Wondering if you are too late to start a garden? You’re in luck because this post gives you a comprehensive list of herbs to plant in fall to enjoy
The still warm soil temperatures combined with the cool days makes fall is one of the best times to start a garden, especially if you are passionate about herbs!
Herbs add flavor and variety to any meal or drinks, but they can also be used for medicinal purposes.
Not sure what herbs to plant? Check out this list of 12 essential herbs for those newbie gardeners looking to create a thriving herb garden in fall. Get ready to enjoy delicious dishes with freshly plucked ingredients from your very own backyard!
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Benefits of a fall herb garden
There are many reasons why you should add a fall herb garden to your list of things to do this year! For those who wanted to grow their own food but feel they are too late, growing fresh herbs both inside and in a garden bed can help you get your hands dirty with plants that are relatively easy to grow! Here are a few more benefits of growing herbs from late summer to early fall season.
Fall gardening is more fun
Ask any experienced gardener and they will tell you, the fall is one of the best times to garden! The moderate day temperatures and ease of managing the garden a much more fun experience. Gardeners can take the time to enjoy their garden in cooler days as opposed to gardening in hot summer temperatures.
Cool weather crops thrive without bolting
So many gardeners have experienced the struggle of wanting to make and enjoy garden fresh salsa in the summer but having their cilantro bolt prior to the ripening of any of the other crops of the salsa.
Bolting is when a cool weather crop shifts from leaf production to flower production in anticipation of creating seeds. Once this happens many of the cool crops are no longer realistically edible. Their flavor gets bitter and not as tasty. In the cool of the late summer and early fall these crops flourish as heat and day length usually are what signal bolting to occur.
Extend your harvest
Growing herbs in the fall is a great way to extend your harvest. Growing a variety of herbs into the late autumn and winter can give you garden freshness for culinary use, medicinal use, and dried herbs for your home apothecary.
Establish perennial herbs
Many of the herbs on this list may be perennial in your zone! Where I am in zone 7b they are perennial! Allowing these plants to get established in the fall means that they will be putting most of their energy into healthy root development before going dormant. This is often the best time to transplant most perennial plants as this allows them to spend the winter building healthy roots and often means more leafy green or fruit production in the next spring.
Decreased pest pressure
As temperatures decrease so does the pressure that plagues us during the heat of summer. It is common to have less of a pest pressure in the fall and to be able to enjoy more of your harvest without being bothered by pests.
Best Herbs to Plant in Fall
Here is a list of herbs that thrive in your fall planted herb garden! I will note that these plants have been divided by their growing habit in zone 7b. That being said, depending on your zone some of these may be tender annuals.
Another thing that will be noted in each section is whether theses plants should be preferably planted as seeds or as transplants. I’ll also point out when in late summer or autumn they should be planted
Annual Herbs
Most of these annual herbs can be planted from seed with very good success (with the exception of garlic which we will discuss momentarily). Planting of these should be done in August through September. With the exception of Garlic which should be planted later in the fall.
Cilantro
Cilantro is a fast growing cool weather crop that thrives in full sun or partial shade. Both its fragrant leaves and bolted seeds have been used for centuries in cooking. Cilantro is best grown by directly sowing seeds because of its fast growing nature and its development of a tap root. Growing cilantro in the fall negates the need to closely watch cilantro as without heat, this cold loving plant wont bolt.
Garlic
Garlic is another one of the quintessential fall garden plants for most gardeners. It’s a member of the allium family and is really easy to grow once you know what to do. Garlic is grown in the late fall before right before first frost. you can purchase bulbs from a local nursery or from your grocery store!
You’ll want to separate each of the garlic cloves and then plant them 1-2″ deep in fertile, well-draining soil. Garlic will over winter and be ready to harvest in late spring/early summer.
Fennel
Biennial Herbs
Biennial plants are plants that are planted one year and then harvested the next. Parsley is a common biennial that is grown as an annual due to its delicious flavor & fragrant aroma!
Parsley
Growing parsley in the fall can mean a greater harvest for you! Parsley loves full sun but will tolerate partial shade, it’s best direct sown around mid-August. I plant parsley in my asparagus bed as it is a great companion plant for asparagus.
*For many of my fall planted herbs that are good companions, I will often plant them near the location of their Spring/summer planted companions.
Perennial Herbs
Perennial herbs are those herbs that come back year after year. Each of these plants are perennial in my 7b zone and will even handle the freak frosts that we have with a little protection!
Planting these crops in the fall allow their roots to get established and develop over the winter when the top half of the plant is dormant!
Most of these plants should be planted in the fall as a transplant as they often take a significant time to germinate and establish! If you want to plant from seeds, you may need to provide a bit more care to the plants while they are establishing.
Oregano
Oregano, a versatile and easy-to-grow herb, is a must-have in any culinary garden. This woody perennial plant is a member of the mint family and thrives in containers or as a ground cover.
Autumn season oregano should be planted in a location that receives full sun to part shade. Mulch is always a great way to care for your new plants when planting in fall. Don’t miss out on the joy of growing and using oregano in your Mediterranean cuisine!
Note: Oregano is also an amazing antiviral and is a key ingredient in home remedies for cold and flu season.
Thyme
Thyme is another shrub-like perennial that is an excellent transplant for your fall garden. Thyme prefers a sandy, dry soil with excellent drainage and doesn’t require significant fertilizing. Once established the plants would benefit from mulch to help discourage weeds. This also keeps the lower branches clean, whereas open cultivation exposes the lower branches to rain’s action on bare soil.
Rosemary
Rosemary is another member of the mint family that thrives as a fall herb garden plant. Grown from either plant propagation or seeds, rosemary is an outstanding perennial in Hardiness Zones 7 to 10. Rosemary is beloved for its flavoring of meat dishes during the winter months.
Growing rosemary from seed is only really recommended if growing rosemary indoors or if planting in the spring. A transplant is preferred for fall planting.
Place rosemary plants in a location that provides tons of sunlight, good drainage and ample airflow. In areas where colder months temperatures are below 30 degrees for a prolonged time, rosemary will have to be brought inside.
Also Read: Growing Rosemary Indoors
Mint
Chives
French Tarragon
Lemon balm
Sweet Marjoram
Medicinal herb seeds to plant for cold stratification
This last list of fall herbs is a nod to plants that need a head start for the following spring. Many of these herbs have great medicinal benefits! The best way to germinate these seeds is to allow them to got through a period of cold stratification in order to germinate. For those in cool weather, this simply means to plant the seeds in the late fall while the ground is workable. For those of us with mild winters we can do the same thing by mixing seeds with potting soil and placing in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks before planting. The herbs that benefit from this sort of planting are:
- Lavender
- Anise hyssop
- Chamomile
- Catnip
- Echinacea
- Mullein
- Sage
- Comfrey
There are many more, but these are just a few examples!
Grow Fall herb and Enjoy fresh herbs any time of year
Gardening is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, with fall being the perfect time to begin. For those passionate about medicinal and culinary herbs who have been wanting to start a herb garden, now is the perfect time!
With the right mix of soil temperatures and cooling days, you can take advantage of the ideal growing conditions that enhance the growth of herbs.
Not only that but herbs are incredibly useful both medicinally and culinary as they can add flavor and help keep bugs away from your plants. And with careful planning before planting, setting up your herb garden won’t be too difficult! So if you’ve been looking for motivation to start one of your own, there’s no better time than the present.
Get creative and embrace your latest gardening adventure – it will be worth it in the end! Gardening doesn’t have to be hard, so grab your supplies and start your fall herb garden today!
Also read: Cool-season vegetables for your Fall Garden