Planting Herbs

Planting herbs is no more difficult than planting any other type of plant. While herb garden design, propagation and culinary herbs are covered in other pages here's what you need to know about getting these plants into the ground.

Starter Plants

If you've purchased your herbs as starter plants, the rule of thumb is to remove the plant from the pot and carefully ensure it is planted at the same depth as it was in the pot. The top of the potted soil should be at the same depth as the soil in your garden.

Then water thoroughly and completely. This will likely create pockets of lowered soil around the plant and you can then “repair” and relevel the plant so it is at the correct level.

I note in practical terms that putting plants a quarter inch deeper in the ground (give or take a bit) isn't going to be much of a problem.

Leaving them higher isn't a problem either except that it allows the nursery soil to dry out quickly and this can lead to plant stunting.

Planting Herb Seed Indoors

If you're planting your herb seed in the house or greenhouse, then follow the instructions for sowing seed in the propagation section of this website. Annual herbs are treated the same way as annual flowers or vegetables while the perennials are treated as perennials.

I note that perennial herb seed rarely requires a cool period and normally germinates quite nicely starting with a warm cycle.

Planting Herb Seed Outdoors

Both annual and perennial herbs can be planted outdoors with success.

The rule of thumb here is to plant them into warm soils. Cool soils will rot off the young seedlings so you're going to be waiting until you can comfortably put the tender flesh of your inner wrist onto the soil quite comfortably. (Usually the end of May in USDA zone 4)

Sow them shallowly – no more than a quarter inch deep regardless of whether the packet says deeper.

This keeps them in the warmer sun-drenched soil.

You have to water them (using warm water) in the early morning and again in the late afternoon (before and after work) to keep them damp.

Warm and slightly damp seeds will germinate surprisingly quickly (with a week to 10 days normally)

Planting herbs isn't at all tricky and you'll be pleased you did.

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