Growing Herb from Seeds

I recall that back in the day folks did all their gardening by ordering their seeds from a catalog. It seemed like her whole garden came from that catalog. Those times are long gone now. I do not have the time to wait the month or more for results. Do you?

It’s that same old story, some herb plants work better than others when you start from seeds. One plant that can quickly grow and rapidly mature is dill. Germination for the dill herb is easy. If you want to grow other herbs (like thyme) from seeds plan to wait a very long time for sprouting. You can grow most annuals from seeds and some perennials too. If you have got a lot of perennials, you will save cash in the long run because there won’t be a replacement cost for the plants.

Start perennial seeds in pots rather than in a seed tray or in your herb garden bed. They take a while to get going, so it is important that they have space to grow and not face competition from other herbs or even weeds. Just be patient with your perennial herb plants and you’ll soon find that your seeds have germinated within 3 to 4 weeks.

Depending on the climate where you live, you may be able to plant both your annual herb plants and perennial herb plants at the same time, any time of the year. If you live in a colder climate, sow your annuals in the spring, summer or fall—all will work.

Here are some of my favorite herb plants to cultivate from seeds:

• Anise: This wonderful iridescent plant is known by some folks as the hyssop and is a source of flavoring for licorice—not to mention the aroma. Its purple, blue and green notched leaves go well with its purple and blue flowers. It is mostly used in teas, potpourris and as a garnish for dishes. It’s best to begin your perennial anise early, up to eight weeks before you plan to move it outside

• Caraway: Do not let its strange appearance fool you. This plant, with its nut-like licorice flavor is serious business. Use it in your German foods, including soups, stews and krauts. The most frequently used part of the caraway is the seed, but the root is also edible. You can start your biennials indoors as early as 6 weeks before the last frost, especially if you want to shorten the time you have to wait before you see the first bloom.

• Coneflower: This easy-care perennial will be a wonderful addition to your herb garden. Most people think of it as a wildflower, but because of its healing qualities, it fits squarely in the herb camp. This perennial herb, also known as Echinacea, is nice for boosting the immune system and helping keep allergies in check.

It will take about six weeks for your herbs to sprout, get strong and be ready to go outdoors in either pots or beds. This is especially helpful if you live in cold-weather climates—it will give you a jumpstart on the growing season.

Perennials do really well in warm locations. If you live in a warm climate, you can start them anytime.

Sowing seeds for your annuals is pretty uncomplicated. Just break up the ground a little and sprinkle the seeds over that location and cover lightly with sod. Most of your basic annuals can sow their own seeds if the growing season is nice and you’ll be off the hook for that.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Herb Garden Kits. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.