They are discreet, often modest, sometimes forgotten… And yet, medicinal plants have their place in the garden or on the balcony, especially when you know how to choose them and cultivate them at the right time. Soothing, digestive, anti-inflammatory, healing: these plants with a thousand virtues are true allies in everyday life, useful, easy to grow and valuable for health.
April is the ideal time to sow many of them, in the ground or in pots, depending on the climate and the space available. They grow quickly, require little maintenance, and from the summer onwards, leaves, flowers or stems can be harvested for use in herbal teas, macerations, oils or healthy cooking.
Here is an overview of the essentials to sow now to transform your green space into a living natural pharmacy.
Chamomile: the ally of peaceful nights and easy digestion
Chamomile, especially Roman chamomile, is one of the most famous medicinal plants. Its flowers, white with a yellow center and similar to small daisies, are perfect for spring cultivation.
Sown in April, it germinates quickly and blooms as early as June, provided it is planted in well-drained soil and in the sun. Once in bloom, all you have to do is pick the flower heads, dry them, and store them in an airtight jar.
When brewed, it relieves digestive problems, helps you fall asleep and calms nervous states. But chamomile is also an excellent local anti-inflammatory, particularly for tired eyes or sensitive skin.
Easy to grow, it can be cultivated in pots or in the ground, and even tolerates poor soil, provided it is well exposed.
Lemon balm: fresh, lemony and very soothing
Less well known than mint, but just as easy to grow, lemon balm is a perennial plant with a very pleasant lemony scent. It likes semi-shaded locations and cool soil, and can be grown in pots or in the ground.
Sowing in April produces robust plants from the beginning of summer. Its leaves, which should be harvested before flowering to fully benefit from their properties, are used in herbal teas to relieve stress, aid digestion and relieve headaches.
Thanks to its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, it is also used in homemade lip balms and muscle pain relief balms. And because it naturally repels mosquitoes, it is perfect for the patio or a window sill.
Calendula: a flower as beautiful as it is healing
The medicinal marigold, or calendula, is an essential medicinal plant, as decorative as it is therapeutic. Easy to sow directly in the ground from April, it flowers generously all summer, attracting pollinators and the eye.
Its bright orange flowers are used for their anti-inflammatory, healing and antifungal properties. As an infusion, they relieve mild internal inflammation. When used externally, they are used in the composition of balms, oils and compresses to soothe burns, sunburn, insect bites and irritated skin.
Calendula likes the sun and light, well-drained soil. And the icing on the cake is that it reseeds easily from one year to the next, making it almost self-sufficient to grow.
Mint: the energetic digestive that thrives everywhere
Unbeatable in infusions, peppermint or spearmint is a champion of easy cultivation. It grows quickly, spreads rapidly, and offers an abundant harvest from the first weeks of summer.
Sowing it can be a bit fussy, but April is a good time to try, especially under cover or in a mini greenhouse. You can also plant a seedling or a root cutting directly. In a pot, it does very well as long as it has water and good drainage.
Its leaves are rich in menthol, known for its digestive, refreshing, antibacterial and even analgesic effects. Brewed after a hearty meal, it aids digestion while toning the body.
A word of warning: it is very invasive in the ground, so it is better to grow it in a pot or contain its roots.
Salvia officinalis: the multi-talented medicinal plant
It is known for flavoring dishes, but sage is above all a remarkable medicinal plant. Its gray-green leaves, rich in essential oils, are harvested from the first season after sowing in April.
Sage has many virtues: it is digestive, antiseptic, antispasmodic and even hormonal regulator. It is often used in herbal tea to relieve female disorders, sore throats, bloating and excessive sweating.
It likes dry soil and warm exposure, and can withstand drought without any problem. Its longevity, hardiness and undemanding nature make it an excellent candidate for herb gardens or very sunny balconies.
Summer harvests to be processed as needed
All these plants have one thing in common: they are easy to harvest, easy to preserve and can be used in a thousand ways. Once dried, their leaves and flowers can be made into infusions, tinctures, oil macerations, balms or compresses.
They should be dried quickly, in the shade and away from moisture, to preserve the active ingredients. Stored in airtight glass jars, they retain their effectiveness for several months.
And beyond their therapeutic use, they also bring a lively and sensory touch to the garden: delicate scents, soothing colors, interactions with beneficial insects… Everything is there to create a space that is both aesthetic and beneficial.
With a few well-chosen seedlings, the garden becomes a veritable open-air herbalist’s shop. And summer is transformed into a season of harvesting, natural care and simple moments when a chamomile or mint infusion is enough to make you feel good. Start sowing now, for a summer full of sweetness… and health.
