how to care for 11 common herb seedlings

Mint in my back garden. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

​Herbs…They are fun to grow AND useful for many things!

This spring's goal is to increase the variety of my existing indoor and outdoor herbs. A second—but equally important—goal is to learn more about the care of these plants so I can get the most out of the growing experience.

In my front window, there is a pot of leggy parsley. It had been growing outside last year quite beautifully, but I brought it indoors for the winter, and it’s become…well…a little spindly! It needs some TLC…

Parsley plant in the front window. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

​This past fall, I also brought in a pot of thyme. The plant was lush and fragrant and doing quite well…and then it suddenly crashed! I have a couple of theories about that, mostly involving low light and forced dry heat. I guess that means I’ll have to plant more for this year’s crop and try again!

There are a few herbs in the back garden from several years ago—chamomile, mint, chives, and sage. Everything has been growing incredibly well back there, but unfortunately, over-enthusiastic pruning may have accidentally killed the sage, so this year, I started some new plants from seeds. Lesson learned, I hope!

Summer herbs growing in my back garden. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2020.

A few new additions are joining the garden—lavender, rosemary, basil, dill, and cilantro. All were planted from seed and are sprouting well so far. Today’s blog will discuss more efficient ways to grow these herbs, harvesting, storage, and how to use them for teas, cooking, and other household stuff. 

But--before we get ahead of ourselves--we have to help them to grow! My seedlings have begun to sprout, and it’s time to assess each plant's needs. So, let’s get on with it!

Basil

Basil is one of those herbs that is just so delightful, especially in tomato sauce. I planted basil for this purpose in my back garden a couple of years ago. It seemed to do well, but then it died off, and I never replanted it. I didn’t know then that basil is an annual (meaning it does not come back every year). This year, the pot on my windowsill with basil seedlings is destined to be an indoor herb plant. I’d like to see if I can keep it alive indoors (like I did with the parsley).

Basil sprouts on my windowsill. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

I’m getting off to a bit of a rocky start, though…I discovered (after the fact) that I planted too many seeds in the same pot, meaning I will need to cut back some of them to get one healthy plant. Basil doesn’t like to be transplanted, so it won’t do me much good to try to transplant the extra seedlings elsewhere…although it wouldn’t hurt to try! The worst that can happen is they die off. But I am worried I could accidentally damage the plant I want to keep, so culling the extras may be my only option. I just hate deliberately killing off perfectly good seedlings!

Image by tookapic from Pixabay.

More growing tips for basil… 

Basil plants grow 12-24” tall, and basil seedlings need to be spaced 10-12” apart to give each plant space to bush out. The seeds for this plant will take 5-10 days to germinate.

Basil needs a lot of sun and warmth—6-8 hours. This herb plant dislikes the cold (in nature, it grows in much warmer climates), so it will be essential to keep it out of drafts while in the house and bring it inside if outdoor temperatures get below 50˚F. 

This fragrant herb also needs plenty of water and nicely balanced soil levels to thrive. It likes moist, well-draining soil with pH levels between 6.0-7.5 (neutral to slightly acidic). Basil doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer, maybe a 5-10-5 plant fertilizer (a topic I’ll be covering in my next blog) every so often.

You can begin pruning after about six weeks, clipping the center shoot to allow the plant to get bushy and produce more leaves. Pruning regularly—like with any herb—will force your plant to push out more leaves and keep it from flowering and going to seed too quickly. Essentially, pruning extends your harvesting season (another topic I will cover later in this series). You can start harvesting the leaves once the plant is 6-8” tall.

Chamomile

Chamomile is an incredible herb to plant in your garden, but you will need a lot of it--which won’t be a problem if it's outside because chamomile is one of those plants that like to self-seed. You could end up with a garden full of chamomile without even trying! I even found a chamomile plant growing out of a brick wall down the side of my driveway, far away from the original plant! So be aware that this plant spreads and could take over your garden eventually if you are not vigilant (unless that is your intention).

Chamomile growing in a planter in my yard. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

​Last year’s chamomile plants were left outside all winter. They not only survived but kept green leaves through the entire wintry season. The foliage for this herb is quite feathery and dense, and the flowers for my variety grow tall (I may have planted the German variety), towering over the green foliage below. 

And let me tell you, this is the most aromatic plant in my garden! You get just a few feet away, and the gorgeous scent wafts your way, beckoning you to come closer! Bees and ants love it!


Some general growing tips for chamomile…

The chamomile plant is considered an annual—meaning it should only grow once a year and then die off. But if it is allowed to self-seed, more plants will come up the following year. Let me clarify…There are a couple of varieties of chamomile—a German annual variety and a Roman perennial variety. Both are hardy and aromatic plants that can potentially come back year after year.

Chamomile leaves from this spring's plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

​This herb likes partial shade and just a little water. It’s drought resistant (but prefers cooler weather), so it’s not needy, like some other plants in your garden. This plant will grow wild (if conditions are right) and low maintenance. Don’t overwater it, and it doesn’t need fertilizer. Just give it the right spot and a little water, and let it do its thing!

Chamomile blooms in the summer, and the flowers can be harvested for tea and other culinary uses. Picking the flowers regularly (plucking off the sweet flower tops, not the bitter leaves) will ensure more growth and more flowers to harvest. Pick the flowers in full bloom with no drooping petals.

Chives

Chives are another herb plant in my back garden, and so another plant I didn’t need to start from seed this year. The chives in my garden are still going strong, even after three years. The one thing I will need to do this year (sometime soon, as it is early spring) is to divide the clumps to get more yield from my plants.

Purple chive flowers blooming in summer in my back yard. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2020.

Some general growing tips for chives…

My plant grows about 10-12 inches tall, but some varieties may grow taller. This plant is a perennial that is related to onions, garlic, and lilies. Plant the seeds 4-8” apart, and within six weeks, you’ll have new sprouting plants!

This has proven to be a pretty hardy plant, surviving several heat waves with upwards of 100˚F for several days (with daily watering, of course), and it sits in full daytime sun in the summer. I water every day, either in the morning or in the evening. It likes well-draining soil with pH levels between 6.0-7.0.

The plant produces purple flowers (though not in the first year) around early summer, which I tend to let go to seed so my little patch can spread. You can start harvesting chives 60 days after seeding by cutting small clumps a couple of inches from the ground.

Cilantro 

I haven’t been entirely successful at growing cilantro. I planted coriander (cilantro seeds) two years in a row, and the plants looked promising at first. Unfortunately, though, the cilantro plants didn’t produce a lot of leaves, became leggy, and then just withered and died. So this year, I’m starting this herb from seeds again to learn what I’ve been doing wrong! 

I already discovered that cilantro does not like to be transplanted, which I did last year as I transitioned the new plants outside. I also just threw them outside, skipping the gradual process of “hardening” (or slowly acclimating) the plant. This year, I will probably keep this plant in a small pot inside, moving it outside now and then.

Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay.

Some more growing tips for cilantro…

Cilantro is an annual (meaning you have to replant each year). It’s no accident that it looks like parsley, as it is in the same family. I often get my parsley and cilantro plants confused if I don’t mark them! It even has a taproot-like parsley, so it needs enough space underneath to accommodate that type of root system. (A taproot is a long, thin root that reaches several inches under the soil.)

The seedlings for cilantro germinate in 7-10 days and reach maturity in 45-70 days. A healthy cilantro plant can grow 12-24” tall. New seeds can be replanted every 2-3 weeks in summer, the height of its growing season. This plant likes full sun but not too hot; you may have better luck with a spot in partial shade. It needs well-draining soil but does not like to dry out.

To harvest, cut the outer stems when the plant is at least 10-12” tall. Harvesting regularly will extend the life of the plant.

Dill 

This feathery herb has me a little perplexed. I planted it from seed last year, then transplanted it outside into a garden planter. The plant came up nicely but got very tall and leggy. (I’m noticing a trend here with my herbs growing long and leggy instead of bushy.) I have yet to grow a bushy dill plant, which I want. So, I planted dill seeds again this year, intending to grow this herb in a pot mostly inside.

Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay.

Some general growing tips for dill…

Dill likes full sun and heat and should grow 2-3 ft tall, producing yellow flowers in summer. Grown from seed, it will take 7-10 days to germinate and about 90 days to mature. 

This herb doesn’t like to be transplanted, and when you plant the seeds, they should be spaced 12-15” apart. 

The dill plant develops a taproot-like parsley, so the pot has to be deep enough to allow for that long root column. This herb likes well-draining soil with a pH level of 5.5-6.7. Water well, and do not let dry out. 

Dill—like chamomile—can self-seed in the right conditions, providing you with new plants next year. (Technically, this is an annual plant.) Otherwise, you can harvest the leaves just before the plant flowers and go to seed.

Lavender 

Okay, so who doesn’t love lavender plants?! I have tried (unsuccessfully) to grow lavender from seeds for the past two years. So, I’m trying again this year to figure out where I keep going wrong. It is said to be very difficult to grow lavender from seed, and most people buy a young plant to get them started. But I am nothing if not stubborn…and seeds are cheaper than buying a plant!

Image by Sabrina Wisian from Pixabay.

​General growing tips for lavender…

Lavender is a perennial that likes full sun but low humidity. Soil quality isn’t an issue, but lavender does need soil with good drainage. Do not overwater!

The seeds take 4-6 weeks to germinate and should be planted 18-24” apart. Lavender can be transplanted at about 3” high and will grow to 12-36” tall.

This fragrant herb blooms between June and August, pushing out stalks of colorful purple flowers.

Harvest lavender by cutting above the woody growth on the stems.

Mint 

The one herb I have absolutely no problem growing is mint! I planted this in my garden a few years ago, and if I’m not careful, it will take over the whole yard! Growing this plant requires some diligence. If you don’t want it to end up all over the place, strangling other plants, you’ll need to take time out—frequently—to pull runners and cull back areas that are becoming invasive.

Mint taking over my summer garden. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Some general growing tips for mint…

Mint likes full sun—surprise, surprise—and makes good ground cover. The plant grows 1-3 ft tall and has beautiful purple flowers in the summer. Mint needs little to no maintenance except to keep it from growing too much. Just don’t overwater it, and it will take care of itself.

Seedlings should be planted 18-24” apart. 

Harvest just before the plant flowers or when the leaves are at least 4” tall.

Parsley

As mentioned, I have a parsley plant from last year growing in a pot on my windowsill. It’s a bit leggy (there’s that word again), but otherwise, it’s growing well. I think it prefers being outside, so maybe once the weather warms, I’ll put it out in my garden so it can grow bushier again. As for the legginess, I found some interesting information on pruning and pH levels that might help me with this problem. (My next blog on herbs will deal with harvesting, so I’ll take that opportunity to cover this topic in more detail.) My research indicates that parsley is a biennial, so this might be its last year, and I should see it flower.

Leggy parsley growing in a pot by the window. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2022.

Some general growing tips for parsley…

Parsley will germinate between 21-28 days and mature in 70-90 days. Plant seeds 9-12” apart in soil with a pH level of 6.0-7.0. This herb can be transplanted 5-6 weeks after sprouting and grows to 12-18” tall.

Parsley is a thirsty plant that requires a lot of watering, but just don’t let it sit in soggy soil.

Harvest by cutting from the outer leaves to promote new growth and lessen the chance of bolting too early.

Rosemary

Rosemary (like lavender) is one of those herbs that I have been utterly unsuccessful at growing from seed…but I keep trying! I love the smell of rosemary, especially when cooking. They say it’s a simple plant to grow and harvest, but most people go the easier route and buy a plant because getting a seedling to grow successfully is very tricky.

Image by Hans Linde from Pixabay.

Some general growing tips for rosemary…

Rosemary takes 15-25 days to germinate and likes well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Plant 18-24” apart to give this plant the space it needs to grow. Rosemary is a perennial that can grow 3-4 ft tall. 

This herb is drought tolerant, likes Mediterranean-type conditions, is fragrant, and has blue flowers in summer. Rosemary (like sage, lavender, and thyme) draws moisture from the air; an indoor rosemary plant will need frequent misting. With that being said, don’t overwater the soil. But make sure it doesn’t get overly dry. In other words, only water when needed and don’t let the soil get soggy. Give it fresh soil once a year and fertilize it in spring.

Sage

The leaves of this plant are so aromatic! I love running my fingers over them to smell their gorgeous scent. I use sage in cooking, especially with chicken, and I’m experimenting with sage tea. Sage has been growing in my garden for three or four years, but I may have accidentally killed the plants last year by pruning back too much in early spring. Since I wasn’t sure if the plant would come back this year, I planted new seeds for an indoor pot and my outdoor herb garden.

Sage bud on last year's plant. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Some general growing tips for sage…

Sage is a perennial that can grow 2-3 feet tall, with gorgeous purple flowers in the summer. The seeds take 10-21 days to germinate. Give this herb plenty of spacing (24-36” apart) when planting because it spreads out and gets bushy!

Purple flowers blooming on my sage plants. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2020.

This hardy herb is drought tolerant and can handle temperature extremes like in the Southwest desert (hot days and cold nights). 

Like rosemary, allow the plant to grow in the first year and then begin harvesting in the second year.

Thyme

I had this pot of gorgeous, fragrant bushy thyme last year growing quite hardily in my side yard. I wanted to preserve it over the winter, so I brought it inside in the fall. The plant grew fairly well…until about mid-winter, when it suddenly crashed and was dead. This spring, I planted more seeds…and we’ll see what happens. The plan is to have some plants inside and some outside, experimenting with both to see what this plant likes best.

My thyme plant brought indoors fall 2021. Photo by Diane M. Lilly, 2021.

Some general growing tips for thyme…

Thyme can grow 8-12” tall and likes to spread out, making it a terrific aromatic ground cover. It takes 8-20 days to germinate, and you can transplant once the plant is 4” high and has four true leaves. Thyme spreads out, so plant 18-24” apart in the ground. Thyme plants are ready to harvest in 80-85 days.

This herb likes full sun and well-drained soil. If growing indoors, it will need to be misted frequently and needs the bright sun of a windowsill.

Image by Marta Jonina from AdobeStock.

​So, what are your thoughts about growing herbs? Have you grown herbs, and if so, what is your favorite? Share your tips and advice in the comments below!

For my part, I look forward to watching these herbs sprout and grow, as well as learning how to care for and harvest these incredible plants. There’s something magical about witnessing new life! This will be a journey of exploration to learn about growing herbs and using these herbs for all sorts of household and culinary needs. As these plants grow, I will explore how and when to harvest them and how to use each in my home. I’ll explore uses for the home, ways to scent my home, ways to use them in arrangements, herbal teas, and healthy recipes. 

So, let’s see how this process plays out, and don’t forget to check back periodically to see my progress and get more tips and tricks for growing these herbs!

Related blogs you may want to read:
Tips for planting seeds indoors
How to repot a pothos plant
How to propagate bromeliad pups
Six herbs I planted indoors
It’s planting season again

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