Cultural Information and Planting Instructions for Herbs

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Name Botanical name ABP height uses part sow temp days notes cover sun
Anise Pimpinella anisum annual 1-3' seasoning, beverage, medicine seed direct sow in spring ASAP moderate, 65-70° 7-28 cover lightly PF
Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum perennial, zone 4 2-3' beverage, medicine leaf, flower direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passed, transplant warm, 70-85° 7-14 Lt pat down gently FP
Arnica A. chamissonis perennial, zone 3 20" medicine, ornamental flower transplant cool, 60-65° St, Lt no, don't cover F
Ashwagandha Withania somnifera tender perennial grown as annual 2-3' medicine root transplant moderate, 65-70° 7-21 Lt no, don't cover FP
Astragalus A. membranaceus perennial, zone 4 18-48" medicine root direct sow in spring ASAP, transplant moderate, 65-70° 7-28 Sc Sk cover lightly F
Basil Ocimum basilicum tender annual 8-24" seasoning, edible, medicine leaf transplant, direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passed warm, 70-85° 4-10 W rake or scuffle into soil F
Basil, Sacred Ocimum tenuiflorum tender annual 18-24" seasoning, medicine leaf transplant, direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passed warm, 70-85° 4-10 rake or scuffle into soil F
Bergamot Monarda fistulosa perennial, zone 3 3-4' beverage, medicine, ornamental leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall moderate, 65-70° 7-14 Lt no, don't cover FP
Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum perennial, zone 3 4-6' medicine, ornamental leaf, flower direct sow in fall cool, 60-65° 7-21 St pat down gently FP
Borage Borago officinalis self sowing annual 2-3' edible, medicine, ornamental flower, leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall cool, 60-65° 7-14 pat down gently FP
Calendula C. officinalis self sowing annual 18-24" medicine, ornamental flower direct sow in spring ASAP moderate, 65-70° 4-14 rake or scuffle into soil FP
Caraway Carum carvi self sowing biennial 2' seasoning, edible, medicine seed, leaf direct sow in spring ASAP cool, 60-65° F
Catnip Nepeta cataria perennial, zone 3 1-2' medicine, beverage leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall moderate, 65-70° 7-10 Lt no, don't cover F
Chamomile Matricaria recutita self sowing annual 8-18" beverage, medicine flower direct sow in spring ASAP moderate, 65-70° 10-14 Lt no, don't cover F
Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium annual 12-18" seasoning leaf direct sow in spring ASAP warm, 70-85° 7-14 Lt cover lightly P(F)
Chives Allium schoenoprasum perennial, zone 3 1-2' seasoning, medicine, edible leaf, flower direct sow in spring ASAP cool, 60-65° 7-14 cover lightly FP
Cilantro Coriandrum sativum self sowing annual 1-2' seasoning, edible, medicine leaf, seed direct sow in spring ASAP cool, 60-65° 7-14 rake or scuffle into soil F(P)
Codonopsis Codonopsis pilosula perennial, zone 4 5-6' medicine, ornamental root transplant moderate, 65-70° 7-42 no, don't cover P(F)
Cumin Cuminum cyminum annual 1-2' seasoning, medicine seed transplant moderate, 65-70° 7-14 PP F
Dill Anethum graveolens self sowing annual 2-5' seasoning, medicine, ornamental seed, leaf direct sow in spring ASAP warm, 70-85° 7-21 rake or scuffle into soil F
Echinacea Echinacea spp. perennial, zone 3 2-4' medicine, ornamental root, flower transplant, direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passed warm, 70-85° 14-21 St Lt cover lightly F
Elecampane Inula helenium perennial, zone 3 5-8' medicine, ornamental root transplant moderate, 65-70° 7-10 Lt no, don't cover FP
Epazote Dysphania abrosioides tender perennial grown as annual 2-4' seasoning, medicine, beverage,edible leaf, flower direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passed cool, 60-65° 7-14 pat down gently F
Fennel Foeniculum vulgare tender perennial grown as annual 1-3' seasoning, medicine, edible leaf, seed direct sow in spring ASAP moderate, 65-70° 7-14 rake or scuffle into soil F
Fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum annual 10" seasoning, medicine, edible seed, leaf direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passed cool, 60-65° 7-10 cover lightly F
Feverfew Tanacetum parthenium perennial, zone 4 18-30" medicine, ornamental leaf transplant, direct sow in spring ASAP moderate, 65-70° 7-14 Lt no, don't cover FP
Garlic Chives Allium tuberosum perennial, zone 4 12-18" seasoning, edible, medicine leaf, flower direct sow in spring ASAP cool, 60-65° 7-14 cover lightly FP
Horehound Marrubium vulgare perennial, zone 3 20-24" medicine, ceremony leaf transplant, direct sow in spring ASAP moderate, 65-70° 10-21 pat down gently F
Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis perennial, zone 3 12-18" medicine, ornamental leaf, flower transplant, direct sow in fall cool, 60-65° 7-21 rake or scuffle into soil FP
Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla mollis perennial, zone 3 12-18" medicine, ornamental leaf transplant moderate, 65-70° 21-30 St Lt no, don't cover FP
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia perennial, zone 5 2-3' medicine, ornamental flower, leaf transplant, direct sow in fall warm, 70-85° 14-28 St Lt pat down gently F
Lemongrass Cymbopogon flexuosus tender perennial grown as annual 3-4' seasoning, beverage, medicine leaf transplant warm, 70-85° 21-42 cover lightly FP
Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis perennial, zone 4 1-2' beverage, medicine, seasoning leaf transplant, direct sow in spring ASAP moderate, 65-70° 7-14 Lt no, don't cover FP
Lemon Mint Monarda citriodora self sowing annual 2-3' beverage, medicine leaf direct sow in spring ASAP moderate, 65-70° 7-21 rake or scuffle into soil P(F)
Lovage Levisticum officinale perennial, zone 4 3-6' seasoning, medicine leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall moderate, 65-70° 10-21 rake or scuffle into soil F(P)
Marjoram Origanum majorana tender perennial grown as annual 1' seasoning leaf transplant moderate, 65-70° 7-21 W no, don't cover F
Marshmallow Althaea officinalis perennial, zone 4 4-6' medicine, ornamental root, leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall cool, 60-65° 14-21 St cover lightly FP
Milk Thistle Silybum marianum self sowing annual 3-5' medicine, edible seed, flower, leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall moderate, 65-70° 7-14 Lt cover lightly F
Moldavian Dragonhead Dracocephalum moldavica annual 18" medicine, beverage leaf, flower transplant, direct sow when soil has warmed moderate, 65-70° 7-14 Lt No, don't cover F
Motherwort Leonurus cardiaca perennial, zone 3 2-4' medicine leaf, flower direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall moderate, 65-70° 7-21 Lt cover lightly F
Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum incanum perennial, zone 3 3-4' beverage, ornamental leaf, flower direct sow in spring ASAP cool, 60-65° 7-14 Lt cover lightly FP
Mustard Seed Sinapsis alba annual 2-4' seasoning, edible, medicine seed direct sow in spring ASAP cool, 60-65° 7-10 cover lightly F
Nettle, Stinging Urtica dioica perennial, zone 2 3-6' edible, medicine leaf direct sow in spring ASAP moderate, 65-70° 10-14 Lt rake or scuffle into soil FP
Oregano, Greek Origanum heracleoticum perennial, zone 4 6-12" seasoning, medicine leaf transplant moderate, 65-70° 7-21 Lt no, don't cover F
Oregano, Zaatar Origanum syriacum tender perennial grown as annual 8-24'' seasoning leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, transplant moderate, 65-70° 7-21 no, don't cover F
Parsley Petroselinum crispum biennial, zone 3 8-12" seasoning, edible, medicine leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall moderate, 65-70° 14-60 Sk rake or scuffle into soil FP
Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium perennial, zone 5 8-12" medicine, ornamental leaf transplant cool, 60-65° 10-14 no, don't cover FP
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis tender perennial, zone 8 3-4' seasoning, medicine, ornamental leaf transplant moderate, 65-70° 10-42 St Lt pat down gently F
Sage, Broadleaf Salvia officinalis perennial, zone 4 2-3' seasoning, beverage, medicine leaf transplant, direct sow in spring ASAP warm, 70-85° 10-21 Lt pat down gently F
Savory, Summer Satureja hortensis annual 12-18" seasoning, medicine leaf direct sow in spring ASAP warm, 70-85° 7-14 Lt rake or scuffle into soil F
Savory, Winter Satureja montana perennial, zone 3 6-12" seasoning, medicine leaf transplant moderate, 65-70° 10-21 Lt no, don't cover F
Shiso Perilla frutescens var. crispa tender annual 2-3' seasoning, medicine, ornamental leaf transplant warm, 70-85° 7-14 Sk St Lt cover lightly FP
Skullcap, Baikal Scuttelaria baicalensis perennial, zone 4 1-2' medicine, ornamental root transplant moderate, 65-70° 14-21 St pat down gently F
Skullcap Scuttelaria lateriflora perennial, zone 4 1-2' medicine, ornamental leaf, flower transplant moderate, 65-70° 14-21 St pat down gently P
Spilanthes Acmella oleracea tender annual 8-12" medicine, ornamental, edible flower, leaf transplant warm, 70-85° 4-10 pat down gently F
Stevia Stevia rebaudiana tender perennial grown as annual 24" seasoning leaf transplant, direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passed warm, 70-85° 7-21 Lt cover lightly FP
St Johnswort Hypericum perforatum short lived perennial, zone 3 1-3' medicine flower, leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall moderate, 65-70° 14-28 St Lt no, don't cover F
Mexican Tarragon Tagetes lucida annual 16-18" seasoning, edible flower, leaf transplant warm, 65-70° 4-14 cover lightly F
Thyme Thymus vulgaris perennial, zone 4 10-12" seasoning, medicine leaf transplant cool, 60-65° 14-28 Lt no, don't cover F
Vervain Verbena hastata perennial, zone 3 5-6' medicine, ornamental root transplant moderate, 65-70° 21-28 StLt no, don't cover F
Wild Lettuce Lactuca virosa tender perennial grown as annual 6' medicine, edible leaf, latex direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall cool, 60-65° 10-21 cover lightly F
Woodruff Galium odoratum perennial, zone 5 6-8" seasoning, medicine, ceremony leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, transplant cool, 60-65° 21-200 St cover lightly Sh,P
Yarrow Achillea millefolium perennial, zone 2 1-2' medicine, ornamental, ceremony flower, leaf direct sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fall warm, 70-85° 10-14 Lt no, don't cover F

Abbreviations

ff: and following

height: typical height at maturity.

part: part that is used.

sow: Nearly any herb can be started indoors and transplanted, but this tends to be more work; TP means this method is strongly suggested for best results. Many perennials can be started in early summer indoors or out; they take several years to mature anyway, what's a few months?

temp: suggested soil temperatures for good germination.

days: number of days to seedling emergence.

notes:
Lt: needs light to germinate
Sc: scarify seed with sandpaper or emery board
Sk: soak seed 12-24 hrs
PP: start in peat pots and take care not to disturb root in transplanting
W: water sparingly
St: stratify seed; place in moist soil and freeze or refrigerate or alternate between the fridge and freezer. Nearly any herb requiring stratification can be fall-sown in a cold frame--the winter does the work for you!

sun:
F: full sun
P: part sun
FP: prefers full but tolerates part
PF: prefers part but tolerates full
Sh: shade
P(F): prefers part, tolerates full only in cool or moist areas
F(P): prefers full sun, needs part shade in hot climates