Herbs That Grow Faster When Started in Late Winter

The Benefits of Planting Herb Seeds in February

Growing your own herbs can be an exciting endeavor. By sowing certain herb seeds in late winter, you can get fresh, homegrown herbs much sooner in the season. This is great for annual herbs like basil, cilantro, and dill, which grow better when they have a longer growing time.

Starting herbs indoors in February also gives you a head start on the outdoor growing season. This means you can harvest mature, flavorful herbs weeks or months before you could from an outdoor sowing. For new gardeners, this can make you feel proud and encourage you to grow more herbs.

Many herbs like parsley and mint actually do better when planted in the cooler soil of late winter/early spring. Sowing them now helps them grow faster and healthier.

1. Top Herbs to Sow in February

a. Basil

Basil is a popular summer herb, but starting it early indoors can help it grow really well. Sow basil seeds indoors in February, and you'll have strong, bushy plants ready to plant outside in late spring. This head start allows basil to develop deep roots and provide you with an abundant harvest of leaves all summer.

b. Cilantro (Coriander)

Cilantro (also called coriander) is another herb that does better when sown in February. Seeds planted now will sprout quickly in the cool soil and grow into tasty, healthy plants much earlier than if you waited until spring. This helps avoid the fast flowering that often happens with cilantro in warm weather.

c. Dill and Fennel

Like basil and cilantro, dill and fennel are annual herbs that do better with a long growing season. Sow their seeds indoors in late winter, and you'll be able to harvest mature, fragrant leaves and fronds several weeks before an outdoor sowing would be ready.

2. Perennial Herbs for Early Spring

a. Parsley

Parsley loves cool weather and germinates best in the lower soil temperatures of late winter. Sowing parsley seeds in February, either indoors or directly outside, will make them sprout much faster than waiting until spring. This head start allows parsley plants to get well-established before summer's heat arrives.

b. Mint

Mint is a perennial herb that can be started from stem cuttings taken in February. Rooting mint cuttings indoors now will give you a ready-to-plant herb that will spread quickly and provide lots of leaves throughout the season. Just be sure to contain mint, as it can spread aggressively.

Creating an Indoor Herb Garden

If you have limited outdoor space, sowing herbs in February can help you start a thriving indoor herb garden. Choose a sunny spot and sow seeds for basil, parsley, chives, and other fast-growing herbs. With the right care, you'll have fresh herbs to use in your cooking all season long.

Conclusion

Sowing herb seeds in late winter has many benefits for home gardeners. By taking advantage of the cool soil, you can get a head start on growing flavorful herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, and parsley. With some simple indoor seed starting and careful transplanting, you'll be harvesting mature herbs weeks or months before an outdoor sowing would be ready. Whether you have a big garden or just a sunny windowsill, February herb sowing can help you enjoy the fresh flavors of homegrown herbs in your kitchen all season long.