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Grow Herbs Successfully: Spring Care Tips Guide
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
We are in the throws of Spring. The garden shops are buzzing with flowers, plants and people. One of the many good things about retirement is that I don’t have to run my errands after work or on the weekends when the garden shops are extremely BUSY. I try to avoid the busy times so I can leisurely walk around soaking up the wonderful energy I get from the plants.
Why Plant Lovers Can’t Resist
For those of us who are plant people, the garden centers call to us like toys call to children, even if it's part of a megamart and we are there for eggs and milk. If you are like me, you are not going home without going to visit those happy plants that make us smile. I may not buy anything, but even seeing all those happy plants make me happy, just looking at them. 🪴
If you see me somewhere and it looks like I’m talking to the plants, I’m probably thanking them for the positive energy I get from them!
Volunteer Herbs in the Garden
Back at the home front, during my rounds in the garden, I noticed I had dill and cilantro volunteers coming up here and there.
Seasonal Conditions for Herbs
I thought about the fact that it was still in the low 60’s at night, so still cool enough to grow herbs, but not for long!
Understanding Temperature Changes
Right now, the highs and lows are consistently ranging between the 60’s and 80’s. Within the next month, it will climb to the 70’s and 90’s. What that tells me is that I’m not just preparing to go away on vacation, but I need to prepare for the heat that will be coming while I’m gone.
My trigger temperature is when the lows are consistently above 70 degrees. That’s when I start noticing the cool weather plants will start showing stress. If I sow lettuce, cilantro and dill, as an example, they will not grow to maturity (producing lots of foliage) before blossoming.
Protecting Cool Weather Plants
There are many cool weather plants that will survive the hot weather if you care for them. Do what you can to protect those plants by planting them so they get sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
Even Heat-Loving Herbs Need Care
Even a summertime herb like basil can stress with too much heat. When they are hardening, the leaves look somewhat wrinkled and tougher. When they are happy, the leaves should look smoother and tender. So even basil can use a bit of shade.
The zone south of me runs about 10 degrees hotter and north of me 10 degrees cooler. Keep your own local temperatures in mind to determine what's right for you.
Tips to Grow Herbs for Hot Climates
Those of you south or in the tropics should look for varieties that can tolerate the higher heat. Heather is learning that growing tomatoes can be very challenging living close to the equator (HOT). In high heat, tomato seeds do not germinate, the flowers will not set properly, you will get blossom end rot and with all the stress, the pests will find the plants easy pickings.
The right variety is very important. If you see commercial tomato fields here in the south in early summer, you are looking at a heat tolerant variety.
Tips for Cooler Climates
Those of you who live up north, I suggest looking for cold hearty varieties. You have shorter seasons and a cold snap could unexpectedly take out the last of that fruit you were hoping to get.
In the summer heat, cool weather herbs become stressed which causes them to push energy to the top of the plant to reproduce sooner than later. Many of the cool weather herbs will drop lower foliage when stressed to preserve energy to produce seeds. In a case like this, you need to trim your herbs for use.
What to Do with Cut Herbs
A lot of people are coming to me with the question, "What do I do with all of these cut herbs?" This is the reason I started showing people in my demonstrations and workshops how to use them.
I have learned over the years that some people just enjoy plants because they like the smell or look. Some use them for various purposes, but only use a small amount. For these people, my advice is to cut anyway, use what you want and compost the rest or give it to a friend. If you don't cut the herbs back, they become spindly.
Benefits of Regular Trimming
The trimming will cause the plant to flush and it will become bushier and healthier, making it prettier and more fragrant, if that's what you want from them!
Use the spring season to make your plants happy and healthy. Remember, a strong plant survives much better during stressful summer situations.
Using Herbs Creatively
By the way, if you are looking for something to do with your cut herbs, you can make salve! Check out my YouTube video for making comfrey salve, but you can add other herbs in place of comfrey, if you'd like. Of course, the medicinal properties will be different, but the salve itself is still lovely!
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