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Cultural Information and Planting Instructions for Herbs

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NameBotanical nameABPheightusespartsowtempdaysnotescoversun
AnisePimpinella anisumannual1-3'seasoning, beverage, medicineseeddirect sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°7-28cover lightlyPF
Anise HyssopAgastache foeniculumperennial, zone 42-3'beverage, medicineleaf, flowerdirect sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passed, transplantwarm, 70-85°7-14Ltpat down gentlyFP
ArnicaA. chamissonisperennial, zone 320"medicine, ornamentalflowertransplantcool, 60-65°St, Ltno, don't coverF
AshwagandhaWithania somniferatender perennial grown as annual2-3'medicineroottransplantmoderate, 65-70°7-21Ltno, don't coverFP
AstragalusA. membranaceusperennial, zone 418-48"medicinerootdirect sow in spring ASAP, transplantmoderate, 65-70°7-28Sc Skcover lightlyF
BasilOcimum basilicumtender annual8-24"seasoning, edible, medicineleaftransplant, direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passedwarm, 70-85°4-10Wrake or scuffle into soilF
Basil, SacredOcimum tenuiflorumtender annual18-24"seasoning, medicineleaftransplant, direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passedwarm, 70-85°4-10rake or scuffle into soilF
BergamotMonarda fistulosaperennial, zone 33-4'beverage, medicine, ornamentalleafdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallmoderate, 65-70°7-14Ltno, don't coverFP
BonesetEupatorium perfoliatumperennial, zone 34-6'medicine, ornamentalleaf, flowerdirect sow in fallcool, 60-65°7-21Stpat down gentlyFP
BorageBorago officinalisself sowing annual2-3'edible, medicine, ornamentalflower, leafdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallcool, 60-65°7-14pat down gentlyFP
CalendulaC. officinalisself sowing annual18-24"medicine, ornamentalflowerdirect sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°4-14rake or scuffle into soilFP
CarawayCarum carviself sowing biennial2'seasoning, edible, medicineseed, leafdirect sow in spring ASAPcool, 60-65°F
CatnipNepeta catariaperennial, zone 31-2'medicine, beverageleafdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallmoderate, 65-70°7-10Ltno, don't coverF
ChamomileMatricaria recutitaself sowing annual8-18"beverage, medicineflowerdirect sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°10-14Ltno, don't coverF
ChervilAnthriscus cerefoliumannual12-18"seasoningleafdirect sow in spring ASAPwarm, 70-85°7-14Ltcover lightlyP(F)
ChivesAllium schoenoprasumperennial, zone 31-2'seasoning, medicine, edibleleaf, flowerdirect sow in spring ASAPcool, 60-65°7-14cover lightlyFP
CilantroCoriandrum sativumself sowing annual1-2'seasoning, edible, medicineleaf, seeddirect sow in spring ASAPcool, 60-65°7-14rake or scuffle into soilF(P)
CodonopsisCodonopsis pilosulaperennial, zone 45-6'medicine, ornamentalroottransplantmoderate, 65-70°7-42no, don't coverP(F)
CuminCuminum cyminumannual1-2'seasoning, medicineseedtransplantmoderate, 65-70°7-14PPF
DillAnethum graveolensself sowing annual2-5'seasoning, medicine, ornamentalseed, leafdirect sow in spring ASAPwarm, 70-85°7-21rake or scuffle into soilF
EchinaceaEchinacea spp.perennial, zone 32-4'medicine, ornamentalroot, flowertransplant, direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passedwarm, 70-85°14-21St Ltcover lightlyF
ElecampaneInula heleniumperennial, zone 35-8'medicine, ornamentalroottransplantmoderate, 65-70°7-10Ltno, don't coverFP
FennelFoeniculum vulgaretender perennial grown as annual1-3'seasoning, medicine, edibleleaf, seeddirect sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°7-14rake or scuffle into soilF
FenugreekTrigonella foenum-graecumannual10"seasoning, medicine, edibleseed, leafdirect sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passedcool, 60-65°7-10cover lightlyF
FeverfewTanacetum partheniumperennial, zone 418-30"medicine, ornamentalleaftransplant, direct sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°7-14Ltno, don't coverFP
Garlic ChivesAllium tuberosumperennial, zone 412-18"seasoning, edible, medicineleaf, flowerdirect sow in spring ASAPcool, 60-65°7-14cover lightlyFP
HorehoundMarrubium vulgareperennial, zone 320-24"medicine, ceremonyleaftransplant, direct sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°10-21pat down gentlyF
HyssopHyssopus officinalisperennial, zone 312-18"medicine, ornamentalleaf, flowertransplant, direct sow in fallcool, 60-65°7-21rake or scuffle into soilFP
Lady’s MantleAlchemilla mollisperennial, zone 312-18"medicine, ornamentalleaftransplantmoderate, 65-70°21-30St Ltno, don't coverFP
LavenderLavandula angustifoliaperennial, zone 52-3'medicine, ornamentalflower, leaftransplant, direct sow in fallwarm, 70-85°14-28St Ltpat down gentlyF
LemongrassCymbopogon flexuosus tender perennial grown as annual3-4'seasoning, beverage, medicineleaftransplantwarm, 70-85°21-42cover lightlyFP
Lemon BalmMelissa officinalisperennial, zone 41-2'beverage, medicine, seasoningleaftransplant, direct sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°7-14Ltno, don't coverFP
Lemon MintMonarda citriodoraself sowing annual2-3'beverage, medicineleafdirect sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°7-21rake or scuffle into soilP(F)
LovageLevisticum officinaleperennial, zone 43-6'seasoning, medicineleafdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallmoderate, 65-70°10-21rake or scuffle into soilF(P)
MarjoramOriganum majoranatender perennial grown as annual1'seasoningleaftransplantmoderate, 65-70°7-21Wno, don't coverF
MarshmallowAlthaea officinalisperennial, zone 44-6'medicine, ornamentalroot, leafdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallcool, 60-65°14-21Stcover lightlyFP
Milk ThistleSilybum marianumself sowing annual3-5'medicine, edibleseed, flower, leafdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallmoderate, 65-70°7-14Ltcover lightlyF
MotherwortLeonurus cardiacaperennial, zone 32-4'medicineleaf, flowerdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallmoderate, 65-70°7-21Ltcover lightlyF
Mustard SeedSinapsis albaannual2-4'seasoning, edible, medicineseeddirect sow in spring ASAPcool, 60-65°7-10cover lightlyF
Nettle, StingingUrtica dioicaperennial, zone 23-6'edible, medicineleafdirect sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°10-14Ltrake or scuffle into soilFP
Oregano, GreekOriganum heracleoticumperennial, zone 46-12"seasoning, medicineleaftransplantmoderate, 65-70°7-21Ltno, don't coverF
Oregano, ZaatarOriganum syriacumtender perennial grown as annual8-24''seasoningleafdirect sow in spring ASAP, transplantmoderate, 65-70°7-21no, don't coverF
ParsleyPetroselinum crispumbiennial, zone 38-12"seasoning, edible, medicineleafdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallmoderate, 65-70°14-60Skrake or scuffle into soilFP
PennyroyalMentha pulegiumperennial, zone 58-12"medicine, ornamentalleaftransplantcool, 60-65°10-14no, don't coverFP
RosemaryRosmarinus officinalistender perennial, zone 83-4'seasoning, medicine, ornamentalleaftransplantmoderate, 65-70°10-42St Ltpat down gentlyF
Sage, BroadleafSalvia officinalisperennial, zone 42-3'seasoning, beverage, medicineleaftransplant, direct sow in spring ASAPwarm, 70-85°10-21Ltpat down gentlyF
Clary SageSalvia sclareabiennial, zone 53-4'medicine, ornamental, ceremonyseed, flower, leaftransplant, direct sow in spring ASAPcool, 60-65°7-14Ltcover lightlyF
Savory, SummerSatureja hortensisannual12-18"seasoning, medicineleafdirect sow in spring ASAPwarm, 70-85°7-14Ltrake or scuffle into soilF
Savory, WinterSatureja montanaperennial, zone 36-12"seasoning, medicineleaftransplantmoderate, 65-70°10-21Ltno, don't coverF
ShisoPerilla frutescens var. crispatender annual2-3'seasoning, medicine, ornamentalleaftransplantwarm, 70-85°7-14Sk St Ltcover lightlyFP
SpilanthesAcmella oleraceatender annual8-12"medicine, ornamental, edibleflower, leaftransplantwarm, 70-85°4-10pat down gentlyF
SteviaStevia rebaudianatender perennial grown as annual24"seasoningleaftransplant, direct sow when soil has warmed or after danger of frost has passedwarm, 70-85°7-21Ltcover lightlyFP
St JohnswortHypericum perforatumshort lived perennial, zone 31-3'medicineflower, leafdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallmoderate, 65-70°14-28St Ltno, don't coverF
ThymeThymus vulgarisperennial, zone 410-12"seasoning, medicineleaftransplantcool, 60-65°14-28Ltno, don't coverF
ValerianValeriana officinalisperennial, zone 33-5'medicine, ornamentalrootdirect sow in spring ASAPmoderate, 65-70°10-21Stcover lightlyFP
VervainVerbena hastataperennial, zone 35-6'medicine, ornamentalroottransplantmoderate, 65-70°21-28StLtno, don't coverF
Wild LettuceLactuca virosatender perennial grown as annual6'medicine, edibleleaf, latexdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallcool, 60-65°10-21cover lightlyF
WoodruffGalium odoratumperennial, zone 56-8"seasoning, medicine, ceremonyleafdirect sow in spring ASAP, transplantcool, 60-65°21-200Stcover lightlySh,P
YarrowAchillea millefoliumperennial, zone 21-2'medicine, ornamental, ceremonyflower, leafdirect sow in spring ASAP, direct sow in fallwarm, 70-85°10-14Ltno, don't coverF

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