If you Google, you will read that herbs are ‘any plants with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume.’ These are generally leafy greens or flowering parts of a plant, unlike spices, which are seeds, barks, roots, or fruits. If you want a scientific explanation, then herbs are ‘any seed-bearing plants which do not have a woody stem and dies down to the ground after flowering.’ That explains the origin of its name from the Latin word herba, meaning ‘grass’ or ‘herb.’
Herbs are needed in numerous households for their culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, religious, and aesthetic uses. The herbs growing essentials that one usually needs are pots, seed starting mix, clear plastic, a spray bottle, and a grow light for cold places.
So what is the process to grow herbs from seeds with proper care?
The Process Of Growing Herbs From Seeds
Though in the same category, they all have their own specific needs. Thus, we need to understand the process of growing each one of these herbs separately.
1. Basil
For a healthy basil plant, you can sow its seeds in the soil at almost ¼ inch below the ground. Basil needs moist soil to strive, and weeds are not favorable for them. Make sure it gets 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. The D-shaped basil leaves take a minimum of 7 days to show up.
2. Cilantro
Cilantro needs well-drained, moist soil with full sun to get nice fresh green leaves. The seeds should be planted with a 6 to 8-inch gap between them and ¼ inch below the soil. One can harvest the cilantro leaves in 3 to 4 weeks after sowing. Also, the seeds could be harvested in almost 45 days.
3. Dill
Dill seeds need to be sown ¼ inch deep and must be planted 18 inches apart in soil. The soil needs to be warm and rich. Dill plants are visible in the next 10 to 14 days after sowing. One could harvest it as soon as there are around 5 leaves on it. To get the best results, start planting with fresh dill seeds in early summer. Leave the soil undisturbed throughout the season for more plants the next season.
4. Parsley
Parsley, a slow germinating herb, needs 6 weeks to grow fully from its seeds. Its seeds need not be buried inside the soil because they are tiny. Nutrient-rich well-drained soil is necessary for its proper growth, with occasional weeding and watering. They are well when potted 1 or 2 per pot.
5. Oregano
Plant oregano seeds in well-drained soil. Cover the seeds with plastic after spraying some water on it. A sunny location where it receives full sunlight, such as a window, is favorable for the proper growth of oregano plants. It takes about a week for them to germinate. Once they are 6 inches tall, thin them a foot apart. Oregano requires watering only during dry weather.
6. Thyme
Plant thyme seeds 4 to 6 inches apart at the beginning of the spring. Sprinkle a little bit of soil over the tiny seeds of thyme. Water them thoroughly and cover them with plastic to keep them warm. Wait till 12 weeks, and you can use thyme in your kitchen.
7. Chives
Chives need minimum 4 hours of sun to grow properly and well-drained soil. Plant the Chive seeds ¼ inch deep into the soil and 8 to 10 inches apart.
8. Peppermint
For good peppermint plants, use moist soil and put the seeds ¼ inch deep into the soil. Cover them with plastic. You can keep it in any indoor sunny place. Uncover it once you see the mint sprouts in 7 to 14 days.
9. Rosemary
Due to low germination, it is advisable to plant more rosemary seeds always. Cover the rosemary seeds barely with rich soil and water it less. Sow the seeds 3 months before the warm season. It leaves a plentiful amount of time for the rosemary seeds to germinate. Therefore, growing rosemary from cuttings is much favorable than planting seeds.
Do try planting any or all of these at your home since you can never find as healthy as fresh, and as cheap options anywhere outside. Happy gardening to you!
Read Also: 4 Best Green and Healthy Foods To Complete Your Day