Herb Growing Guides
Chives
Variety: Chives Allium schoenoprasum Type: Hardy perennial Soil Type: Any soil Where: Full or partial sun Height: 25cm A perennial but once established it’s a topper of a plant for flowers for the bees and of course in the kitchen. Sow directly. Sow seeds...
Dill
You can sow outside successionally from spring but I multisow seeds in clumps in 8cm pots or modules and keep warm until germination has occurred Surface sow onto moist well-drained seed compost, just cover sparingly. Keep well watered. Light is required for...
Echinacea
Echinacea Purpurea Perennial, Edible Flower Sow: undercover from January to May, or in Autumn, into seed trays or modules, cover lightly with compost. Best germination temperature is 20-24 degrees. Pot on into 3inch pots, plant out into their final flowering position...
Fennel
Sowing fennel should be done indoors June through to early July or direct in July. Sow seeds into modules or small pots filled with compost, sow a few seeds per module and cover with a layer of compost, keep moist. The trick here is to not sow too early, otherwise the...
Chives
You can sow chives anytime from January onwards. Wherever you want to eventually plant your chive plants, that is, in the ground or in a pot, the basic germination instructions are the same. Sow seeds undercover in modules or small pots or, if sowing directly, sow...
Chamomile
Perennial, Edible Flower Sow onto moist well-drained seed compost, in modules or seed trays. Do not cover seed just gently press seeds into the soil. Place somewhere warm, ideal temp. 15°C. Germination takes 7-14 days. Once seedlings are large enough to handle...
Borage
Sow seed under cover from February into modules or seed trays and cover with a light covering of compost. Keep moist. You can use heat like a heat mat to help germinate, this is not essential but germination will be better if somewhere warm like a warm house or...
Lemon Bergamot
Variety: Lemon Bergamot Type: Half Hardy Annual Soil type: Chalky Sandy or Loam Where: Sun or partial sun Height: 60cm One of my most favourite flowers to grow and it’s a useful herb too. Sow in undercover in modules or seed trays. Sow 2mm deep and cover with layer of...
Calendula
Sow in spring or autumn under cover into modules or seeds trays, prick out into large modules or pots to grow on (for a larger, more prolific plant). Can also be sown direct into the garden in March, spacing at 30cm. They prefer full sun with chalky, sandy...
Hyssop
Perennial Sow undercover in modules or seed trays from March - April or sow direct, from May - June. Sow the seeds 5mm deep and cover with compost. Germination usually 14days from sowing. Plant: When large enough to handle, after frosts into final growing position...
Lovage
When/where : Sow undercover in modules or seed trays or sow direct, from March. Sow the seeds 13mm deep and cover with compost. Plant: Full sun or dappled shade, any soil type, its not too fussy. When large enough to handle, after frosts into final growing position...
Lemongrass
Sow under cover in modules at 20 degrees, cover with a layer of compost and keep at a constant temperature, can be helped by covering with a polythene bag to keep moist. Can be a bit difficult to germinate and may take unto 40Days! Be patient and sow more than...
Oregano
For indoor use, can be sown anytime. Spring sowings can be planted out in summer, Autumn sowings can overwinter, like a perennial flower would do. Likes a lot of drainage, although I have clay and it self seeds in all the nooks and crannies. I leave some to flower for...
Coriander
Can be grown in pots but best to successional grow to ensure leaves through the season. Height 45cm, happy to grow in dappled shade, too much sun will cause plants to bolt. Sow: Best sown direct, 20mm deep, in final planting position, so either in pots or direct into...
Chervil
Sow seed under cover in modules or seed trays and prick out when big enough to handle into individual modules and keep moist. Planting out usually from 4 weeks and space approx. 10-20cm apart. Can sow all year round but particularly suited to later summer sowing as...
Basil
Sow undercover in modules or seed trays with warmth. Sow seed on the surface of free draining seed compost. Cover with a light sprinkling of vermiculite or compost. Propagate 15-25°C. Germination takes 14-21 days. Plant - Grow on in 3cm pots until moving to final...
Thyme
Sow onto moist well-drained seed compost, in modules or seed trays, cover with a light covering of compost. Place somewhere warm, ideal temp. 15°C. Germination takes up to 30 days. Prick out seedlings into large modules to grow on. Once seedlings are large enough to...