Herbs

Herbs for the edible landscape

Easy to grow Many are perennial in MN Fill in spaces Low growing herbs work well on border Great for containers Add fragrance Harvest all season Huge variety in color, visual texture, flavor Attract beneficial insects May deter some pests

Herbs

Herbs

Parsley, cilantro Thyme Lavender Chives Mint Oregano Basil Sage Dill, fennel

Parsley

https://newbury-home.com/container-herb-garden-ideas-tips/

Parsley

Two types include varieties with tightly curled leaves, and flat leaf Italian varieties Best to start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, as long as you can give it a lot of light. Seeds take about 3 weeks to germinate. Transplant outdoors right around last frost date. Full sun to part shade. Average time to harvest: ~75 days. Harvest regularly to delay bolting. After bolting, flavor will turn bitter. Replace plants with something else, or leave for pollinators. Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars like parsley. If you see them, leave them there. They won’t do too much damage.

Cilantro

https://discover.hubpages.com/living/Growing-Cilantro-AKA-Coriander-Good-for-your-garden-and-great-herb-for-cooking

https://www.homesandgardens.com/advice/how-to-grow-cilantro

https://plantura.garden/uk/herbs/parsley/growing-parsley

Cilantro

Looks and grows similar to parsley. Grown for leaves and seed. Seed is known as coriander. Best to direct sow. Can be started indoors, but transplanting must be done carefully so as not to disturb taproot. Germination time: 1-3 weeks. Sow successively every 3 weeks for continual harvest. Avg time to harvest: 50-55 for leaves; 100-120 for seed. Keep soil evenly moist. Dry soil promotes bolting, while wet soil promotes diseases. Grows best in cool temps. Will bolt in hot temps. After bolting, can keep growing to attract beneficial insects and to harvest coriander seed. Harvest seed carefully as soon as ready. If plant drops seed (self seeds) it can become weedy.

Oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme

Moderately hardy perennials. Rosemary is the least hardy and usually does not overwinter outdoors in Minnesota. Bring rosemary indoors during winter. All grow slowly from seed. For faster growth and earlier harvests, purchase transplants. Grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. Harvest full stems any time after plants are well-established. Flavor is best before flowering. Harvest often to delay flowering. If plants overwinter successfully, they become woody and should be divided and replanted every 3-4 years. Many varieties have different flavors, leaf colors. All are great for containers.

Oregano

https://gardenamateur.blogspot.com/2014/10/just-right-amount-of-oregano.html

Sage

Sage

Thyme

Thyme

Lavender

Lavender

https://www.homedepot.com/c/ai/grow-lavender-in-your-herb-garden/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90116198086

Lavender

Lavender is a perennial, however, many varieties are not hardy to much of Minnesota. Lavender flowers in multiple colors including purple, pink, and white. It is known for being aromatic. The flowers arranged are in clusters at the top of vertical stalks with gray green foliage below. Height 1-3 ft, width 2-4 ft Bloom season: depending on the variety anywhere from early June to early October Landscape uses: Lavender is helpful in the garden because its natural oils repel grazing animals such as rabbits and deer. It also attracts pollinators and predators (eg. ladybugs and praying mantises). It can be used to flavor food and tea, and also has medicinal uses. It is versatile in its placement and can work well in a border, pot, as groundcover, etc. Challenges: Lavender needs well drained, alkaline soils. It is native to the Mediterranean so MN winters can damage or kills plants so its important to select a winter hardy vareity. Cultivars of note: Most cultivars are hardy to Zone 5. 'Munstead' is reliably hardy in Zone 4.

Chives

gardenphotos.com

Chives

Onion family plant has grass-like leaves and pale purple flowers. Leaves and flowers can be eaten. Transplant established plants for fastest growth, as chives grow slowly from seed. Harvest leaves regularly to keep plant productive, and remove flowers to prevent dormancy in warm temps. Divide and replant clumps every 3-5 years to maintain productivity. Can be confused with garlic chives. Garlic chives have flat leaves, white flower clusters, and can become invasive.

Mint

Mint

Perennial; spreads aggressively via stolons and rhizomes. Grows slowly from seed. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Plants can tolerate some freezing. All types of mint are easy to propagate from cuttings. Considered a warm season plant because it tolerates heat. Great for containers, to control spread. Many types with different flavors. Wait until plants are established before harvesting. Harvest a few leaves or full stems at a time. Harvest regularly to promote production and delay flowering. Leaves taste best before flowering.

Basil

Basil

Very tender annual herb, requires full sun. Transplant outside once temperatures are consistently warm. Growth will be stunted if exposed to extended cool temps. Very light frost will damage leaves. Harvest by pinching off growing tip down to a set of leaves. This promotes lateral branching and more leaves. Pinching also delays flowering - a good thing for basil. Harvest before flowering. After flowering, leaves lose their good flavor. Look for varieties with distinct colors, flavors, or growth habits for added interest in the garden.

Basil

Basil

Basil

https://theseedsmaster.com/basil-organic-spicy-globe-ocimum-basilicum-l-herb-heirloom-100-130-seeds/

Dill and fennel

Dill and fennel

https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/fennel-in-the-south/

https://www.gardenary.com/blog/how-to-grow-organic-dill-in-your-herb-garden

Dill and fennel

Easy to grow. Grown for leaves and seed. Germination time: 7-21 days. Direct sowing recommended, after soil can be worked. Can also be started indoors, but does not transplant well. Grows best in full sun and fertile, well drained soil. Avg days to harvest: 40-55 for leaves; 85-115 for seed. Harvest foliage - Cut stems of foliage any time after plant is well established, but before flowering. Harvest fennel ‘bulb’ - when ‘bulb’ is about 3” wide, dig up plant. Cut off roots and foliage. Flowers attract many beneficial insects. Umbels make attractive cut flowers. Harvest seed heads just as seeds start to turn golden. Do not allow to drop seed. Becomes very weedy.