Timing is everything with herbs. Sow at the right moment and seeds germinate fast and grow strong; sow too early or too late and they sulk, bolt or struggle. This calendar gives you the simple answer for every popular herb — when to start it indoors, when to sow outdoors, and when to harvest — so you can plan a kitchen full of fresh flavour from spring right through autumn.
It works for a temperate climate (UK and Northern Europe). Gardening somewhere milder or colder? Shift everything by a week or two around your local last-frost date. Every timing here comes from the sowing data on our own seed packets, so it matches what you will actually grow.
How to read the calendar
The herb sowing calendar
| Herb | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | ||||||||||||
| Chives | ||||||||||||
| Rosemary | ||||||||||||
| Lovage | ||||||||||||
| Peppermint | ||||||||||||
| Tarragon | ||||||||||||
| Lemon grass |
Timing is drawn from our packet data (planting period, indoor or direct method and peak season), shown for a temperate climate — adjust a week or two for your local last frost.
Sowing through the year
The big sowing window
Most herbs start now. Begin tender annuals like basil indoors on a warm sill in March and April, and direct-sow hardy herbs such as parsley, chives and dill outdoors once the soil warms. Start perennials like rosemary and lovage under cover for a head start.
Sow, succeed, harvest
Keep sowing fast growers like coriander and dill every few weeks for a steady supply, and sow heat-lovers such as lemon grass and shiso. Harvest little and often — picking tips keeps plants bushy and productive right through the warm months.
Last sowings and storing
Sow hardy parsley and chives for autumn cutting, and harvest perennials like tarragon as they peak. As the season ends, dry or freeze your surplus and bring tender perennials under cover before the first hard frost.
Windowsill and planning
The garden rests, but a sunny windowsill does not. Keep cutting indoor basil, chives and watercress, and use the quiet weeks to plan next year’s herb patch — and get your seeds in early.
Popular herbs at a glance
Our best-selling herbs with their sowing window — tap through to the seeds.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start sowing herb seeds?
Most begin in March. Start tender herbs such as basil and lemon grass indoors, and direct-sow hardy ones like parsley, chives and dill outdoors once the frost has passed.
Which herbs can I sow in winter?
On a warm, bright windowsill you can keep sowing basil, chives, parsley and watercress for fresh winter pickings.
What is the difference between starting indoors and direct sowing?
Starting indoors gives tender or slow herbs a warm head start before you transplant them; direct sowing suits fast, hardy herbs that dislike root disturbance.
How do I use the printable calendar?
Download the free PDF, print it, and tick off each herb as you sow — a month-by-month plan for the whole year.
