Herb Planting Guide
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Seeding Notes
- Stratify
- Sow in moist soil and chill 3-4 weeks.
- Scarify
- Scuff seed with a file before sowing.
| Name | mature height | annual/perennial in Maine | likely to self-sow | native to N. America | shade tolerance | culinary | medicinal | tea | ornamental | Direct sow and/or transplant | ideal germ temp | Seeding Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anise | 1-2' | annual | part | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 65-70° | ||||
| Anise Hyssop | 2-3' | perennial | -1 | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS after frost / TP | 70-85° | surface sow | |
| Arnica | 12-20" | perennial | -1 | -1 | -1 | TP | 60-65° | surface sow, stratify | ||||
| Ashwagandha | 2-3' | annual | part | -1 | TP | 65-70° | surface sow | |||||
| Astragalus | 18-48" | perennial | -1 | DS spring / TP | 65-70° | scarify, soak 24 hrs. | ||||||
| Basil | 8-24" | annual | -1 | -1 | DS after frost / TP | 70-85° | ||||||
| Basil, Sacred | 18-24" | annual | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS after frost / TP | 70-85° | ||||
| Bergamot | 3-4' | perennial | -1 | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 65-70° | surface sow | |
| Boneset | 4-6' | perennial | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS fall | 60-65° | stratify | ||||
| Borage | 2-3' | annual | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 60-65° | ||||
| Caraway | 2' | biennial | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 60-65° | ||||||
| Catnip | 2-3' | perennial | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 65-70° | surface sow | |||
| Chamomile | 8-18" | annual | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 65-70° | surface sow | ||||
| Chervil | 12-18" | annual | part | -1 | DS spring | 70-85° | surface sow | |||||
| Chives | 1-2' | perennial | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 60-65° | |||
| Cilantro | 1-2' | annual | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 60-65° | |||||
| Codonopsis | 5-6' | perennial | part | -1 | -1 | TP | 65-70° | |||||
| Cumin | 1-2' | annual | -1 | -1 | TP | 65-70° | ||||||
| Dill | 2-5' | annual | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 70-85° | |||||
| Echinacea | 2-4' | perennial | -1 | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | DS fall / TP | 70-85° | surface sow, stratify | ||
| Elecampane | 5-8' | perennial | part | -1 | -1 | TP | 65-70° | surface sow | ||||
| Epazote | 2-4' | annual | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS after frost | 60-65° | |||||
| Fennel, for seed | 1-3' | annual | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 65-70° | |||||
| Fenugreek | 1-2' | annual | -1 | -1 | DS after frost | 60-65° | ||||||
| Feverfew | 18-30" | perennial | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | DS spring / TP | 65-70° | surface sow | |||
| Garlic Chives | 12-18" | perennial | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 60-65° | ||||
| Horehound | 20-24" | perennial | -1 | DS spring / TP | 65-70° | |||||||
| Hyssop | 12-18" | perennial | part | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS fall / TP | 60-65° | ||||
| Lady’s Mantle | 12-18" | perennial | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | TP | 65-70° | stratify, surface sow | |||
| Lavender | 2-3' | perennial | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | TP | 70-85° | stratify, surface sow | |||
| Lemongrass | 3-4' | annual | -1 | -1 | -1 | TP | 70-85° | |||||
| Lemon Balm | 1-2' | perennial | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | DS spring / TP | 65-70° | surface sow | |||
| Lovage | 3-6' | perennial | part | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 65-70° | water sparingly | |||
| Marjoram | 1-2' | annual | -1 | TP | 65-70° | |||||||
| Marshmallow | 4-6' | perennial | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 60-65° | stratify | |||
| Milk Thistle | 3-5' | annual | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 65-70° | surface sow | |||||
| Mldvn Dragon Head | 18" | annual | -1 | -1 | DS after frost / TP | 65-70° | surface sow | |||||
| Motherwort | 2-4' | perennial | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 65-70° | surface sow | |||||
| Mountain Mint | 3-4' | perennial | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 60-65° | surface sow | ||
| Mustard Seed | 2-4' | annual | -1 | DS spring | 60-65° | |||||||
| Nettle, Stinging | 3-6' | perennial | part | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 65-70° | surface sow | |||
| Oregano, Greek | 6-12" | perennial | -1 | -1 | TP | 65-70° | surface sow | |||||
| Oregano, Zaatar | 1-2' | annual | -1 | DS spring / TP | 65-70° | |||||||
| Parsley | 8-12" | annual | part | -1 | -1 | DS spring / TP | 65-70° | soak seed 24 hrs | ||||
| Pennyroyal | 8-12" | perennial | part | -1 | -1 | TP | 60-65° | |||||
| Rosemary | 3-4' | annual | -1 | -1 | -1 | TP | 65-70° | surface sow, stratify | ||||
| Sage, Broadleaf | 2-3' | perennial | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring / TP | 70-85° | surface sow | |||
| Savory, Summer | 12-18" | annual | -1 | -1 | DS spring | 70-85° | surface sow | |||||
| Savory, Winter | 6-12" | perennial | -1 | -1 | TP | 65-70° | surface sow | |||||
| Skullcap | 1-2' | perennial | -1 | part | -1 | -1 | TP | 65-70° | stratify | |||
| Spilanthes | 8-12" | annual | -1 | -1 | TP | 70-85° | ||||||
| Stevia | 18-24" | annual | part | -1 | DS after frost / TP | 70-85° | surface sow | |||||
| St Johnswort | 1-3' | perennial | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 65-70° | surface sow, stratify | |||
| Mexican Tarragon | 16-20" | annual | -1 | TP | 70-85° | |||||||
| Thyme | 10-12" | perennial | -1 | -1 | TP | 60-65° | surface sow | |||||
| Vervain | 5-6' | perennial | -1 | -1 | -1 | TP | 65-70° | surface sow, stratify | ||||
| Wild Lettuce | 4-6' | annual | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 60-65° | ||||
| Woodruff | 6-8" | perennial | full shade | -1 | -1 | DS spring / TP | 60-65° | stratify | ||||
| Yarrow | 1-2' | perennial | -1 | -1 | DS spring or fall | 70-85° | surface sow |