By Jean Bainbridge, UC Master Gardener
Chives
| Plant habit | Perennial, 8-12” tall, clumping |
|---|---|
| Soil | Rich, well-draining |
| Light | Full sun, part shade |
| Water | Moderate, moist soil |
| Fertilize | Lightly; yearly with balanced fertilizer |
| Flowers edible | Yes |
| Harvest | Leaves anytime, cut down to 1-2” |
| Use | Fresh, dried, or frozen |
Oregano
| Plant habit | Perennial, 6-8” tall, 8-12” wide |
|---|---|
| Soil | Rich, well-draining, tolerates slightly alkaline* |
| Light | Full sun, part shade; hot sun can scorch |
| Water | Moderate, apply when top inch is dry |
| Fertilize | Balanced fertilizer, sparingly in spring |
| Flowers edible | Yes |
| Harvest | Leaves anytime |
| Use | Leaves fresh, dried, frozen, or macerated in oil or vinegar |
Parsley
| Plant habit | Biennial, 9-12” tall and wide |
|---|---|
| Soil | Rich, well-draining |
| Light | Full sun, part shade |
| Water | Moderate, keep moist |
| Fertilize | Balanced fertilizer, 1-2 times a season |
| Flowers edible | Not applicable |
| Harvest | Leaves and stems cut from outer base |
| Use | Fresh or dried |
Sage
| Habit | Perennial, 28-36” tall and wide |
|---|---|
| Soil | Well-draining, tolerates slightly acidic soil* |
| Light | Full sun, part shade |
| Water | Moderate during first year, drought tolerant when established; avoid wetting leaves |
| Fertilize | Balanced fertilizer, use sparingly if in a container; none needed for in-ground plants |
| Flowers edible | Yes |
| Harvest | Leaves, once 6” tall |
| Use | Fresh or dried |
| Prune | Early spring; cut any woody parts down to 6” |
Thyme
| Habit | Perennial, 6-12” tall and wide |
|---|---|
| Soil | Well-draining, slightly acid, neutral, or alkaline* |
| Light | Full sun, part shade |
| Water | Moderate during first year, drought tolerant when established |
| Fertilize | Use 1/2 strength balanced fertilizer once each growing season |
| Flowers edible | Yes |
| Harvest | Anytime; best flavor in spring and summer |
| Use | Fresh, dried or frozen |
| Prune | To prevent leggy growth; do not cut into wood |
Rosemary
| Habit | Perennial, 2-6’ tall, spreading |
|---|---|
| Soil | Rich, well-draining; tolerates slightly acidic soil* |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate, let top inch of soil dry |
| Fertilizer | Use balanced fertilizer sparingly |
| Flowers edible | Yes |
| Harvest | Leaves and sprigs |
| Use | Fresh or dried |
| Prune | To shape, but do not prune more than 1/3 of plant at a time |
*Slightly alkaline-pH 7.4- 7.8
Neutral- pH 6.6- 7.3
Slightly acidic- pH 6.1- 6.5
For edible flowers, use only commercially grown flowers marketed specifically for eating fresh eating or use homegrown items to be certain of the products’ safety. To incorporate herbs into any recipes, use only tested recipes and follow all instructions for washing and preparation.
References
Clevely, Andi and Katharine Richmond. The Complete Book of Herbs. Pubns Intl Ltd. 1994.
Halpin, Anne. Horticulture Gardener’s Desk Reference. Johm Wiley & Sons Inc. 1996.
Herb Gardening Basics. UC Master Gardeners Santa Clara County. UC ANR. Herb Gardening Basics - UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County (ucanr.edu)