The Best Time to Plant Herbs & Flowers

Herb garden.

The best time to plant herbs and flowers depends on the last frost date in your area and if you are starting them from seed indoors or direct sowing, or transplanting young plants outdoors.

March

Dianthus.

Flowers to start from seed indoors in March include coleus, dusty miller, nicotiana, dianthus, snapdragon and impatiens. Start herbs with small seeds, such as marjoram, borage, chervil, chives and rosemary, in flats indoors.

April

Pansy.

Direct sow into the garden flower seeds of zinnia, marigold, sunflower, cleome, cosmos and aster. Plant cool-weather annuals--plants that grow, flower, set seed and die in one season, such as snapdragons, stocks or pansies--directly in the garden. April is the time to sow seeds of dill, basil, cilantro and most other herbs, directly in the garden.

May

Plant most flowers and herbs in May after the last frost.

By the end of May, the danger of frost has passed in most areas. Transplant all remaining flower and herb plants that you started indoors directly into the garden. Direct sow nasturtium, salvia, marigold, zinnia and parsley in the garden. Fill in empty spots in the garden by direct sowing additional flower or herb seed, or by transplanting additional plants.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension: Herbs
• University of Missouri Extension: Growing Herbs at Home
• Purdue University: Growing Herbs
• Colorado State University Extension: Perennials: How and When to Plant
• University of Illinois Extension: Annual Flower Planting Dates Cook County

Resources

• "Los Angeles Times Planning and Planting the Garden;" Robert Smaus; 1990
• "The Well-Tended Perennial Garden;" Tracy DiSabato-Aust; 2006
• "Perennials All Season;" Douglas Green; 2003
• "Making an Herb Garden;" Catherine Mason; 1997
• "Herb Gardens;" Kay N. Sanecki; 1996