I remember that back in the day folks did all their gardening by ordering their seeds from a catalog. I’m sure a few people still pour over the seed catalogs. Those days are long gone now. I do not have the time to wait the month or more for germination. Do you?

It is that same old story, some herb plants work better than others when you start from seeds. Take the dill plant, for example, it grows like a weed and matures quickly too. Germination for the dill plant is a cinch. On the other hand, you’ll already be in herb gardener retirement when your thyme herb finally matures. Annuals are usually grown from seeds, as are some perennials. Since perennials come back every year, they are real bargains for your budget.

I prefer not to start my perennial herb plants in a seed tray or in a regular herb garden bed; instead, I use a pot. They take a while to get going, so it is important that they have room to thrive and not face competition from other herb plants or even weeds. It only takes about 3 to four weeks for most perennials to germinate.

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, plant your annuals in the spring, summer or fall—all will do well.

If you’re going to raise from seeds, you cannot miss with these:

• Anise: Also known as the hyssop, the anise plant has a nice licorice aroma and has almost iridescent purple, green and blue notched leaves and spiked blossoms of blue and purple. Most people use anise as a flavoring in many dinners and in teas. You can also use it in your potpourri. It’s best to start your perennial anise early, up to 8 weeks before you plan to move it outside

• Caraway: Do not let its strange appearance fool you. This herb, with its nut-like licorice flavor is serious business. Use it in your German foods, including soups, stews and krauts. The most often used part of the caraway is the seed, but the root is also edible. To have a longer growing season with this biennial, begin your plant indoors from seeds at least 6 weeks before you plan to move it outdoors.

• Coneflower: Add coneflower to your herb garden if you’re looking for a perennial that is a cinch to care for. Although many people call it a wildflower, it’s an herb because of its healing benefits. The healing name for the coneflower is Echinacea, which will hold your allergies at bay and keep your immune system strong.

It can take about 6 weeks for your herbs to sprout, get hardy and be ready to go outside in either containers 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 easy. Just break up the ground a little and sprinkle the seeds on that location and cover lightly with sod. If you choose your herbs wisely, you can get all self-sowers, which can come back next season from the seeds they “sow” this season.

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.

I want to start a little indoor herb “garden”. I notice that at places like gardening stores, the seed packets of herbs are really cheap. Can I trust those seeds will work? Should I get one of those “starter kits” or just buy everything separately? What size pots should I get?

Thanks guys!

I want to start an herb garden for culinary uses and I would like to find a good source for some unusual herbs. Any ideas? If not Atlanta, are there reputable online sellers?
Thanks.

A common variety of marigold. Ready for harvest in 80-90 days. Plant grows up to a foot tall.

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A tea herb garden is a very forgiving introduction to gardening and it is quite an easy way to get started with growing your own herbs. Unlike other kinds of plants, herbs do not require a lot of constant pruning and tending to soil. In fact, herbs prefer soil that is low in nutrients but has some lime. For those looking to start an herb garden, it is recommended to start by replacing the soil with a mixture of even parts potting soil to sand. Add in a couple tablespoons of lime and you are ready to plant. This will keep you from having to measure nutrient and nitrate levels in the soil you have.

Planting your seeds for a tea herb garden is quite an easy process. Your seeds should not be planted too deep in the soil. The best depth to plant at is about a half inch in the soil. A pretty good measure would be to push the seed into the ground until the nail of your index finger is even to the top of the soil. You can then push soil on top of the seed. Do not pack the soil, as it will make it more difficult for the sprout to push through once the seed is germinated. Following a simple planting design, which keeps your seeds spread out, will help them not to get too crowded.

Some tea plants will do better in pots than in your garden. Plants that are invasive are best planted in pots to prevent them from overtaking the rest of your garden. The most invasive plants of a tea herb garden are mint and lavender. The reason these plants take over a garden is because they are perennials. Many plants will contain themselves by dying out every year. Invasive plants spread out as far as they are allowed to because of their root systems. If planting in a regular garden, you will want to use dividers or walls to contain these herbs.

When creating a plan for your tea herb garden, include herbs that have great flowers. One of the most common of these herbs is chamomile. This is also one of the most recognized of the herbal tea plants. The pretty white flowers spruce up any garden. Not only are they attractive to look at, they have a lovely scent. Smelling of floral apple, these flowers are sure to calm you as you tend to your garden. Other great herbal flowers include lavender, rosemary, violets, and jasmine. Having a variety of these flowers will give your garden a wonderful aroma and appearance.

Water is quite an important issue for a tea herb garden. Over watering is one of the most common problems in this type of garden. In order to avoid over watering, check the moisture of the soil at least once a day. The best way to check your soil is by pressing down on it with a finger. It should feel moist to the touch, but not wet. If it does not feel moist, water the plant. Do not water the soil, as the leaves need to absorb moisture as well. Using a watering can that pours water like rain is a great way to water your plants for maximum effect. Sometimes the soil will feel moist, but the leave will look dry. A great way to solve this problem is to mist them with a spray bottle.