Starting Herbs from Seeds
Starting herbs from seeds is a simple process that can bring fresh, homegrown herbs to your kitchen. Growing herbs from seed can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to add some flavor and variety to your meals. Herbs add a fragrant, aromatic, and flavorful element to many dishes, and they are easy to grow either indoors or outdoors.
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Starting Herbs from Seeds
For those just starting out, the process can seem daunting and intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. With the right knowledge and a little effort, any novice gardener can have a successful herb garden.
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Purchase Quality Seeds with High Germination Rates
When purchasing your seeds, be sure to look for seeds that have high germination rates to ensure healthy, thriving plants. It can be frustrating to get the garden ready and then find out the seeds you planted won't germinate.
To avoid this situation, be sure to do your research and purchase seeds with proven germination rates. Quality seeds are worth the investment, and with the right selection, you can have the garden you have always dreamed of.
Starting Herbs From Seed – Know What You are Planting
Read the seed packets and locate the following information needed when growing herbs from seed.
There are important pieces of information to learn from the back such as
- Germination time. The number of days it takes for seedlings to emerge or if the seed needs to be started at a certain temperature. Only worry about this if it’s mentioned on the seed packet.
- Date to Start Seeds Indoors. If you are starting seeds indoors – you can begin a few weeks earlier than the direct sow date. Generally, this information will also be on the packet, such as “Start Indoors 4-6 weeks before the last Frost.
- Days to Harvest. This is good information to know – so you can plan other sources of fresh herbs in the meantime if needed.
Use Seed Starting Trays
The seed starting trays are great for making sure that your seeds are spaced out and making them great to transplant into larger pots or your garden.
Make sure to cover them with a dome to create your own seed greenhouse environment.
Direct Sowing
If you're looking to grow herbs outdoors, borage, fennel, and chervil are some of the easier ones. I'd definitely suggest giving borage a try! It's a great addition to any herb or flower garden and it's easy to grow from seed – plus, the flowers are so pretty!
If your outdoor garden has clay soil that retains too much moisture, you may want to plant in mounds that will allow for better drainage.
Many herbs are not too fussy about the soil. So you can grow your seeds in your garden soil as it is, then make amendments the following year based on your results.
Always Plant Your Herb Seeds In This Order
- Water when preparing the site.
- Plant the seeds.
- Water the seeds in the ground.
- Cover the seeds to the correct depth.
Learn More About Growing Herbs
Ten Kitchen Herbs to Grow this Year
Common Herb Gardening Mistakes Most of Us Have Made
