Cultural Information and Planting Instructions for Herbs
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| Name | item# | Botanical name | ABP | height | uses | part | sow | temp | days | notes | cover | sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anise Hyssop | 4407 | 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 | 4409 | A. chamissonis | perennial, zone 3 | 20" | medicine, ornamental, | flower, | transplant, | cool, 60-65°, | St, Lt | no, don't cover | F | |
| Ashwagandha | 4411 | Withania somnifera | tender perenial grown as annual | 2-3' | medicine, | root, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 7-21 | Lt | no, don't cover | FP |
| Astragalus | 4412 | 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 | 4414ff | 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 | 4467 | 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 | 4481 | 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 |
| Borage | 4490 | 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 | 4920ff | 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 | 4507 | Carum carvi | SSbiennial | 2' | seasoning, edible, medicine, | seed, leaf, | direct sow in spring ASAP, | cool, 60-65°, | F | |||
| Catnip | 4509 | 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 | 4511 | 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 | 3044ff | Anthriscus cerefolium | SSbiennial | 12-18" | seasoning, | leaf, | direct sow in spring ASAP, | warm, 70-85°, | 7-14 | Lt | cover lightly | P(F) |
| Chives | 4513 | 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 | 4517 | Coriandrum sativum | 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 | 4520 | Codonopsis pilosula | perennial, zone 4 | 5-6' | medicine, ornamental, | root, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 7-42 | no, don't cover | P(F) | |
| Cumin | 4522 | Cuminum cyminum | annual | 1-2' | seasoning, medicine, | seed, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 7-14 | PP | F | |
| Dill | 4530ff | 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 | 4547 | 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 | 4550 | Inula helenium | perennial, zone 3 | 5-8' | medicine, ornamental, | root, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 7-10 | Lt | no, don't cover | FP |
| Fennel | 4560 | Foeniculum vulgare | tender perenial 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 | |
| Feverfew | 4572 | 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 | 4577 | 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 | 4580 | 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 | 4582 | 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 | 4584 | Alchemilla mollis | perennial, zone 3 | 12-18" | medicine, ornamental, | leaf, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 21-30 | St Lt | no, don't cover | FP |
| Lavender | 4585ff | 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 | 4587 | Cymbopogon flexuosus | tender perenial grown as annual | 3-4' | seasoning, beverage, medicine, | leaf, | transplant, | warm, 70-85°, | 21-42 | cover lightly | FP | |
| Lemon Balm | 4588 | 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 | 4589 | 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 | 4592 | 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 | 4615 | Origanum majorana | tender perenial grown as annual | 1' | seasoning, | leaf, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 7-21 | W | no, don't cover | F |
| Marshmallow | 4619 | 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 | 4630 | 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 |
| Motherwort | 4640 | 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 |
| Mustard Seed | 4642 | Sinapsis alba | annual | 2-4' | seasoning, edible, medicine, | seed, | direct sow in spring ASAP, | cool, 60-65°, | 7-10 | cover lightly | F | |
| Nettle, Stinging | 4644 | 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 | 4648 | Origanum heracleoticum | perennial, zone 4 | 6-12" | seasoning, medicine, | leaf, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 7-21 | Lt | no, don't cover | F |
| Oregano, Zaatar | 4649 | Origanum syriacum | tender perenial grown as annual | 8-24'' | seasoning, | leaf, | direct sow in spring ASAP, transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 7-21 | no, don't cover | F | |
| Parsley | 3158ff | 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 | 4651 | Mentha pulegium | perennial, zone 5 | 8-12" | medicine, ornamental, | leaf, | transplant, | cool, 60-65°, | 10-14 | no, don't cover | FP | |
| Rosemary | 4656 | Rosmarinus officinalis | tender perenial, zone 8 | 3-4' | seasoning, medicine, ornamental, | leaf, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 10-42 | St Lt | pat down gently | F |
| Sage | 4664 | 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 | 4672 | 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 | 4674 | Satureja montana | perennial, zone 3 | 6-12" | seasoning, medicine, | leaf, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 10-21 | Lt | no, don't cover | F |
| Shiso | 3282ff | Perilla frutescens var. crispa | tender annual | 2-3' | seasoning, medicine, ornamental, | leaf, | transplant, | warm, 70-85°, | 7-14 | Sk St Lt | cover lightly | FP |
| Spilanthes | 4683 | Spilanthes oleracea | tender annual | 8-12" | medicine, ornamental, edible, | flower, leaf, | transplant, | warm, 70-85°, | 4-10 | pat down gently | F | |
| Stevia | 4684 | Stevia rebaudiana | tender perenial 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 | 4686 | 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 |
| Thyme | 4687 | Thymus vulgaris | perennial, zone 4 | 10-12" | seasoning, medicine, | leaf, | transplant, | cool, 60-65°, | 14-28 | Lt | no, don't cover | F |
| Valerian | 4690 | Valeriana officinalis | perennial, zone 3 | 3-5' | medicine, ornamental, | root, | direct sow in spring ASAP, | moderate, 65-70°, | 10-21 | St | cover lightly | FP |
| Vervain | 4692 | Verbena hastata | perennial, zone 3 | 5-6' | medicine, ornamental, | root, | transplant, | moderate, 65-70°, | 21-28 | St Lt | no, don't cover | F |
| Woodruff | 4698 | 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 | 4699 | 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