When to start seeds indoors

[Greg BoggsStudent]

Ok I can’t be the only one who is dying to start their seeds already! My wife has been holding me back but I think we are finally at the point where we can get some things going. Unfortunately it seems that there is some info lacking on when to start certain seeds, so I figured we could all help each other out with a thread , so I’ll get it started with what I have and what I’ve found on when to start them

Sage: 6-8 weeks before last frost
Chamomile: 6 weeks before last frost
Yarrow: 8-10 weeks before last frost
Arnica: 6-8 weeks before last frost
Feverfew: 6-8 weeks before last frost
Echinacea: 8-10 weeks before last frost
Bee Balm: 8-10 weels before last frost
Cayenne: 8-12 weeks before last frost

That’s everything that I could find on what I have. I haven’t found info on the following: Gumweed, Valarian, Blue Vervain, Motherwort, Giant Turkish Plantain.
I did find that the advice for Fenugreek is to not start it indoors as it does not transplant well.

Well, that’s a start. I look forward to what you all have to say!

• This topic was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by Greg Boggs.

8 users thanked author for this post.

Teresa Cosper, paul chorley, Anne Ewton, Kelli Gallagher, Boston Rose South, Scarlett, Rebecca, Geneva Bivens

[Geneva BivensStudent]

Hi Greg!

I just started the first, of my first round of seeds today (a little late for me on some of them). More to get started tomorrow. I’ll go through my seed packs and make a list of the herbs and weeks before last frost info to share here.

 

2 users thanked author for this post.

Lorna Tripp, Greg Boggs

[Geneva BivensStudent]

The list is not in any specific order. I haven’t had much “free time” to speak of, apologies for the disorder of the list.

Generally, I have my garden plan and sort the seed packs by “weeks before last frost” for what I will be starting indoors as I go through my seeds and pick out what I’m planting for the season.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) min. 7 wks
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) 8-10 wks
Sage (Salvia officinalis) 3-4 wks
Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) 10-12 wks
Onion, bulbing [long day] 12 wks before (4-6 before transplanting)
Celery (Apium graveolens) 8-12 wks
Lobelia (Lobelia Cardinalis) 8-10 wks, Fall / Spring Direct Sow
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) 4-6 wks
Bergamot (Menarda didyma) 6-8 wks / Direct Sow early Spring
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 8-10 wks / Direct Sow early Spring thru Fall
Licorice (Glycyrrizha uralensis) Spring or Fall, Greenhouse
Gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia) Spring, DS or pots
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) 6-8 wks
Mint (Mentha spp.) 6-8 wks
Tulsi Basil (Ocimum sanctum) 5-6 wks
Chicory (Chicorium intybus) 4-6 wks
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) 4-6 wks
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) 4-6 wks
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) 3-4 wks
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) 4 wks
Lovage Magnus (Levisticum officinalis) 4-6 wks
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) 2-3 wks
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) seed outdoor year round
Dill (Anethum graveolens) 8-10 wks, Doesn’t transplant well – Direct sow
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) Direct Sow 1 wk
Cleavers (Galium aparine) Direct sow Spring or Fall
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) Direct sow Fall or early Spring
Chickweed (Stellaria media) Direct sow Early Spring
Burdock (Arctium lappa) Direct sow Spring
Angelica (Angelica archangelica) Early Spring, unheated greenhouse or Direct Sow
Elecampane (Inula helenium) Spring, direct sow
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) Spring, direct sow or pots
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) Spring or Fall, direct sow
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Spring, direct sow or pots
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) Spring, direct sow or pots
Plantain (Plantago major) Early Spring, direct sow or pots
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) Spring or Fall, direct sow or pots
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) Spring, direct sow
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) Spring or Fall, direct sow or pots
Blue Vervain (Verbena hostata) Early spring, direct sow or pots
Elder, European (Sambucus nigra) Fall, 1 gallon pots – overwinter outdoors
Elder, American (Sambucus canadensis) Fall, 1 gallon pots – overwinter outdoors
American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) Fall, 1 gallon pots – overwinter outdoors
Hawthorn, English (Crataegus laevigata) Fall, 1 gallon pots – overwinter outdoors
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) Fall, 1 gallon pots – overwinter outdoors
Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) 6-8 wks, or Fall or Spring direct sow
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) 8-10 wks, or Fall or early Spring direct sow

 

You’ll notice that I included information for things that are direct sown, as well as kept in unheated greenhouse, or outdoors potted up because it’s good info to have.

And, if you’re anything like me, you’ll find that you like the challenge of starting things from seed indoors, outdoors, etc…Hope this info helps.

Here’s to a successful season of growing herbs that are delicious, beneficial to health, and enjoyable! Happy seed starting!

Total of 11 users thanked author for this post. Here are last 10 listed.

Teresa Cosper, paul chorley, Rebecca Coleman, Anne Ewton, Kelli Gallagher, Lisa Derksen, Boston Rose South, Michele Crawford, Scarlett, Rebecca

[Marta LukasiakStudent]

Hi! Quick question. I noticed that many grow and make syrups with Sambucus Nigra. Is Sambucus canadensis just as good? Which do you prefer to use? I was also told by the farmer selling me berries that the elder canadensis is not poisonous and wont give you a belly ache if you pick the berries and eat them right from the plant. It is the other genus of sambucus like nigra, that are poisonous if you eat raw. I have not been brave enough to see if they are telling me the truth.

[Greg BoggsStudentTopic Author]

I’ve not really heard of people my issues with Black Elder or Blue Elder. The berries from Red Elder (Sambucus racemosa) are the most toxic, so probably stay away from that

[ScarlettStudent]

This is great info!  Thank you for the list.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Lorna Tripp, Heather Clark

[Heather ClarkStudent]

i was thinking of just throwing seed on the ground and let nature take its course. My thought is where to throw them.  Although i would save some seeds just in case some don’t grow.

[Greg BoggsStudentTopic Author]

You might be wasting a lot of seeds going this method. Some seeds can be grown on top, but many need to be sown in the ground and covered. Also, depending on your climate, if you wait until after last frost, you might not get much of a harvest from your plants.

All that to say, if you want to do it that way then more power to you, but you might want to consider some other options

[Donna BurchettStudent]

I have found that it  all depends on your gr0wing zones.  I’m in 9b so I need to plant most things in the fall.  The weather has been so strange lately that it makes it very hard to transition from seedlings inside to outside though.

[Coleen KooiStudent]

I’ve found that some seeds like calendula, parsley, dill, thyme chives, and cilantro that when seeding them indoors if I scattered them heavily in a pot and then watered from the bottom up I got the best results. I think maybe I was planting them too deep. But be warned if you do it this way you will have LOTS!!

1 user thanked author for this post.

Rebecca Coleman

[Author]

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