Growing Herbs

Herb	Propagation Method	Start Seeds Indoors (weeks before last spring frost)	Start Seeds Outdoors (weeks before or after last spring frost)	Minimum Soil Temperature to Germinate (°F)	Height (inches)	Spread (inches)	Blooming Season	Uses	Soil	Light*	Growth Type
Basil	Seeds, transplants	6-8	Anytime after	70	12-24	12	Midsummer	Culinary	Rich, moist		Annual
Borage	Seeds, division, cuttings	Not recommended	Anytime after	70	12-36	12	Early to midsummer	Culinary	Rich, well-drained, dry		Annual, biennial
Chervil	Seeds	Not recommended	3-4 before	55	12-24	8	Early to midsummer	Culinary	Rich, moist		Annual, biennial
Chives	Seeds, division	8-10	3-4 before	60-70	12-18	18	Early summer	Culinary	Rich, moist		Perennial
Cilantro/coriander	Seeds	Not recommended	Anytime after	60	12-36	4	Midsummer	Culinary	Light		Annual
Dill	Seeds	Not recommended	4-5 before	60-70	36-48	12	Early summer	Culinary	Rich		Annual
Fennel	Seeds	4-6	Anytime after	60-70	48-80	18	Mid- to late summer	Culinary	Rich		Annual
Lavender, English	Seeds, cuttings	8-12	1-2 before	70-75	18-36	24	Early to late summer	Ornamental, medicinal	Moderately fertile, well-drained		Perennial
Lavender, French	Transplants	Not recommended	Not recommended	--	18-36	24	Early to late summer	Ornamental, medicinal	Moderately fertile, well-drained		Tender perennial
Lemon balm	Seeds, division, cuttings	6-10	2-3 before	70	12-24	18	Midsummer to early fall	Culinary, ornamental	Rich, well-drained		Perennial
Lovage	Seeds, division	6-8	2-3 before	70	36-72	36	Early to late summer	Culinary	Fertile, sandy		Perennial
Oregano	Seeds, division, cuttings	6-10	Anytime after	70	12-24	18	Mid- to late summer	Culinary	Poor		Tender perennial
Parsley	Seeds	10-12	3-4 before	70	18-24	6-8	Mid- to late summer	Culinary	Medium-rich		Biennial
Rosemary	Seeds, division, cuttings	8-10	Anytime after	70	48-72	48	Early summer	Culinary	Not too acid		Tender perennial
Sage	Seeds, division, cuttings	6-10	1-2 before	60-70	12-48	30	Early to late summer	Culinary, ornamental	Well-drained		Perennial
Sorrel	Seeds, division	6-10	2-3 after	60-70	20-48	12-14	Late spring to early summer	Culinary, medicinal	Rich, organic		Perennial
Spearmint	Division, cuttings	Not recommended	Not recommended	--	12-24	18	Early to midsummer	Culinary, medicinal, ornamental	Rich, moist		Perennial
Summer savory	Seeds	4-6	Anytime after	60-70	4-15	6	Early summer	Culinary	Medium rich		Annual
Sweet cicely	Seeds, division	6-8	2-3 after	60-70	36-72	36	Late spring	Culinary	Moderately fertile, well-drained		Perennial
Tarragon, French	Cuttings, transplants	Not recommended	Not recommended	--	24-36	12	Late summer	Culinary, medicinal	Well-drained		Perennial
Thyme, common	Seeds, division, cuttings	6-10	2-3 before	70	2-12	7-12	Early to midsummer	Culinary	Fertile, well-drained		Perennial
* = full sun = partial sun

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