Recommended Herbs for Fall Planting

09/11/2008
As the nights grow cooler and the days grow shorter, the warm weather annual herbs ( such as basil and marjoram) planted in late spring and early summer are coming to an end. The first freeze of the season will leave gaps in the herb garden. The onset of cool weather, however, offers improved conditions for growing cool weather annuals (such as borage, cilantro and dill) as well as biennials (such as parsley and chervil). In fact, the cooler weather of autumn will often prolong the lifespan of these freeze hardy herbs into next spring. For example, a pot of cilantro planted in July or August will typically bolt in only two of three weeks due to the hot night time temperatures here in Virginia. The same plant, planted in late September or early October, will continue to grow until nighttime temperatures fall below 40 F. At that point, the herb will stop growing and go dormant until spring. When night time temperatures warm up again in February or March, the cilantro plant will resume growing and will continue until hot weather strikes in May or June, at which time it will go to seed. The same principle applies to dill. In addition, cool weather herbs such as parsley prosper in cool temperatures, and their growth habit is much more bushy, compact and robust overall. Consequently, gardeners interested in having fresh cilantro, dill and parsley available year round often replant these herbs in the fall.