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Herb Growing Guide: How to Grow Herbs

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Learn When to Plant and How to Grow Common Herbs!

Catherine Boeckmann
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Growing herbs is not difficult to do! Our helpful chart will take you from seed-starting to the kitchen table.

Herb Planting Calendar & Growing Guide

Herbs are a great addition to the garden. Not only do they complement your home-grown veggies in the kitchen, they also make for excellent companion plants in the garden itself. 

Click here to open an expanded version of this chart in a new tab: Growing Guide to Herbs

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For more planting and growing advice for a specific herb, see our library of Herb Growing Guides!

How to Grow Herbs

Herb

Start Seeds Indoors (Weeks before last spring frost)Start Seeds: Outdoors (Weeks before / after last spring frost)Height / Spread (Inches)

Soil

Light**Growth Type
Basil*6–8Anytime after12–24/12Rich, moist Annual
Borage*NR ‡Anytime after12–36/12Rich, well-drained, dry Annual, biennial
ChervilNR ‡3–4 before12–24/8Rich, moist Annual, biennial
Chives8–103–4 before12–18/18Rich, moist Perennial
Cilantro / CorianderNR ‡Anytime after12–36/6Light Annual
DillNR ‡4–5 before36–48/12Rich Annual
Fennel4–6Anytime after48–80/18Rich Annual
Lavender, English*8–121–2 before18–36/24Moderately fertile, well-drained Perennial
Lavender, FrenchNR ‡NR ‡18–36/24Moderately fertile, well-drained Tender perennial
Lemon Balm*6–102–3 before12–24/18Rich, well-drained Perennial
Lovage*6–82–3 before36–72/36Fertile, sandy Perennial
MintNR ‡NR ‡12–24/18Rich, moist Perennial

Oregano*

6–10Anytime after12–24/18Poor Tender perennial

Parsley*

10–123–4 before18–24/6–8Medium-rich Biennial

Rosemary*

8–10Anytime after48–72/48Not too acid Tender perennial

Sage

6–101–2 before12–48/30Well-drained Perennial

Sorrel

6–102–3 after20–48/12–14Rich, organic Perennial
Summer savory4–6Anytime after4–15/6Medium rich Annual
Sweet cicely6–82–3 after36–72/36Moderately fertile, well-drained Perennial
Tarragon, FrenchNR ‡NR ‡24–36/12Well-drained Perennial
Thyme, common*6–102–3 before2–12/7–12Fertile, well-drained Perennial
*Recommend minimum soil temperature of 70°F to germinate
** full sun partial shade
‡ Not Recommended

Click here to open an expanded version of this chart in a new tab: Growing Guide to Herbs

Do you grow your own herbs? Leave your tips in the comments below!

Herbs
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË found each other. She leads digital content for the ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

zeeshan (not verified)

4 years ago

good knowledge about herbs
i have written an article about herbs health benefits.please visit it too

Tina (not verified)

8 years 10 months ago

it is so small and if you try to enlarge it, the image becomes blurry.

m.art (not verified)

10 years 3 months ago

hey there im trying to propagate rosemary in water. but the tips of the leave s leep on curling up and going black, then i got this reply from another herb site
"Sorry for the delay in response. You cannot root rosemary in water, as the oxygen content is too high. The only herb that roots well in water is mint. Rosemary cuttings have to be rooted in a special cutting medium with sand, perlite, and peat moss. They have to be kept misted in indirect sun to root properly. It is not an herb that roots easily"
which is correct thanks 

I know for a fact you CAN root Rosemary in water because I've done it. Are you cutting off a big enough piece?

Every June (in zone 5 Illinois) I root Rosemary in water. Cut some 8" branches- strip 3" of leaves and put in a container of 3" deep rainwater. Leave in dappled sunlight (under a tree). In a few weeks they will have plenty of roots. Remember to change the rainwater so that you don't grow mosquitoes.
I have also grow them in soil. Again cut some 8" branches- strip 3" of leaves -then sprinkle with rooting powder. Poke 3" holes with a pencil -in your potting soil in the container of your choice. Important - Carefully place the rosemary cutting in the hole then push the soil from the side to secure the cutting. The idea is to not rub off the rooting powder.
I am not sure why your cuttings turn black - it has happened to me a few times. I would guess it was too humid or too cold. Please try again this summer!

SuzyC-in-Colorado (not verified)

10 years 3 months ago

Thank you so much.. I noticed that within a few minutes of my last post, the concern I had was addressed and fixed.. Very helpful knowing the dates.. Blessing to everyone at ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË.com and all other farmers & gardeners. I will get the hang of this gardening, I promise..lol
Moving from Zone 9b to Zone 5 has been a blessing as I have always wanted to garden and the hot sun, very little rain and dry winds in the Desert of California doesn't allow for much gardening.. We have so many plans for the second half of our lives together.. It is wonderful to have a site like Old Farmers ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË to fall back on for good advice.. My Dad & grandparents read your book like a bible and I look forward to ordering and receiving my hard copy.. Thanks again ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË Team <3

SuzyC-in-Colorado (not verified)

10 years 3 months ago

As a new gardener it would be helpful to know when these comments are posted. Maybe I missed something.. Sorry, but it is hard to know if I am reading a new comment or one that is years old.. also, some comments say plant now, but when is now without knowing when they left this much needed advice.. is there a way to change the layout here to include when comments are posted.. thanks. Oh, and it is the beginning of August 2014.. Again, thanks

Mary Raynor (not verified)

10 years 3 months ago

I was told when I lived in N.Y. to plant garlic in Sept and to harvest following July. It worked for me got beautiful clumps and they were very tasty.Hope this helps, I now live in N.C. and have been learning a whole new time zone( no fun). But, I've gotten tons of zucchini,tomatoes,peppers,broccoli,and cabbage. the worst problem is weather and bugs,uggg!! But, after a long season I am now getting ready for my fall crop, which will include garlic,lol. Dont give up hope, just do what you can, a little everyday.My weeds are never ending but, I do what I can and just enjoy my daily harvest. Next year I ve learned to put my weed cloth on top after planting as well as underneath, hopefully that will help, and weed preventitive too,lol.Have fun people <3

Also, wanted to say, I used cooking garlic from the little red box,lol. I used 2 cloves and seperated them, I think I had 22 cloves. They all came out around the same size, average.Hope this helps.

diana in n.c. (not verified)

11 years 10 months ago

my dad buys garlic in the grocery store then separates the bulb. he then plants the
garlic along side of the green onions.when the leaves start to turn yellow he then hangs in the barn in a cool place then we have garlic for the whole year.,