{"title":"Italian Herbs","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"large-leaf-italian-basil-seeds-00271","title":"Large Leaf Italian Basil Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDays to Maturity: 75\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eFragrant, flavorful, extra large leaves are the very favorites of the culinary world. This is a Genovese basil, rich in oils and so aromatic you will smell it long before you see it in the garden. Whether you use it for pesto, spaghetti sauce, or simply as a companion to your tomato plants (basil is a superb pest repellant), choose Large Leaf Italian as your \"go-to\" mainstay basil for big, satisfying harvests all summer long.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eBasils are loaded with volatile oils, responsible for the heady aroma and strong flavor so essential to cooking. Large Leaf Italian basil is regarded as the essential variety for true Neapolitan cuisine, especially pesto. And in the garden, basil works to repel aphids, mites, and hornworms.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eExpect this Genovese-type basil to grow 18 to 24 inches high and 12 to 15 inches wide. The dark green, shiny leaves grow up to 3 inches long on a tall, erect plant that is slow to bolt. Small terminal bunches of pink flowers will bud out in summer; pinch the new buds away if you want to harvest more of the leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eBegin the seeds either indoors in late winter or direct sow in spring. To start indoors, sow about 6 to 8 weeks before last scheduled frost. The seeds will germinate in 5 to 10 days. Transplant when they have 2 sets of true leaves, spacing the plants 12 to 15 inches apart in the garden, or in your best containers.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eIf you are direct sowing, wait until the soil has thoroughly warmed up in spring. Then cover the seeds with about ¼-inch of soil, and thin the young plants to 12 to 15 inches apart when they are about 2 inches tall.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eAs your basil plants grow, pinch off the central stem when they are about 6 weeks old, and prune back each stem when it has more than 8 sets of leaves. (Cut it back to the first or second set of leaves, harvesting the rest.) If you keep your plants well pinched and pruned, you should be able to harvest half a cup of fresh leaves every week during the growing season.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eBasil loves hot weather and plenty of sunshine, but it needs consistently moist, rich soil. Mulch the plants to retain moisture, and water heavily during dry spells.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eHarvest the plant before the cold weather sets in, as this will affect the leaves texture and flavor. Freeze entire stems, with the leaves still attached, for best flavor retention, or dry the leaves for seasoning. You will always be assured of a big harvest from Large Leaf Italian.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"parkseed","offers":[{"title":"Pkt of 400 seeds","offer_id":42354470027323,"sku":"00271-PK-P1","price":4.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Pkt of 25000 seeds","offer_id":42354470060091,"sku":"00271-PK-25000","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/8580\/4859\/files\/Product_MediaImage_00271_1.jpg?v=1753891851"},{"product_id":"garlic-chives-seeds-00545","title":"Garlic Chives Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDays to Maturity: 85\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eIf you like chives, you'll have to try garlic chives. The same great mild onion flavor is imparted with a distinctive garlic scent and taste on these perennial plants. Both the flat, grasslike leaves and the 1-inch white flowerheads can be used in a variety of your favorite dishes, and the plant is an attractive garden presence that brings in bees and other pollinators while discouraging predatory insects from chewing up the vegetable patch.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eGarlic chives offer long, slender blue-green leaves topped with wide, flattish white blooms. The leaves are best harvested young, and you can cut just what you need—the plant will regrow, and continual pruning of this kind keeps the flowers from setting too early. Left to its own devices, garlic chives will reach about 18 inches high and 8 to 12 inches wide.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe blooms are edible too on this perennial, and both foliage and flowers release that rich, evocative onion-garlic aroma. Very easy to grow, this plant will self-sow if allowed to go to seed, so remove the flowerheads in late summer or early fall if you don't want any \"volunteers\" next spring.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eGrow garlic chives just as you would regular chives, in full sun and well drained soil. It grows quickly and easily.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"parkseed","offers":[{"title":"Pkt of 100 seeds","offer_id":42354496405563,"sku":"00545-PK-P1","price":2.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Pkt of 5000 seeds","offer_id":42354496438331,"sku":"00545-PK-5000","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/8580\/4859\/files\/Product_MediaImage_00545_1.jpg?v=1753891852"},{"product_id":"cleopatra-organic-oregano-seeds-52951-pk-p1","title":"Cleopatra Organic Oregano Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDays to Maturity: 100 direct sow; 30 transplant \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eAll-America Selections (AAS) Winner 2015\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eAn organic variety, Cleopatra Oregano is an aromatic herb in the mint family, grown for culinary, crafting, and ornamental purposes. Cleopatra Organic Oregano is a highly popular herb with a distinct mildly spicy peppermint flavor. It is used fresh or dried to season soups, sauces, vegetables, and meat dishes. The leaves are also used in potpourris and crafts. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eAn \u003ci\u003eOriganum syriacum\u003c\/i\u003e variety, commonly called Syrian oregano, zaatar, or Bible hyssop, Cleopatra Organic Oregano is a member of the Lamiacea family, which includes highly fragrant plants that secrete essential oils. Cleopatra Organic Oregano is an herbaceous tender perennial (Zones 9-10), typically grown as an annual. The plant has a compact, low growing, spreading, and trailing habit dense with tiny, rounded, silver-green leaves that are highly aromatic. Tiny pale pink flowers bloom in mid to late summer. Pinching or pruning back stems before flowers appear will encourage denser, bushier growth. The plant works well when massed in beds and borders but is also suitable for patio pots, widow boxes, and even hanging baskets. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003e Oregano is easy to grow from seed, growing best in locations with full sun and average, medium to dry, gritty sandy loams. Good drainage is extremely important because the roots will rot in saturated, poorly drained soils. Plants are heat and drought tolerant. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eDirect sow oregano seed about two weeks after the last frost or start seeds indoors about 5 weeks prior to the last frost date and transplant in the garden after all threat of frost has passed and temperatures range between 60° and 70°F. \u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eIf you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.parkseed.mom\/collections\/bio-domes\"\u003eBio Dome Seed Starter Kit\u003c\/a\u003e. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"parkseed","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42354519965755,"sku":"52951-PK-P1","price":4.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/8580\/4859\/files\/Product_MediaImage_52951-PK-P1_1.jpg?v=1753891810"},{"product_id":"italian-plain-leaf-parsley-seeds-05636","title":"Italian Plain Leaf Parsley Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDays to Maturity: 60\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eSpecially developed for use as fresh seasoning, this flat-leaf parlsey offers large, bright green leaves on compact plants. Far more nutritious than its curly-leafed cousin, flat-leaf parsley is easy to grow and looks good enough to grow among flowering annuals as well as in the herb garden.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe large foliage arises on plants that reach only 10 to 12 inches high and wide. You can begin to harvest the individual leaves about 2 months after setting out transplants, or cut the entire plant at the base and harvest at once (easier for dried spices). Italian Plain Leaf is a great cut-and-come-again variety, a staple of your kitchen herb garden that you will appreciate all season long.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eFlat-leafed parsley is far more nutritious than the curly type, and is easier to prepare for adding to dishes. The large, flat leaves mince easily, and can be snipped in seconds.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eParsley is a biennial, but the second year the plant will flower early, and once the blooms appear, the flavor of the foliage becomes bitter. Grow this herb as an annual, and enjoy a long, long season of glory in the sunny garden, annual bed, and your best containers.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eParsley seeds take a while to get going, so you may want to soak them overnight before sowing. If you're beginning them indoors, be sure to transplant them as soon as they have two sets of true leaves (and the soil is warm), because they have a long root and resent being transplanted once they have begun to leaf out. If you're growing them in a pot for the kitchen window, select a container that is long and narrow rather than wide and shallow, to give the root room to run.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"parkseed","offers":[{"title":"Pkt of 1000 seeds","offer_id":42354545655867,"sku":"05636-PK-P1","price":4.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Pkt of 50000 seeds","offer_id":42354545688635,"sku":"05636-PK-50000","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/8580\/4859\/files\/Product_MediaImage_05636_1.jpg?v=1753891854"},{"product_id":"oregano-seeds-03580","title":"Oregano Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDays to Maturity: 90 to 100 from direct sow; 60 from transplant\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eYou will smell it before you see it, and that's just the start of the feast for the senses this oregano delivers in your garden. An edible ornamental perennial with beautiful blooms, good branching, and attractive foliage, this herb can be grown among the flowering plants in the sunny, dry garden. But be sure to keep at least a few just for cooking, because these large leaves are packed with flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eOne of the most important herbs of Italian, Greek, and Mexican cooking, oregano is at the heart of all the great tomato sauces, vegetable dishes, and countless other culinary triumphs. It is most strongly flavored when dried, not fresh, so you may choose to harvest this plant whole, in midsummer, and dry the foliage. Or you may want to cut the individual leaves as needed, all season long, beginning when the plant is just 6 inches high (less than 2 months from sowing). And those are just the culinary options . . . then there are the ornamental uses of this beauty, in containers as well as the garden. Thank goodness you get 100 seeds per packet.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eOregano is a perennial that thrives in full sunshine and well-drained soil on the dry side. Once it's established in your garden, let the soil dry out between watering's, and when you do water, make sure to do it long and deep, to encourage the roots to grow far down into the soil and find their own sources of water. If you live in a rainy climate, mound up the soil before planting your oregano, and make sure the drainage is really sharp. For those of us in thirsty gardens with long summers, a plant that likes its soil dry is a pure blessing.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eOregano has a useful culinary life of four or five years. So unless you want to grow it as an annual and harvest the entire plant for drying in midsummer (a good option for space-challenged gardens, because you can replace the oregano with fall plants each year), let one or two plants flower and go to seed each year, bringing you many new oregano seedlings the following spring. Thin or transplant them, and you will always have new young plants to replace those that \"age out\" of the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe key to keeping the flavor of the leaves at its peak is to pinch out any flower buds you see forming on the plant immediately (unless you are growing the plant to go to seed). Flowering really reduces the flavor of the foliage, so you don't want your plants to reach that stage at all. The other key is to trim your plants every couple weeks, even if you aren't cutting the stems for use in the kitchen. Being pruned reminds the plant to send up fresh new branches, bursting with rich flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eExpect oregano to reach 12 to 18 inches high and wide in the garden, with broad 1½-inch leaves. This plant fills a 10-inch container perfectly. But if you have smaller containers and\/or want to grow it in the kitchen windowsill as part of your culinary herb garden, it is easy to keep oregano smaller. Every few weeks, pinch off the tip of the central stem of the plant. This encourages side-shoots to grow, and also keeps the plant short. You'll find you can grow a very compact oregano with all the flavor and appeal of its full-sized cousins.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eYou will know your oregano is reaching the end of its culinary life when the stems become woody. The plant is also quite attractive at this point, so you have the option to leave it alone and let it be an ornamental, bringing butterflies and bees into the garden with its bright purple blooms, or you can cull it. Either way, this is a perennial that is as lovely as it is useful, and will bring you years of pleasure wherever you grow it.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eSow seeds in well-drained to dry, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun, or start them indoors in your Bio Dome or seed flats. Transplant when the seedlings have at least 2 sets of true leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"parkseed","offers":[{"title":"Pkt of 100 seeds","offer_id":42354573869115,"sku":"03580-PK-P1","price":2.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Pkt of 5000 seeds","offer_id":42354573901883,"sku":"03580-PK-5000","price":11.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/8580\/4859\/files\/Product_MediaImage_03580_1.jpg?v=1753891853"},{"product_id":"sage-seeds-01793","title":"Sage Seeds","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDays to Maturity: 75 from direct sow\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eA long-lived evergreen perennial.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eIntroduced to North America in the 17th century, Sage has been used over the centuries for a wide variety of culinary and medicinal purposes. This hardy evergreen shrub is easy to grow and long-lived, a mainstay of the perennial border, herb garden, and containers for the patio and even the home. The aroma is enticing and the flavor fabulous. Be sure to grow plenty in your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eMany Americans associate sage with Thanksgiving, but this seasoning is useful in a wide range of dishes, from dressings and sausages to cheeses and meats. Try growing your own, and enjoy its superb flavor and aroma—not to mention its attractive appearance—for many seasons in the garden.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eSage is a shrubby plant, forming many side branches of velvety-textured, wrinkled, gray-green leaves about 2 inches long. Spikes of 1\/2-inch violet, pink to white flowers appear in summer. The plant matures to 24 to 32 inches high and 36 inches wide.\u003c\/p\u003e   \u003cp\u003eSow seeds at 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They take about 3 weeks to germinate, but then grow readily and can be transplanted when they have at least 2 sets of true leaves. Grow in well-drained to dry, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003ePick sage leaves as needed once the plant is growing well and has branched out nicely—75 days is a benchmark, but individual plants will vary depending upon conditions. Stop harvesting in fall, so that the plant can harden off for winter outdoors in the garden or containers.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eSage will become woody and leaf out sparsely after about 4 years; at that time, if you are growing it for culinary purposes, it is best to remove the entire plant and begin a new one.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"parkseed","offers":[{"title":"Pkt of 100 seeds","offer_id":42354627674171,"sku":"01793-PK-P1","price":3.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Pkt of 2500 seeds","offer_id":42354627706939,"sku":"01793-PK-2500","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/8580\/4859\/files\/Product_MediaImage_01793_1.jpg?v=1753891852"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/8580\/4859\/collections\/Product_MediaImage_00545_1.jpg?v=1767146937","url":"https:\/\/www.parkseed.mom\/collections\/italian-herbs.oembed","provider":"Park Seed","version":"1.0","type":"link"}