Nichole + Jon: Let Love Grow
Basil
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: ¼in
Thin To: 6 – 12in apart
Sun/Shade: Full sun
Soil: Well draining soil
Water: Moist
Height: 12 – 24in
Days to Germination: 5 -10 days
Direct Sow: In early spring, after danger of frost has passed.
Container: Can be grown in containers
Start Indoors: You can start in early spring 6 to 8 weeks before the last anticipated frost
Etc: Pinch off basil flowers as they start to grow to encourage new leaf growth, and to keep the plants bushy
Cilantro
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: ¼in, every 5 – 8in
Thin To: 8 – 10in apart
Sun/Shade: Full sun during the morning, shade during the hot afternoon. Think cool and sunny.
Soil: Moistened, well draining soil
Water: Moist
Height: 4 – 6in
Days to Germination: 7 – 10 days
Direct Sow: In early spring, after danger of frost has passed.
Container: Can be grown in containers
Start Indoors: You can start in early spring as transplants. Scatter the seeds in a tray and cover with ¼in of soil and put in a warm place. Make sure to keeps the soil evenly moist (but not soggy) while germinating. When 2in tall, thin to 3 to 4in apart and then transplant outside 2-3 weeks later.
Blooms: –
Etc: Sow cilantro in the spring and autumn since it will bolt in hot weather. To harvest fresh cilantro all season, make successive sowings every 2 to 3 weeks starting in late spring.
Chives
Type: Perennial
Planting Depth: ¼in
Thin To: –
Sun/Shade: Full / Partial sun
Soil: Light friable soil
Water: Moist
Height: –
Days to Germination: 3 – 18 days
Direct Sow: Best to start indoors and then transplant outside 8 – 10 weeks later, about 3 – 5in apart
Containers: Can be grown in containers
Start Indoors: Start in early spring as transplants, scatter seeds in a tray ¼in – ½in apart in moist soil and put in a warm place.
Etc: The flowers are edible
Dill Weed
Type: Perennial
Planting Depth: ¼in, every 18in
Thin To: 8in apart
Sun/Shade: Full sun
Soil: All soil conditions will suffice
Water: Keep soil moist but not soggy
Height: 2-3ft
Days to Germination: 5 – 10 days
Direct Sow: In the late spring
Containers: –
Start Indoors: Not recommended
Etc: Keep protected from high winds. Once dill weed plants go into bloom, they’ll stop growing leaves, so make sure that you don’t harvest any leaves from that plant.
Lavender
Type: Perennial
Planting Depth: ¼in, lightly cover with soil
Thin To: 12 – 18in apart
Sun/Shade: Direct Sun
Soil: Light, well draining soil
Water: Water the seeds daily with a spray bottle on mist setting until germination has occurred.
Height: 20 – 30in
Days to Germination: 7 – 21 days
Direct Sow: Not recommended. Transplant directly into the garden when the weather is warm and all danger of frost has passed.
Container: See below
Start Indoors: Best started indoors 6-8 weeks prior to last frost. Start in peat pot, sewing 3 – 5 seeds per pot, at a shallow depth of 1/16″ under topsoil.
Etc: Blooms through the summer months
Oregano
Type: Perennial
Planting Depth: Sow into a shallow furrow ¼in deep. Do not cover, as the seeds require light to germinate. Water evenly with a fine mist.
Thin To: 10 – 12in apart when the plants are 4in tall
Sun/Shade: Direct Sun
Soil: Well draining soil
Water: Drought tolerant, water during excessive dry periods
Height: 12 – 20in
Days to Germination: 7 – 14 days
Direct Sow: When temperatures remain above 50°F and after danger of frost has passed.
Containers: Can be grown in containers
Start Indoors: Best started indoors prior to last frost
Etc: –
Parsley
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: ¼in, every 6 – 10in
Thin To: –
Sun/Shade: Full / Partial sun
Soil: Moistened, well draining soil
Water: Water often
Height: 6in
Days to Germination: 10 – 15 days
Direct Sow: Plant the seeds 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost because parsley is a slow starter (the plants can handle the cold weather.) It can take up to 3 weeks for the plants to sprout.
Containers: –
Start Indoors: Best started indoors 10 – 12 weeks prior to last frost. Transplant when seedlings are 3in tall.
Etc: In early spring, prepare parsley seeds for planting by placing them in the refrigerator for 3 days, and then soak them overnight in room temp water.
Rosemary
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: ¼ in, every 12in, lightly cover with soil
Thin To: –
Sun/Shade: Direct Sun
Soil: –
Water: Once germinated, rosemary is highly prone to damping off, so keep watering to a minimum
Height: 12 – 24in
Days to Germination: 10 – 30 days
Direct Sow: Late May, once soil has warmed
Containers: If growing rosemary in containers, provide monthly feedings of liquid fertilizer. Keep watered in hot weather
Start Indoors: Start indoors between mid-February to mid-April
Etc: –
Sage
Type: Perennial
Planting Depth: ¼in, every 12 – 18in
Thin To: 18 – 24in apart
Sun/Shade: Full sun
Soil: Well draining soil
Water: Let soil dry out between waterings
Height: 12 – 30in
Days to Germination: 10 – 21 days
Direct Sow: In early spring, after danger of frost has passed.
Container: Can be grown in containers
Start Indoors: You can start in early spring 6 to 8 weeks before the last anticipated frost.
Scatter the seeds in a tray and cover with ¼in of soil and put in a warm place. They are ready to transplant when they have 2 sets of true leaves and stand about 4 inches high.
Etc: Pinch the growing tips of your Sage plant several times during spring and early summer. This will produce a bushier plant and slow the formation of flower buds.
Harvest the leaves when they are young, either by pinching them off individually or snipping an entire stem at the base.
Thyme
Type: Perennial
Planting Depth: ⅛ in, every 3in
Thin To: 3in apart
Sun/Shade: Direct sun
Soil: Sandy, dry soil
Water: Water regularly
Height: 8in
Days to Germination: 10 days
Direct Sow: Scatter on the surface and lightly cover with soil
Containers: Can be grown in containers
Start Indoors: Best started indoors. Sow thyme seed in sterilized growing medium either in shallow rows or scatter on top with little or no covering. After they take root, transplant to 2” peat pots.
Etc: Harvest small cuttings continually through the growing season. In cold climates, mulch with straw for winter protection to ensure the plant comes back the following year. Or, pot up thyme in a sunny window for winter use – it’s easy to grow.
Wildflowers
Type: Mix of annuals and perennials.
Planting Depth: Till the soil and level the sowing area. Scatter the seeds on the surface of the soil, allowing them to receive direct sunlight. This is crucial for most wildflower seeds to develop, so don’t cover them with soil. Using the back of a shovel, lightly press the seed mixture into place and water immediately to ensure the seeds stay put. Use a light shower or mist setting to avoid drowning or washing the seeds away.
Thin To:
Sun/Shade: Direct sun
Soil: Not clay based, not soggy or swampy
Water: Water regularly
Height: 8 – 40in
Days to Germination: 7 – 10 days
Direct Sow: In early spring, after danger of frost has passed
Containers: –
Start Indoors: –
Etc: If the seeds were distributed evenly, your coverage will be pretty thick. Within 5 – 8 weeks, you will see many annuals and the perennials will follow suit later in the season. Many of the annuals will self-seed, dropping to the ground at the end of autumn.
Zinnia
Type: Annual
Planting Depth: Rake in the seed to a depth not to exceed ¼ in. Tap down seed by walking over seeded area.
Thin To: 4 – 5in apart when they are 2¬ – 4in tall
Sun/Shade: Sun
Soil: Well draining soil
Water: Keep the planting area consistently moist for 4 – 6 weeks
Height: 15 – 18in
Days to Germination: 6 – 10 days
Direct Sow: In early spring, after danger of frost has passed
Container: Can be grown in containers
Start Indoors: –
Etc: –