What Can I Grow With Herb Seeds?

For the Kitchen

• Basil is a favorite of many cooks and gardeners, especially for sauce recipes. There are many cultivars such as Opal and Lemon. Basil grows easily in containers indoors and will germinate within five to 14 days. Chives are another popular herb to grow and use in recipes such as for omelets. Chives germinate within five or more days. Parsley, commonly used as a garnish, germinates from seed within five or more days. Dill, which is a tasty seasoning in recipes with potatoes, will germinate in seven to 21 days. Oregano will germinate within 14 days, and Cilantro will germinate in seven to 10 days.

For Medicinal and Aromatic Purpose

• The soothing and healing properties of plants have been used for hundreds of years. Several herbs that are easy to grow from seeds and are suitable for aromatherapy are lavender, lemon balm, German chamomile and Valerian (of which the roots are primarily used). These plants can be used in herbal remedies such as tinctures, balms, infusions, ointments, creams and sachets, according to "The Complete Medicinal Herbal," by Penelope Ody. Lavender specifically is a versatile herb which has a dry, cooling scent. It is a relaxant, tonic for the nervous system, and antiseptic. Lavender Lady, or Spike Lavender, will germinate quicker than some other lavender cultivars.

Slow to Sprout

• Some herbs, according to "The Herb Gardener: A Guide for All Seasons," by Susan McClure, take a little more coaxing to be grown from seed. Certain types of chili peppers, lavender, lovage, sweet cicely, angelica and some ornamental herbs can take a long time to germinate. For these, it is best to start them indoors in late winter, and keep them moist. Methods such as presoaking the seeds for several hours (works well for chili peppers) and then keeping the planted seedlings in a heated greenhouse at a temperature of at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit can considerably speed germination time. Susan McClure recommends nicking citronella seeds before planting.

Fast Growers to Consider

• Other herbs to consider starting from seed which have particularly fast germination times with an average of three to 10 days, depending on the species, are sorrel, salad burnet, lovage, catnip, borage and sage. These germinate best when kept at an average temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.