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Herbs are of great value to the kitchen gardener, because in addition to attractive greenery and flowers, they add scents and tastes that boost our moods and improve just about every type of meal. How ironic, then, that they’re among the easiest of plants to grow! All they need is sunlight, soil, and a modicum of water to produce lush, useful foliage and flowers.

HERB

WHEN TO SOW

SUN OR PART SHADE

SEED SPACING

ROW SPACING

PLANTING DEPTH

SPACE AFTER THINNING

DAYS TO GERMINATE

DAYS TO MATURITY

Basil

When soil workable

Sun with part shade

¼ inch

30 inches

½ inch

12 inches

7-10

78

Borage

When soil workable

Sun with part shade

½ inch

24 inches

⅛ – ¼ inch

10-12 inches

7-14

50-60

Bread Poppy

When soil workable

Sun

1 inch

24 inches

⅛ inch

6-8 inches

7-10

85-120

Calendula

After last frost

Sun

½ inch

24-36 inches

¼ inch

10-15 inches

10-14

65-80

Catnip

When soil workable

Sun with part shade

1 inch

18 inches

¼ inch

18 inches

7-21

85

Chives

When soil workable

Sun with part shade

1 inch

12 inches

¼ inch

4 inches

10-15

80

Cilantro

After last frost

Sun

1 inch

15 inches

½ inch

8 inches

15-20

60

Dill

After last frost

Sun

1 inch

2 inches

¼ inch

8 inches

10-15

40

Fennel

When soil workable

Sun

1 inch

2 inches

¼ inch

10 inches

12-18

80

Marjoram

After last frost

Sun

1 inch

18 inches

¼ inch

12 inches

10-15

70

Oregano

After last frost

Sun

1 inch

2 inches

⅟16 inch

18 inches

10-20

90

Parsley

When soil workable

Sun

1 inch

15 inches

¼ inch

3-6 inches

20-30

60

Peppermint

When soil workable

Sun with part shade

1 inch

18 inches

¼ inch

8 inches

10-12

85

Sage

After last frost

Sun

1 inch

18 inches

¼ inch

15 inches

10-20

90

Thyme

After last frost

Sun

1 inch

18 inches

¼ inch

8-12 inches

14-28

50

Valerian

After last frost

Sun with part shade

12-18 inches

18-36 inches

¼ inch

18-36 inches

7-14

2 years

Soil and Fertilizing

To find your frost date to determine whether the soil is ready, click here. Most of the herbs listed above do best in well-drained but moist soil, enriched with a vegetable fertilizer. Some even prefer average to poor soils.

Thinning

Thin plants to suggested spacing (see chart) when they reach around 2 inches high.

Watering

Be careful not to over water. Normal rain and an occasional watering should be enough to keep your herbs growing. In fact, most of these herbs do well with very little water. The exceptions are listed in the Special Notes Section below.

Harvesting / Storage

Most of the herbs listed here can be harvested as needed. Use a pruner to remove sprigs or individual leaves, and never harvest more than a third of a plant all at once. If you wish to dry your herbs for later use, do so in a cool, dry, dark place.

Special Notes

Basil: Pinch back or prune the tips to maximize the plant’s bushiness.

Bread Poppy: Mix seeds with a cup of sand or other inert material and broadcast over planting area.

Calendula: For earlier blooms, start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost.

Catnip: Needs a moderate amount of water.

Dill: May require staking. Tastes best when harvested in mid-summer. Marjoram: Pick the leaves after the flowers bud, but before they open. Parsley: Soak seeds for 24 hours, then plant as soon as soil can be worked. Sage: For earlier harvest, start seeds indoors in March.

Thyme: Don’t water at all. Pinch back or prune the tips to maximize the plant’s bushiness.

Valerian: May need staking. Harvest valerian root for tea when the plant is over 700 days (nearly two years) old.

 

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For soil testing or other questions specific to your growing climate, please contact your local county extension agent.

Visit http://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services to find the office nearest you.