Shade-Tolerant Herbs

Dwarf Spearmint – Seeds (Mentha spicata)

The Dwarf Spearmint is a compact and aromatic herb, prized for its refreshing flavor and versatility. With its smaller, bushy growth habit, it’s perfect for container gardening, herb borders, and kitchen windowsills. Its bright green leaves bring a cool, sweet taste to teas, salads, desserts, and savory dishes, while also offering natural health benefits.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors in early spring or directly outdoors after frost.

• Scatter seeds thinly on the surface of moist soil and lightly press down.

• Keep in a sunny to partly shaded spot with regular watering.

• Harvest young leaves as needed to encourage fresh growth.

Key Features

• Compact, bushy spearmint variety

• Refreshing sweet-mint flavor

• Excellent for containers, windowsills, and small spaces

• Perennial herb with continuous harvests

• Culinary and medicinal uses

Ideal For

• Fresh teas, cocktails, and infused water

• Salads, sauces, and desserts

• Small gardens, pots, and indoor growing

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March to June

• Harvest: May onwards, throughout the season

Quick Tip

• Regular trimming keeps plants compact and prevents them from spreading too aggressively.

Dwarf Parsley 'Moss Curled 2' Seeds (Petroselinum crispum)

Enhance your garden and kitchen with Dwarf Parsley 'Moss Curled 2', a compact, slow-growing variety producing dense, bright green, finely curled leaves. Ideal for both ornamental and culinary use, its vibrant foliage adds texture to salads, garnishes, and cooked dishes. Perfect for containers, herb beds, and borders, it’s a versatile herb for every gardener.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors in early spring or directly outdoors after frost.

• Use fertile, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.

• Sow seeds 0.5 cm deep in rows 20–25 cm apart.

• Thin seedlings to 15–20 cm apart for strong growth.

• Harvest leaves regularly to encourage bushiness.

Key Features

• Dwarf, slow-growing parsley with finely curled, bright green leaves

• Dual-purpose: culinary use and ornamental appeal

• Compact size suitable for containers and small gardens

• Long cutting period for continuous harvest

• Easy to grow for beginners and experienced gardeners

Ideal For

• Fresh salads, garnishes, and cooked dishes

• Container gardens, herb beds, and borders

• Gardeners seeking compact, productive herbs

• Year-round kitchen harvest

Sowing

• Best time: Spring or early summer

• Depth: 0.5 cm

• Row spacing: 20–25 cm

• Plant spacing: Thin to 15–20 cm apart

• Position: Sun or partial shade, fertile soil

Quick Tip

• Pinch outer leaves regularly to encourage bushier growth and longer harvests.

Dandelion – Seeds (Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a hardy perennial known for its bright yellow flowers and fluffy seed heads. A versatile and low-maintenance plant, it attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies, supports beneficial insects, and can be used in salads, teas, and herbal remedies. Ideal for wildflower gardens, meadows, and naturalized areas, it adds color and ecological value while requiring minimal care.

Why Grow "Dandelion"

• Bright yellow flowers and distinctive seed heads

• Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects

• Edible leaves and flowers for salads and teas

• Low-maintenance and hardy in most soils

Key Features

• Type: Perennial (Taraxacum officinale)

• Height: 15–30 cm

• Flowering: Spring to autumn

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Uses: Wildflower gardens, meadows, naturalized areas, edible gardens

Ideal For

• Naturalized or meadow-style gardens

• Pollinator-friendly planting

• Edible and herbal gardens

• Gardeners seeking low-maintenance, ecological plants

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: Early spring

• Sow outdoors: Directly in soil after frost

• Germination: 7–14 days

• Space seedlings: 10–15 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil and sunny locations

Coriander Seeds (Coriandrum sativum)

Grow fresh, aromatic herbs with Coriander (Coriandrum sativum). This versatile herb produces feathery green leaves and aromatic seeds, perfect for salads, cooking, and spice blends. Fast-growing and easy to cultivate, it’s ideal for herb gardens, kitchen beds, and containers.

How to Grow

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

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

• Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep and thin seedlings to 15–20 cm apart.

• Keep soil consistently moist for best germination (7–14 days).

• Harvest leaves when young and tender; collect seeds when fully mature.

Key Features

• Feathery, aromatic green leaves and flavorful seeds

• Fast-growing and easy to cultivate

• Ideal for fresh salads, cooking, and spice blends

• Suitable for outdoor and container growing

• Hardy and versatile culinary herb

Ideal For

• Herb gardens, kitchen beds, and containers

• Fresh salads, cooking, and seasoning

• Homegrown spice production

• Companion planting to attract beneficial insects

Sowing

• Best time: Early spring to late summer outdoors

• Depth: 0.5–1 cm

• Spacing: Thin to 15–20 cm apart

• Prefers full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil

Quick Tip

• Sow in succession every 2–3 weeks for a continuous supply of fresh leaves and seeds.

Chives ‘Bohemia’ – Seeds (Allium schoenoprasum) – Hardy Perennial

Chives ‘Bohemia’ is a hardy perennial herb, perfect for overwintering and providing fresh growth year after year. Known for its fine, hollow green leaves and mild onion flavor, it’s a versatile kitchen herb ideal for salads, soups, sauces, and garnishes. In summer, attractive purple-pink flowers appear, loved by bees and pollinators, making this a decorative as well as useful garden plant.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April in pots or trays at 15–20°C.

• Sow outdoors: April – July in finely prepared soil.

• Thin or transplant seedlings to 20 cm apart.

• Prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil.

• Cut regularly to encourage fresh growth.

Key Features

• Hardy perennial herb with overwintering growth

• Fine, mild onion-flavored leaves

• Decorative purple flowers attract pollinators

• Easy to grow in pots, borders, or herb gardens

• Reliable year-round harvests

Ideal For

• Fresh salads, soups, sauces, and garnishes

• Herb gardens, borders, and containers

• Attracting bees and pollinators

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – July

• Harvest: May – October, with regrowth in spring

Quick Tip

Divide clumps every few years to maintain healthy growth and extend the lifespan of your chive plants.

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.

Borage – Seeds

(Borago officinalis) – Edible Flowers & Pollinator Magnet

Borage, also known as the starflower, is a fast-growing annual herb admired for its vivid blue, star-shaped flowers and fuzzy, cucumber-flavored leaves. A favorite of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, it makes an excellent addition to herb gardens, vegetable patches, or pollinator-friendly borders. Both flowers and young leaves are edible – perfect for garnishing salads, desserts, drinks, or freezing into ice cubes.

Key Features

• Plant type: Annual herb

• Height: 50–70 cm

• Spread: 30–40 cm

• Flowers: Bright blue, star-shaped

• Foliage: Grey-green, hairy leaves with cucumber flavor

• Position: Full sun to light shade

• Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Herb & cottage gardens

• Attracting pollinators (especially bees)

• Edible flowers & herbal teas

• Companion planting with tomatoes, strawberries, and courgettes

Sowing & Growing

• Sow outdoors: April–June, direct in soil, 1 cm deep.

• Germination: 7–14 days.

• Spacing: Thin to 30 cm apart.

• Flowering: June–September.

Care Tips

• Easy to grow and self-seeding – will naturalize readily.

• Pinch back growing tips for bushier plants.

• Collect flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming.

• Water in dry spells but avoid overwatering.

Strawberry Stick – Seeds

(Chenopodium foliosum)

Strawberry Stick is a unique annual plant grown for its bright red, strawberry-like seeds. These edible seeds are not only nutritious but also add a decorative touch to gardens. Its upright, bushy habit makes it perfect for borders, vegetable gardens, and ornamental planting. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant, it’s both practical and attractive.

Why Grow Strawberry Stick?

• Bright red, edible seeds

• Attractive upright, bushy foliage

• Nutritious and ornamental

• Easy to grow and drought-tolerant

Key Features

• Type: Annual

• Height: 50–80 cm

• Flowers: Summer

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile

Ideal For

• Vegetable gardens and edible landscaping

• Borders and ornamental plantings

• Pollinator-friendly gardens

• Low-maintenance garden displays

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in seed trays

• Sow outdoors: April–May in prepared soil

• Germination: 10–14 days at 18–20°C

• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart

• Care: Moderate watering; remove weeds for best growth

Salad Burnet – Seeds (Sanguisorba minor)

Salad Burnet is a hardy perennial herb known for its fresh, cucumber-like flavor. Its delicate, serrated leaves are perfect for adding to salads, dips, sauces, and refreshing summer drinks. An attractive, low-maintenance plant, it also makes a lovely edging herb for the garden.

This herb is drought-tolerant once established and can be harvested repeatedly throughout the growing season. A traditional herb with both culinary and ornamental value.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – April

• Sow outdoors: April – June

• Depth: 0.5 cm, lightly cover

• Spacing: 25–30 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, light to medium soil

• Watering: Moderate; drought tolerant once mature

Key Features

• Perennial herb with cucumber-like flavor

• Ideal for salads, sauces, and refreshing drinks

• Hardy, drought-tolerant, and low maintenance

• Attractive edging plant for herb gardens

• Repeated harvests throughout summer

Harvest

• Harvesting period: May – October

• Pick young, fresh leaves regularly for the best flavor.

Short Tip

Snip leaves just before use, as their delicate flavor is best enjoyed fresh.