Help growing herbs from seed!

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Permalink Reply by Jade Hwang on May 21, 2011 at 14:39

Herbs are much easier than vegetables.  I grow basils,  coriander from seeds too.  They need rich soil and temperature to germinated.  I sow them indoor with compost and when they germiate and harden off  I then move  coriander outside and plant them in a sunny spot.  Basils don't like full sun and will do well in warm spot.

 

Another tip is to soak the coriander seeds in warm water overnight before sowing.  Some people also light crush the seeds before sowing.  I don't.   I use a lot of seeds and some will always break through.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Anna Winstanley on May 21, 2011 at 15:29

Yes, the herbs being easier than veg thing seems to pass me by unfortunately, thats why its so frustrating!

I will try the soaking the seeds but will admit to thinking that basils like full sun, so maybe that will help too.

 

Do coriander seeds generally have a poor germination rate?

 

Ta! 

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Permalink Reply by Flighty on May 21, 2011 at 15:49

Anna as you have trouble growing herbs from seed why not buy them as small plants instead?

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Permalink Reply by Jade Hwang on May 21, 2011 at 16:56

Basils love warm and humid condition, but their leaves will get burnt if exposed to full sun and the plant will wither afterwards.  I picked up the tip from gardeners' question time and were able to grow them first time last year.  

 

I noticed one half of coriander germinated.  I used the seeds from Indian shop, less than £1 for 500g.  I would put a handful in the 15cm garden pot  for a good coverage.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Winstanley on May 22, 2011 at 11:34

Thanks! My basil seeds have germinated (on the windowsill) but I've moved them outside into the mini greenhouse as it get lovely and warm and humid in there! Fingers crossed!

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Permalink Reply by Malagrowther on May 23, 2011 at 13:53

Not sure if it's going to 'help' but I'm blogging my herb bed where coriander and parsley are coming through nicely  here .  Both these are quite at home in the vegetable plot needing the same conditions as, say, lettuces.  Parsley is notoriously slow the germinate (supposedly going to hell and back nine temes before germinating). The problem with coriander is usually how quickly it goes to seed rather than germination.  

Now basil you have my sympathy with. It is definitely mediterranean and I wouldn't grow it outdoors here in Scotland. In fact the seedings in my kitchen right now are pretty poorly looking.  In fact I've been suspecting that they are allergic to the peatpot material of the cells I am growing them in!  I've just planted them into bigger (plastic) pots to see if they can put on a bit of a spurt beyond the two true leaves they seem to be stuck at!  To make matters worse the supermarket pot of seedlings I bought with with a 'sell by' date of 8th April are still coming on strong despite being regularly picked and only watered twice a week, but kept under the same conditions. What do they know? (Yes I know they would have been raised with heat and artificial lights to start with - but they've been in my kitchen for 6 weeks now) 

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on May 23, 2011 at 20:56

The technique as per the clip below should work for most. Are you just hoping for too much too ealry - considering the continued very cold nights?

 

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Permalink Reply by Mo on May 24, 2011 at 6:18

I'm lucky with herbs from seed.

 

I once read that the more you neglect Basil, the better it will do :) I give it very little water and it always seems happy. Another tip I read was not to put it out until it is warm enough for you to eat your evening meal out of doors :)

 

Another idea is to buy a pot from the supermarket and split it when you get home - they do quite well if you give them more space.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Shirley on May 24, 2011 at 7:52

Will it ever be warm enough to eat outside this year?  :)

Mo said:

I'm lucky with herbs from seed.

 

I once read that the more you neglect Basil, the better it will do :) I give it very little water and it always seems happy. Another tip I read was not to put it out until it is warm enough for you to eat your evening meal out of doors :)

 

Another idea is to buy a pot from the supermarket and split it when you get home - they do quite well if you give them more space.

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Permalink Reply by Mo on May 24, 2011 at 12:21

Only if you wrap up well ;)

Stephen Shirley said:

Will it ever be warm enough to eat outside this year?  :)

Mo said:

I'm lucky with herbs from seed.

 

I once read that the more you neglect Basil, the better it will do :) I give it very little water and it always seems happy. Another tip I read was not to put it out until it is warm enough for you to eat your evening meal out of doors :)

 

Another idea is to buy a pot from the supermarket and split it when you get home - they do quite well if you give them more space.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Winstanley on May 28, 2011 at 15:41

The coriander has germinated, and the basil is so far doing well!!! Fingers crossed, this will be the year I crack it! Thanks for the tips everyone!

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