If you’re just getting into the whole gardening thing, I’d recommend basil, thyme, sage, rosemary, and maybe tarragon (if it’s an herb you’ll use). It’ll be too late to start your herbs from seed at that point, so I’d recommend buying young plants (Urban Jungle and Greensgrow Farm are two good non-box store options). The thyme, sage, and rosemary will probably even survive the Philly winter if you cover them with a layer of mulch and stick them in a sheltered corner — I haven’t bought new plants in years; although I tend to bring my tarragon inside at the end of the season. You can also pick up a packet of “heatwave” lettuce seeds and plant them throughout most of the summer. You’ll have to keep them well-watered, though, and perhaps keep them out of the direct sun during our scorcher July and August days. In general, greens are also worth trying, I’ve had good luck with Swiss chard throughout the summer months. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, throw in a couple pepper plants (jalepenos are probably the easiest) as it stays quite warm into September around here. If you find you’ve caught the bug, you can begin planting a few fall crops in early-mid Julyish. (Philly’s hardiness zone is, more or less, 7). Check out the April issue of Grid Magazine (our local sustainability magazine) for some great (Philly-specific and otherwise) gardening tips.

Happy gardening and a warm Philly welcome.

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