Harvesting:
Pick young leaves throughout the season; flavor intensifies during warm weather.
How to Use:
Makes superb hot or iced teas with a clean, citrusy aroma. Blends well with mint, rosemary, or fruit peels.
6. Ginger (or Ginger Mint)
True ginger can be grown in pots and is worth the effort for its bold, warming flavor.
Growing Conditions:
• Sun: Partial shade
• Soil: Rich, moist, and loose
• Notes: Ideal for warm climates but manageable indoors.
Harvesting:
Harvest rhizomes after 8–10 months or cut stems and leaves for a milder flavor.
How to Use:
Adds warmth to blends; pairs beautifully with lemon balm, lemongrass, and mint.
7. Lemongrass
A tall, aromatic grass with a bright citrus aroma.
Growing Conditions:
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Moist, fertile soil
• Notes: Grows well in containers and produces generously.
Harvesting:
Cut outer stalks near the base. The tender lower part is most flavorful.
How to Use:
Perfect for refreshing summer teas and digestive blends.
8. Rose Hips & Rose Petals
Roses add color, fragrance, and vitamin-rich tartness.
Growing Conditions:
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Rich, well-draining
• Notes: Choose pesticide-free varieties.
Harvesting:
Collect rose petals early in the morning. For rose hips, harvest after the first frost for sweetness.
How to Use:
Rose hips add a tangy flavor; petals add floral sweetness.
Designing Your Tea Garden
You can create a tea garden almost anywhere. Here are layout tips depending on your space.
Small Spaces: Pots, Containers & Balcony Gardens
Use:
• 8–12 inch pots for mint, lemon balm, and chamomile
• Large containers for lemongrass and ginger
• Hanging baskets for trailing herbs
Tip: Group pots by water needs—mints love moisture, while lavender prefers dry soil.
Garden Beds or Raised Beds
A dedicated tea garden bed can be beautiful and functional.
• Plant tall herbs (lemongrass, rosemary, verbena) in the back
• Medium herbs (lavender, chamomile) in the middle
• Low-growing mint and lemon balm at the front (but contain their roots!)
Indoor Tea Garden
Many herbs thrive indoors with good light.
• Use south-facing windows
• Grow lights help during winter
• Ensure pots have drainage holes
Good indoor herbs: mint, lemon balm, ginger, lemon verbena.
How to Grow a Successful Tea Garden
Soil Preparation
Most tea herbs prefer:
• Loose, well-draining soil
• Compost or organic matter
• Neutral to slightly alkaline pH
Lavender requires sandy, dry soil; mint prefers fertile, moist soil.
Watering
• Mint, lemon balm, ginger, lemongrass: Keep consistently moist.
• Lavender, rosemary, verbena: Allow soil to dry between watering.
Sunlight Requirements
Most herbs need 6+ hours of sunlight, with exceptions:
• Mint and lemon balm tolerate partial shade
• Lavender and lemon verbena require full sun
Pruning & Plant Care
Regular trimming:
• Encourages fuller growth
• Prevents herbs from becoming woody
• Increases essential oil concentration (better flavor!)
Harvesting Tea Herbs
General harvesting tips:
• Harvest in the morning after dew dries
• Choose stems with healthy leaves
• Avoid harvesting more than ⅓ of the plant at once
• For flowers (chamomile, lavender), pick at peak bloom
Drying methods:
• Air dry on screens
• Hang small bundles upside down
• Use a dehydrator on low heat
Store dried herbs in airtight jars away from light.
How to Use Your Herbs for Tea
For fresh tea:
• Use 1–3 tablespoons fresh herbs per cup
• Steep 5–10 minutes
For dried tea:
• Use 1–2 teaspoons dried herbs per cup
• Steep 5–7 minutes
Mix and match to create signature blends—floral, citrusy, minty, spicy, or calming.
Here are fun herbal blends you can create and try.
1. Calming Evening Blend
Ingredients:
• 1 tbsp dried chamomile
• 1 tsp dried lavender
• 1 tsp dried lemon balm
Instructions:
Steep in hot water for 7 minutes. Sweeten with honey if desired.
2. Fresh Mint Cooler (Iced Tea)
Ingredients:
• 3 tbsp fresh spearmint
• 1 tbsp lemon verbena
• 1 lemon slice
Instructions:
Steep 10 minutes, strain, pour over ice.
3. Ginger-Lemongrass Immune Tea
Ingredients:
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger slices
• 1 tbsp fresh lemongrass pieces
• 1 tsp honey (optional)
Instructions:
Simmer ginger and lemongrass for 10 minutes. Strain and serve warm.
4. Floral Garden Blend
Ingredients:
• 1 tsp dried rose petals
• 1 tsp chamomile
• 1 tsp lemon balm
Instructions:
Steep 5–7 minutes for a soft, floral cup.
5. Lemon Garden Detox
Ingredients:
• 1 tbsp lemon verbena
• 1 tbsp lemon balm
• ½ tsp dried mint
Instructions:
Steep 7 minutes. Drink hot or iced.
It is very comforting to know that you are creating tea right from your own garden. You can store the dried tea or tea blends in mason jars in a cool, dark place, or you can also purchase sealable tea bags to make your teas easier to use. Have fun experimenting and trying new teas from a replenishable source---your own little tea garden. And the time to plan for it is now, in the winter. You can do your research and find sources for your plants, plan your garden and start assembling the materials you might need; pots, soil, or any type of tea-making supplies like dehydrators or various tea-balls.
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