New herb gardener

[Jennifer PateStudent]

I put in an herb garden last spring in some terraces in my backyard. I had a blast watching everything take off and grow this summer. I’m planning on adding more medicinal stuff next year and in other areas around our yard. Now I’m wondering, what plants will easily re-seed themselves (annuals) or come back next year (perennial), what will I need to replant next spring, and what should I be digging up and putting in pots (or putting them in pots the first place) in the garage?

I planted garlic, horseradish, stevia, celery, chives, basil, purple basil, thyme, marjoram, cilantro, chamomile, lavender, summer savory, tarragon, sage, catnip, mullein, curry, lemon verbena, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, parsley, yarrow, dill, echinacea, calendula (those last two didn’t get very big and are only barely starting to flower) and artichokes. (I know the mints will come back, and the dill… more than I want them to, I’m sure. Just wondering on the others.)

Any others you plant every year? Or make sure to always have in pots?

Thanks!

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

OK Jennifer, the ones I know off the top of my head…

Garlic: Perennial bulb (unless you eat them). Can be planted either by bulb divisions or by collecting the seed.

Horseradish: Perrenial rhizome. Sends out runners

Stevia: Perennial shrub but not in the temperate zone. Grow it in a pot and take it inside in the winter or it will die.

Chamomile: THere are two kinds. The German is a self-seeding annual. The Roman is perennial.

Lavender: Perennial

Sage: There are a lot of sages. The one we have is perennial

Catnip: Perennial and really invasive. Pot recommended

Mullein: Biennial. Will make a flower stock the second year which will make seeds which you should collect and re-plant.

Peppermint: Perennial and really invasive. Pot recommended

Parsley: Perennial

Yarrow: Perennial, invasive. Seeds need to be planted shallow…need light to germinate.

Echinacea: Perennial. Slow to start. Be patient. Takes a year or so to get serious.

Calendula: Short-lived perennial. Seeds stick to your shoes and travel around. Wants to be everywhere but is cute so I don’t mind.

I don’t know about the others off the top of my head. Maybe others will chime in.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Chives – perennial

Basil – annual

thyme – perennial

tarragon – perennial

oregano – perennial

rosemary – perennial but not up this way (ID). We kept ours in the cold bedroom last year. Got a little lanky but did OK.

dill – annual and reseeds like CRAZY

arties – perennial but only in certain environments.

celery – annual or biennial not sure which.

I am sure a quick web search will reveal more info than you would ever need on these.

[cport]

Jennifer,

My Sage has been coming back from the same plants for 4+ years now.

The Yarrow has spread so much that each spring I have to dig up the parts that are where I don’t want them to be!

One of the Parsley became almost a bush this year(it’s 5th year) so I finally dug it up a couple of weeks ago. (I left the smaller plants)

My Lavender plants from 2+ years ago are ‘bush like’ with hard lower stock branches. But a few new plants came up this year from seeds.

If your Mullein bloomed this year and produced a stalk of seeds, you may find yourself with so many mullein plants next year that you can’t find any other plants around!

We had well over 100 new plants come up this year. They were among all my other herbs and quite annoying! They have all been dug up now except for the 3 that I want to produce next year!

My dh planted Dill “once” over 20 years ago and it still pops up in various places in the garden and yard!!

Our Rosemary will not survive the winter here so we grow it in a pot indoors year round. (for herb bread)

Just some of our experiences…Cynthia

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