Culinary Herbs

Mexican Tarragon – Seeds

(Tagetes lucida) – Perennial Herb / Ornamental

Mexican Tarragon, also known as Sweet Mace or Spanish Tarragon, is a versatile plant prized both as a culinary herb and a decorative flower. It produces bright golden-yellow blossoms and aromatic leaves with a distinctive anise-like flavor, often used as a substitute for French tarragon in cooking. Highly valued in traditional medicine and rituals, it is also a magnet for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Key Features

• Type: Tender perennial (often grown as annual in cooler climates)

• Height: 45–75 cm

• Spread: 30–40 cm

• Flowers: Clusters of golden-yellow blooms

• Blooming period: Summer to autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil

• Other: Aromatic foliage; edible herb

Ideal For

• Herb and kitchen gardens

• Summer borders and cottage gardens

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Containers and pots

• Edible landscaping

Culinary & Herbal Uses

• Leaves used fresh or dried in soups, sauces, chicken, and fish dishes

• Herbal teas with calming properties

• Traditional medicinal and ceremonial uses

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in seed trays with light soil.

• Germination: 7–14 days at 18–22°C.

• Transplant: Harden off and plant outdoors after the last frost.

• Care: Prefers sunny, warm positions. Pinch young shoots to encourage bushiness. Harvest leaves before flowering for best flavor.

Fennel Bulb 'Florence' – Seeds (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel Bulb 'Florence' is a versatile and flavorful vegetable producing crisp, swollen white bulbs with tender, aromatic fronds. Known for its sweet, anise-like flavor, it’s perfect for roasting, grilling, salads, and soups. Easy to grow, this variety thrives in sunny, well-drained gardens and makes a striking addition to both kitchen and ornamental beds.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors from February to April or directly outdoors from March to June.

• Plant 0.5–1 cm deep in fertile, well-drained soil.

• Thin seedlings to 30–40 cm apart to allow bulb development.

• Prefers full sun and consistent moisture.

• Harvest bulbs when swollen and firm, before they become woody.

Key Features

• Produces crisp, swollen white bulbs with aromatic fronds

• Sweet, anise-like flavor ideal for cooking

• Thrives in sunny, well-drained soil

• Suitable for salads, roasting, grilling, and soups

• Attractive addition to vegetable and kitchen gardens

Ideal For

• Culinary use in fresh salads, soups, and roasting

• Home gardens and raised beds

• Gardeners seeking versatile, flavorful vegetables

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February to June

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 30–40 cm

• Harvest: June to September

Quick Tip

• For best flavor, harvest bulbs before they get too large and the texture becomes tough.

Caraway Seeds (Carum carvi)

Grow aromatic, versatile seeds with Caraway (Carum carvi). This hardy biennial herb produces feathery green foliage and crescent-shaped seeds with a warm, slightly sweet flavor, perfect for bread, cooking, and herbal remedies. Easy to grow, it’s ideal for herb gardens, kitchen beds, and pollinator-friendly plantings.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds directly outdoors from early spring to early summer.

• Use fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.

• Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep and thin seedlings to 20–25 cm apart.

• Keep soil consistently moist for germination (10–20 days).

• Harvest seeds in late summer when the seed heads turn brown; cut and dry them for storage.

Key Features

• Feathery green foliage and aromatic crescent-shaped seeds

• Biennial, hardy, and easy to grow

• Ideal for baking, cooking, and herbal remedies

• Attracts pollinators and enhances garden biodiversity

• Suitable for herb gardens, kitchen beds, and companion planting

Ideal For

• Herb gardens and kitchen beds

• Baking, cooking, and spice blends

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Homegrown culinary and medicinal use

Sowing

• Best time: Early spring to early summer outdoors

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: Thin to 20–25 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Harvest seeds when seed heads are fully brown and dry them in a warm, airy place for long-term storage.

Anise Seeds (Pimpinella anisum)

Grow your own aromatic spice with Anise (Pimpinella anisum). Known for its sweet, licorice-like flavor, this ancient herb produces delicate white umbels and seeds prized for baking, teas, liqueurs, and herbal remedies. A beautiful and useful plant, anise thrives in sunny spots and brings fragrance and flavor to both the garden and kitchen.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds directly outdoors in spring after the last frost.

• Choose well-drained, fertile soil in full sun.

• Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep, spacing plants 20–30 cm apart.

• Keep soil moist during germination (14–21 days).

• Harvest seeds when flower heads turn brown and dry.

Key Features

• Sweet, aromatic seeds with licorice-like flavor

• Useful in baking, teas, and herbal medicine

• Delicate white flowers that attract pollinators

• Ancient herb with culinary and medicinal history

• Easy to grow in sunny, well-drained soil

Ideal For

• Culinary use in baked goods, teas, and liqueurs

• Herbal remedies and natural medicine gardens

• Pollinator-friendly gardens with fragrant blooms

• Gardeners seeking dual-purpose beauty and flavor

Sowing

• Best time: Spring, after last frost

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: 20–30 cm apart

• Prefers full sun and well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Harvest seeds early in the morning when flower heads are dry, then store in an airtight container to preserve their aromatic flavor.

Chervil – Seeds

(Anthriscus cerefolium) – Classic Culinary Herb

Chervil is a delicate, aromatic herb with finely cut, fern-like leaves and a subtle aniseed flavor. Often called the “gourmet’s parsley”, it is an essential ingredient in French cuisine and one of the traditional fines herbes (with parsley, tarragon, and chives). Best used fresh, chervil enhances soups, salads, omelets, fish, and sauces, adding a refined, mild flavor.

Key Features

• Type: Annual culinary herb

• Height: 30–50 cm

• Leaves: Finely cut, light green, fern-like

• Flavor: Mild anise, delicate and fresh

• Harvest: 6–8 weeks after sowing

• Use: Fresh leaves for seasoning

Ideal For

• Culinary herb gardens & kitchen windowsills

• French and Mediterranean dishes

• Continuous harvest in small spaces

• Pairing with parsley, tarragon & chives

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–August, directly into the soil.

• Depth: 0.5 cm, thinly in rows 20 cm apart.

• Germination: 14–21 days at 12–18°C.

• Position: Partial shade, moist, humus-rich soil.

• Harvest: Young leaves as needed.

Care Tips

• Regular sowings every 3–4 weeks ensure a constant supply.

• Avoid hot, sunny locations (prefers cool shade).

• Use leaves fresh – drying reduces flavor.

Nigella sativa ‘Black Cumin’ White – Seeds (Nigella sativa)

Nigella sativa ‘Black Cumin’ (Nigella sativa) is a graceful annual valued both as a culinary spice and an ornamental flower. It produces delicate white, star-shaped blooms that float above feathery foliage, followed by decorative seed pods. Known for its aromatic black seeds, often called black cumin, it has been used for centuries in cooking and traditional remedies. Easy to grow and low-maintenance, this dual-purpose plant brings both beauty and practicality to the garden.

Why Grow "Black Cumin" White

• Delicate white blooms with airy foliage

• Produces edible black cumin seeds with culinary uses

• Attractive seed pods for dried arrangements

• Easy to grow and self-seeding annual

Key Features

• Type: Annual (Nigella sativa)

• Height: 20–40 cm

• Flowering: Summer

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Culinary seeds, borders, containers, dried flowers

Ideal For

• Herb and kitchen gardens

• Dual-purpose planting – ornamental and edible

• Borders and cottage-style displays

• Cutting and drying seed pods for decoration

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: March–May or September for earlier blooms

• Germination: 10–20 days

• Thin seedlings: 15–20 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun

• Self-seeds freely for naturalized planting

Summer Savory 'Midget' – Seeds (Satureja hortensis)

Summer Savory ‘Midget’ is a compact, fast-growing annual herb, prized for its spicy, peppery flavour that resembles thyme and oregano. This dwarf variety is especially suited for container growing, raised beds, and small herb gardens.

Traditionally used to season bean dishes, meats, soups, and stews, it is also excellent fresh or dried as a versatile culinary herb. With its neat, bushy growth habit and aromatic leaves, ‘Midget’ is both decorative and useful in the kitchen.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – April in pots or trays

• Sow outdoors: April – June, directly into prepared soil

• Depth: Lightly cover seeds with soil (approx. 0.5 cm)

• Spacing: 20–25 cm between plants

• Position: Sunny, well-drained spot

• Soil: Light, sandy, moderately fertile

Key Features

• Compact dwarf variety – ideal for pots and small spaces

• Distinct peppery flavour – a classic bean seasoning

• Culinary herb for meats, stews, soups, and sauces

• Can be used fresh or dried

• Hardy, quick-growing, and easy to maintain

Harvesting

• Harvest from: June – September

• Pick fresh leaves regularly to encourage new growth.

• For winter use, cut and dry whole sprigs just before flowering.