Sow in October

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.

Basil 'Italian Sweet Genovese' – Seeds (Ocimum basilicum)

Basil 'Italian Sweet Genovese' is the classic culinary herb prized for its aromatic, glossy green leaves and sweet, slightly spicy flavor. Perfect for pesto, salads, sauces, and garnishing, this variety grows vigorously and produces abundant foliage throughout the growing season. Ideal for home gardens, pots, and herb beds.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds indoors from February to April, lightly covering with soil.

• Maintain 18–22°C until germination.

• Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost in a sunny, sheltered spot.

• Prefers well-drained, fertile soil and regular watering.

• Pinch off flower buds to encourage bushy growth and prolonged leaf production.

Key Features

• Aromatic, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor

• Classic Italian basil variety for culinary use

• Fast-growing and productive

• Suitable for garden beds, containers, and patios

• Ideal for pesto, salads, sauces, and garnishing

Ideal For

• Fresh culinary use in Italian and Mediterranean dishes

• Herb gardens, raised beds, and container planting

• Gardeners seeking high-yield, flavorful basil

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February to April

• Depth: Lightly covered

• Harvest: May to October

Quick Tip

• Regularly pinch young shoots to encourage bushy growth and prevent flowering, which can reduce leaf flavor.

Parsley 'Festival 68' – Seeds (Petroselinum crispum)

Bring fresh, aromatic flavor to your kitchen with Parsley 'Festival 68', a robust, curly-leaf variety known for its high yield and exceptional flavor. Ideal for soups, salads, sauces, and garnishes, this versatile herb thrives in home gardens and containers. Easy to grow and slow to bolt, 'Festival 68' ensures a long-lasting supply of fresh parsley throughout the season.

How to Grow

. Sow indoors: February – April, 0.5–1 cm deep in pots or trays
. Sow outdoors: March – June in fertile, well-drained soil
. Thin seedlings to 15–20 cm apart
. Prefers full sun or partial shade and regular watering
. Harvest leaves continuously to encourage new growth

Key Features

. Curly-leaf parsley with strong flavor
. High-yielding and slow to bolt
. Suitable for beds, borders, and containers
. Long-lasting harvest for fresh cooking
. Easy to grow, versatile culinary herb

Ideal For

. Soups, salads, sauces, and garnishes
. Home gardeners and container cultivation
. Continuous fresh herb supply throughout the season
. Companion planting with tomatoes, carrots, or asparagus

Sowing & Harvest

. Sow: February – June
. Harvest: April – October

Quick Tip

Regularly snip outer leaves instead of cutting the entire plant to promote continuous growth.

Wild Marjoram – Oregano – Seeds (Origanum vulgare)

Wild Marjoram (Oregano) is a hardy perennial herb cherished for its fragrant leaves and delicate pink-purple flowers. A staple of Mediterranean cooking, oregano adds a rich, earthy flavor to pizzas, pasta, sauces, and roasted vegetables. Beyond the kitchen, its nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies, making it a wonderful addition to herb gardens, borders, and pollinator-friendly spaces.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – May in seed trays or pots.

• Transplant outdoors: After the last frost in a sunny, well-drained spot.

• Spacing: 25–30 cm apart.

• Oregano prefers light, well-drained soil and thrives in warm, sunny conditions.

Key Features

• Aromatic herb essential for Mediterranean cuisine

• Hardy perennial, easy to grow

• Attracts bees and butterflies with summer blooms

• Suitable for pots, containers, or borders

• Drought-tolerant once established

Ideal For

• Culinary herb gardens

• Fresh or dried use in cooking

• Pollinator-friendly borders

• Container growing on patios or balconies

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – May

• Harvest: June – October (leaves can be harvested fresh or dried)

Quick Tip

For the most intense flavor, harvest oregano leaves just before flowering, and dry them in a cool, airy place.

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.

Russian Tarragon – Seeds (Artemisia dracunculus)

Russian Tarragon is a hardy perennial herb valued for its anise-like flavor and aromatic leaves. While milder than French tarragon, it grows easily from seed, making it an excellent choice for gardeners who want a reliable and vigorous herb. Perfect for flavoring chicken, fish, salads, and sauces, it also makes a decorative addition to herb gardens with its fine, slender foliage.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – May in seed trays or pots.

• Transplant outdoors: After last frost into a sunny, sheltered position.

• Soil: Well-drained, light soil.

• Spacing: 30–45 cm apart.

• Water moderately, avoid waterlogging.

Key Features

• Hardy perennial, easy to grow from seed

• Aromatic leaves with mild anise flavor

• Reliable alternative to French tarragon

• Drought-tolerant once established

• Attractive foliage for herb borders

Ideal For

• Herb gardens and kitchen gardens

• Flavoring chicken, fish, soups, and sauces

• Growing in pots, raised beds, or borders

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – May

• Harvest: July – October

Quick Tip

Pinch back growing tips to encourage bushy growth. For best flavor, harvest young leaves before flowering.

Lemongrass – Seeds (Cymbopogon flexuosus)

Lemongrass is a wonderfully fragrant herb, widely used in Asian cuisine for its fresh citrus flavor. This versatile plant can be grown in containers, kitchen gardens, or even indoors on a sunny windowsill. Both the leaves and stems are edible, perfect for curries, teas, marinades, and stir-fries. An attractive, clump-forming grass, it also adds a decorative touch to herb borders.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April in trays or pots of seed compost with gentle heat.

• Transplant: When seedlings are large enough, pot on or plant outdoors after the last frost.

• Soil: Fertile, free-draining soil in full sun.

• Spacing: 30–40 cm apart.

• Keep soil moist and protect from cold.

Key Features

• Fragrant herb with citrus aroma

• Essential for Asian cooking

• Edible stems and leaves

• Can be grown in pots, containers, or beds

• Attractive clump-forming grass

Ideal For

• Asian-inspired dishes, teas, and marinades

• Herb gardens, borders, and container growing

• Indoor growing on sunny windowsills

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – April

• Harvest: July – October (leaves and stems when mature)

Quick Tip

For a continuous harvest, cut stalks at the base while leaving the plant to regrow. In cooler climates, grow in pots and overwinter indoors.

Lemon Balm – Seeds (Melissa officinalis)

Lemon Balm is a hardy perennial herb valued for its refreshing lemon-scented leaves. Perfect for teas, desserts, and savory dishes, it also makes a soothing herbal remedy often used to promote relaxation. Its fragrant foliage attracts bees and pollinators, while its resilience makes it an easy-to-grow choice for gardens, pots, or borders.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – May in trays at 18–20°C.

• Sow outdoors: May – July in a sunny or lightly shaded spot.

• Thin or transplant seedlings to 30 cm apart.

• Prefers fertile, well-drained soil.

• Cut back after flowering to encourage fresh growth.

Key Features

• Hardy perennial with refreshing lemon scent

• Aromatic leaves for teas, salads, and cooking

• Excellent for herbal remedies and relaxation

• Attracts bees and pollinators

• Easy to grow in borders or containers

Ideal For

• Herbal teas and drinks

• Culinary use in sweet and savory dishes

• Herb gardens, borders, and patio pots

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – July

• Harvest: May – October

Quick Tip

Pick leaves early in the morning for the best flavor and fragrance.

Watercress – Seeds (Nasturtium officinale)

Watercress is a fast-growing, nutrient-packed leafy green with a peppery, fresh flavor. Perfect for salads, sandwiches, soups, and garnishes, it thrives in moist soil or near water and adds a vibrant, tangy taste to your dishes. Easy to grow, it’s an ideal addition to kitchen gardens, herb beds, or containers.

How to Grow

• Sow seeds in shallow trays or directly in moist soil from March to July.

• Keep seeds lightly covered and consistently damp.

• Prefers partial shade and consistently moist or wet conditions.

• Transplant or thin seedlings to allow 10–15 cm spacing.

• Harvest leaves when young for the best flavor.

Key Features

• Fast-growing, nutrient-rich leafy green

• Fresh, peppery flavor perfect for salads and garnishes

• Thrives in moist soil or water-adjacent beds

• Ideal for continuous cut-and-come-again harvesting

• Easy to grow in containers, garden beds, or water troughs

Ideal For

• Fresh salads, sandwiches, soups, and garnishes

• Kitchen gardens, herb beds, and small spaces

• Health-conscious and culinary gardeners

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March to July

• Depth: Lightly covered

• Spacing: 10–15 cm

• Harvest: April to October

Quick Tip

• Keep soil or growing medium consistently wet to maintain crisp, flavorful leaves.