305 useful answers · Page 11 of 13
Start seeds, grow in containers, and learn what your garden needs.
Search this topicWarm, dry conditions can push cilantro, also called coriander, into flowering quickly. Sow small batches through suitable cooler periods and keep moisture consistent to spread out the leaf harvest. Once a plant bolts, plan a replacement batch; cutting off one flower stalk does not turn an aging annual into a permanent plant.
Direct sowing is usually a good choice because cilantro dislikes root disturbance. Sow where you want it to grow, or use a suitable container, and thin seedlings for your intended crop. Plants grown for mature seeds need more room than closely grown leaf crops, so check the spacing guidance for your goal.
Let the seed heads mature and turn brown, then cut the stems and gather the seeds before they scatter. Finish drying them thoroughly before storing in a dry container. This is a different harvest stage from taking fresh cilantro leaves; allow selected plants to flower and mature if seeds are the goal.
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Dill does not respond well to root disturbance, so direct sowing avoids a difficult transplant step. If starting indoors, use individual modules and move young plants carefully before they become crowded or root-bound. Choose a suitable outdoor position from the beginning instead of repeatedly moving an established plant between containers.
It depends on what you want to harvest. Removing developing flower heads can extend leaf production, while leaving them allows seed formation and provides flowers for visiting insects. If you have several plants, use some for leaves and let others mature, rather than expecting one plant to maximize both harvests indefinitely.
Wait for the seed heads to ripen and brown, then cut and collect them before the seeds drop freely. Finish drying the heads in a suitable dry place and separate the seeds for storage. Keep them dry afterward. Picking immature green heads is different from harvesting mature seed for the pantry.
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Take a few outer stems near their bases, leaving the central young growth to develop. Snipping only leaf tips leaves older stalks behind and does less to renew the plant. Spread your picking around the clump rather than stripping it bare, and maintain watering so new leaves can replace those harvested.
Parsley is normally biennial: it makes leafy growth in its first season and flowers in its second. A tall flowering stem therefore does not automatically indicate a care mistake. Start fresh plants for dependable leaves while allowing older plants to finish if you want seed or flowers for insects.
Both are culinary parsley, but their leaves differ in shape and often in flavor intensity. Flat-leaf types generally have a stronger flavor, while curly types are usually milder and offer a frilled texture. Choose according to the dish and your preference; a curly leaf does not make a plant merely decorative.
Avoid cutting deeply into old bare wood, which may not produce new growth reliably. Lightly trim after flowering to keep the plant compact, working within leafy growth. If the bush is badly overgrown, replacing it with a younger plant can be more practical than expecting severe pruning to restore dense foliage.
Protect it from prolonged cold and wet conditions, with shelter appropriate to your climate. Keep drainage clear and avoid a waterlogged pot. In colder regions, a container makes it easier to move the plant to a suitable protected location; rosemary’s ability to stay outdoors varies with variety, exposure, and winter severity.
Cuttings are generally the more practical route to a useful plant because seed-grown rosemary can take years to reach a good harvesting size. Use healthy young growth at the appropriate season and a proper rooting method. A cutting also preserves the chosen plant’s characteristics, unlike assuming every seedling will be identical.
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Thyme prefers sunshine and freely draining conditions, so persistently wet soil is a poor fit. A raised bed or a container with suitable drainage can provide a better growing position. Do not solve a soggy site merely by watering less if rain keeps it saturated; address the planting conditions themselves.
Not exactly. Shrubby thyme benefits from a light trim after flowering, staying clear of old bare wood. Creeping types usually need only a gentle tidy. Identify the form you have before cutting, and keep the trim modest; treating a low mat like an overgrown shrub can remove useful healthy growth.
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Pick young, soft sprigs for the most useful tender growth, especially during active spring and summer growth. Take modest amounts regularly instead of stripping old woody stems bare. Evergreen plants may offer some leaves beyond that season, but growth and recovery slow in poor weather, so reduce harvesting accordingly.
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No. The common name covers plants grown for different purposes, and it is not a reliable food identification by itself. Ordinary culinary sage is Salvia officinalis. Check the botanical label and intended edible use before harvesting, rather than assuming an ornamental plant or a similarly named species belongs in a recipe.
Give it a light tidy in spring once conditions suit new growth, keeping cuts within healthy leafy growth. Avoid a drastic cut into bare old wood, which may recover poorly. Regular modest trimming helps maintain shape; an old, sparse plant may be better replaced than subjected to an aggressive rescue cut.
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Choose a sunny position with soil that drains freely. Culinary sage is poorly suited to a bed that stays wet, especially through winter. A well-drained container can be useful where the garden soil is heavy. Match protection to your climate, and avoid keeping the roots constantly saturated through unnecessary watering.
Snip usable leaves near the base rather than pulling the plant out or trimming only tiny pieces from the tips. Leave the rooted clump in place and keep it watered during active growth. Remove tired leaves as needed, and allow fresh shoots to develop between substantial harvests instead of repeatedly stripping every shoot.
Cut the spent flower stems near their bases if you do not want the plant to scatter seed. These stems become tougher than the ordinary leaves. Fresh chive flowers are edible when correctly identified and grown for food; after bloom, removing tired growth helps make room for a new flush of leaves.
Not necessarily. Chives normally lose their above-ground leaves during the cold season and can regrow from the established clump when conditions improve. Mark the spot so you do not accidentally dig it up. A potted clump brought to a suitable bright indoor position can sometimes extend harvesting beyond the outdoor season.
Use a suitable acidic potting mix rather than assuming ordinary garden soil will work. RHS recommends a pH around 4.5–5.5. Choose a container with drainage and keep moisture consistent. If planting in the ground, test the soil first; a blueberry’s acid requirement is more specific than simply adding general fertilizer.
Repeated use of alkaline water can raise the potting mix’s pH, making conditions less suitable for blueberries. Use collected rainwater when practical and monitor the growing conditions. If tap water is the only option during drought, water the plant rather than letting it dry out; not every water supply has the same alkalinity.
Many blueberries can produce some fruit alone, but compatible varieties flowering together can improve the harvest through cross-pollination. Choose types suited to your local climate and with overlapping bloom periods. Buying two plants of the same named variety is different from adding another compatible variety, so check labels and local nursery advice.
Source checks for these answers: September 22, 2026. Product instructions and local requirements can vary.