How to Grow Herbs From Seeds

Purchase little clay pots, one per herb type. Or, you can purchase a larger clay pot, 24 inches in diameter and grow many herbs in one.

Fill each pot halfway with a houseplant potting soil blended with polymers. A well drained soil is best for growing seeds indoors. Most herbs prefer sunlight.

Push about 5 seeds per pot into the soil 1/4-inch below the surface. Sow fine seeds in shallow soil. Plant coriander, dill, anise and fennel directly in the outdoor garden as they do not transplant well.

Let the seeds germinate for about eight weeks, at which time they will be ready for transplanting outdoors. Do not transplant when the soil is cold. The best time of the year for outdoor planting is in May.

Prepare the area outdoors where you will transplant the herb seedlings. Work the soil until it is fine and slightly wet. Marjoram, thyme and savory grow best if sand is blended into the soil.

Plant the seeds in narrow rows and firmly compact the dirt above them. After four leaves have formed, add a 1/4-strength water soluble fertilizer to the soil.

Water your herbs with 1 inch of water per week, either by rainfall or supplemental watering. It's best to use a fine spray to prevent washing away the seeds. Add organic mulch to the soil to prevent drying out.

Fertilize sparingly, as too much fertilizer can ruin the aroma and taste of the herbs. Note that chervil, lovage, fennel and summer savory require more fertilizer than other herb types. Well-rotted manure is a good choice for slowly releasing nutrients into the herb root system.

Add a bushel of peat or compost every 100 square feet of soil to improve the condition and retain necessary moisture.