1. Kent Phillips mailto:kent.a.phillips@gmail.com
Growing Herbs
Kent Phillips
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2. College of
Agriculture and
Natural Resources

3. What is an herb?
Botanists: a small, seed bearing plant with fleshy, rather than woody, parts - "herbaceous“.
Trees, shrubs, annuals, vines, and more primitive plants, such as ferns, mosses, algae, lichens, and fungi valued for their flavor, fragrance, medicinal and healthful qualities, economic and industrial uses, pesticidal properties, and coloring materials (dyes). 
Bown, Deni.
The Herb Society of America New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York: Dorling Kindersley, p. 18

4. Our Definition of Herb
 A plant or part of a plant valued for its medicinal, savory or aromatic qualities.
When discussing herbs, the topic of spices naturally arises and the differences between the two are often questioned. For simplicity, we will use the definition that herbs are leaves, fresh or dried, while spices are generally made from seeds, roots, flowers, or bark. 
Our discussion will mostly be limited common herbs and to leaves, fresh or dried.

5. Why Grow Herbs Health benefits Attractive plants in a mixed bed
Culinary uses
Enhance the flavor of food
Reduce salt use
Aroma therapy
Attractive plants in a mixed bed
Some are fantastic for attracting pollinators
Most are deer resistant because of essential oils in leaves

6. Growing Herbs is Easy Full / part sun Tolerant of average soil
Wide variety of cultivars available
Can start from seed, cuttings or divisions
When starting seed follow instruction on back of packet
Grow well in containers & the garden
Great mixed in landscapes as ornamentals
Some attract pollinators (good bugs)

7. Soil Test
Do a soil test
$15 is cheap compared to the money spent on seed and transplants
Soil pH from 6.2 to 6.8 is fine for herbs
Some herbs, specifically those from the Mediterranean like well drained soil
Don’t over fertilize
Can cause excessive growth, dilute essential oils leading to less intense flavor
Compost added to soil is sufficient

8. Herb Bed Soil Test

9. USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

10. Last Frost Dates NORTH-CENTRAL MD Station 10% 1 yr. in 10
Station
10% 1 yr. in 10
33% 1 yr. in 3
50% 1 yr. in 2
67% 2 yrs. in 3
90% 9 yrs. in 10
Balt. Airport
April 26
April 20
April 13
April 09
March 31
Baltimore City
April 11
April 01
March 26
March 20
March 10
Bel Air
April 30
April 24
April 16
Clarksville
May 17
May 09
May 05
May 01
April 23
Frederick
April 29
April 15
April 10
Westminster
May 04
April 25
April 21
April 17
April 08
Unionville
May 19
May 11
May 06

11. My Herb Garden

12. Annual Herbs Basil Chamomile Chervil Cilantro/Coriander Dill
Summer Savory

13. Basil Starting from seed Many varieties Heat loving plant Pruning
Genovese (sweet), lemon, Thai, dark Opal
Heat loving plant
Transplant after all danger of frost is past (June 1)
Starting from seed
Start 6 to 8 weeks in advance of plant out date (mid April)
Provide bottom heat
Pruning
Pinch frequently above leaf nodes to keep plant bushy
Remove all flowers

14. Coriander and Dill Attracts pollinators Direct sow in garden
Both leaves and seed have culinary uses
Cool weather plants
Go to seed rapidly in hot weather
Continuously sow seed throughout season
Self sows readily
Attracts pollinators
Dill is a host plant for swallowtail

15. Summer Savory Start seeds indoors
6 to 8 weeks prior to last frost
Seeds need light to germinate
Provide bottom heat
Move to separate pots after second set of true leaves
Plant transplants outdoors after last frost
Prefers higher pH soils

16. Biennial or Perennial Herbs
Chives
Fennel
Lavender
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Sorrel
Tarragon
Thyme

17. Biennial or Perennial Herbs
When grown from seed, varieties, if not specified will be common varieties
If, like French tarragon, a specific variety is desired, transplants must be purchased
Many specific types of rosemary, thyme, mint and oregano can be purchased as transplants
I taste a purchased transplant to insure it’s labeled correctly
Plant after last frost

18. Chives Onion and garlic Cool weather plant blooming late spring
Blossoms can be eaten, used as garnish or used to make chive (vinegar)

19. Fennel Cool weather plant if grown for bulb Anise flavor
Frons and stems used in soups
Host to swallowtail caterpillar
Attracts pollinators if allowed to flower
Can self seed

20. Lavender Mostly grown for aroma
Harvest deep purple buds (stems) prior to bloom, strip leaves and hang to dry
Munstead and Hidcote are culinary varieties whose blossoms are used to add a subtly sweet citrus flavor to dishes

21. Mint and Oregano
Both of these herbs can be invasive in the herb garden
May want to grow them in pots
If they bloom, can self seed and pop up in other parts of the garden
Oregano
Greek, Italian, Mexican
Mint
Peppermint, orange, chocolate, spearmint, etc.

22. Parsley Curly leaf and Italian Start from seed indoors or out
Cool weather plant
Host for swallowtail caterpillar

23. Rosemary Half hardy perennial in our area Many different varieties
Arp, Hardy, etc.
All noted for piney sent
Prefer well drained soil
Stems and leaves can be dried
If container grown, bring indoors in winter and water sparingly
See GIEI website and search for rosemary

24. Sage Prune out dead wood in spring
Some varieties have variegated leaves
Benefits from well drained soil
Can be mulched over the winter to improve survival

25. Sorrel

26. Tarragon (French) Anise flavored leaves Needs a cold dormant period
Prefers well drained soil
S/B purchased, seed is normally Russian variety
Use a good champagne vinegar to make tarragon vinegar

27. Thyme Thrives in well drained soil Many varieties
English, lemon, caraway, orange balsam, etc.
Variegated
Prostrate or upright forms

28. Insects and Disease
Less susceptible possibly because of their fragrance and flavors
Major insects:
Aphids Whiteflies
Mites Slugs

29. Control of Diseases and Insects
Healthy plants resist insect predation, stressed plants invite insect predation
Mechanical control – preferred for light insect infestation
Chemical control of insects:
Home Remedies - insecticidal soap, Neem oil, lemon or vinegar spray
Registered pesticides - Safer’s Insecticidal Soap and EcoBlend Organic Insecticidal Soap

30. References

31. References
Herb gardening from ground up , 2012 by Sal Gilbert and Larry Sheehan
Homegrown herbs, 2011 by Tammi Hartung Call no H
Beautiful easy herbs, 1997 by Laurence Sombke Call no S

32. Resources Grow It! Eat It! http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit
We have all types of practical food gardening tips and information. Check out our popular blog!
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33. This program was brought to you by the
Maryland Master Gardener Program
______ County
University of Maryland Extension
Remember to put in the correct county!
Created by Jon Traunfeld, Extension Specialist, UME; 2014; revised 2/15