Herbs

100+ days. Salvia hispanica. Annual. Open Pollinated. Chia. The plant produces excellent yields of beautiful, fuzzy, dark-green leaves and blue flowers. It has a mild, nutty taste. This herb has many health benefits. The seeds are an excellent source of fiber, protein, calcium, and digestive enzymes. The leaves contain powerful antioxidants that improve overall health and increase energy. Ancient civilizations like the Aztecs used them as a staple food for energy and endurance. You can make a therapeutic tea from the leaves that banish lethargy and purify the body. It is said that the fiber and protein in Chia seeds are beneficial for those trying to lose weight. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 163594. An heirloom variety from Guatemala and Mexico.

70 days. Petroselinum crispum. Biennial. Open Pollinated. Moss Curled Parsley Seeds. The plant produces high yields of very dark green curled parsley leaves. It is a popular heirloom curly-leaf parsley variety prized for its dense, dark green, tightly curled leaves on compact plants. It has a milder flavor than flat-leaf Italian parsley. It grows so thickly that the plant resembles a bunch of moss. Excellent for drying and use as a garnish. It can be used as an ornamental edging plant. Suitable for spring and fall planting. Cold Tolerant. An excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, NSl 3911. A 1904 heirloom from the USA.

60 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Mrs Burn's Lemon Basil. The plant produces good yields of 2 ½” long lemon-flavored basil leaves. It is a popular heirloom basil variety prized for its intense lemon-citrus fragrance and flavor, stronger than typical lemon basil, with larger, bright green leaves, white-to-pinkish flowers, and a robust, productive growth habit. The finest lemon basil around and the most lemony of all lemon basil. Excellent for making vinegar and seafood dishes. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. An heirloom variety from New Mexico, USA.

70 days. Petroselinum crispum. Biennial. Open Pollinated. Tripled Curled Parsley. The plant produces good yields of very flavorful dark green parsley leaves. This is the most popular variety used for garnishes and seasoning. Excellent in salads, sauces, soups, and stews. It can be dried or used fresh, dried and used as a garnish, or fresh and chopped finely over a nice fish dish. This is a fast growing variety. An excellent choice for home gardens and market growers. An heirloom variety from the USA.

88 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Genovese Basil. The plant produces beautiful, large, 2" long aromatic dark green Basil leaves. It is a popular basil variety prized for its large, tender, dark-green leaves that have a rich, sweet flavor and strong aroma. Very fragrant and tasty. It is widely considered the most popular and best basil for making authentic pesto from Genoa, Italy, as it has a balanced sweet-spicy profile with hints of clove, pepper, anise, and mint, stronger and more intense than many milder sweet basil types. Great for making sauces, stews, and salads. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 652065. An heirloom variety from Italy. 

85 days. Anethum graveolens. Annual. Mammoth Dill. The plant produces very flavorful leaves and seeds. It is prized for its large size, abundant seed production, and strong flavor. It is a popular, vigorous dill variety prized for its large size, abundant foliage, and substantial seed production. It has larger yellow flowers than other varieties. Seeds are used as a pickling spice, and leaves are used in omelets, fish dishes, soups, meat, and salads. Also used as a garnish. Leaves can be dried for later use. Great for attracting beneficial insects. Excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, AMES 24591. An heirloom variety from the USA.

70 days. Petroselinum crispum. Biennial. Champion Moss Curled Parsley. The plant produces high yields of bright green curled parsley leaves. It is a popular variety of curly parsley known for its dense, deeply curled, dark green leaves that resemble moss. Excellent for drying, garnishes, soups, stews, sauces, and salads. Does well in hot weather. Heat Tolerant. A standard popular strain for home gardens and market growers. United States Department of Agriculture, NSL 6379. An heirloom variety from the USA.

60 - 90 days. Plantago lanceolata. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Boston Plantain Seeds. The plant produces high yields of narrow-leaf foliage. This unique herb is useful in the home garden as a herbal medicine, a cover crop, or livestock forage. When used as an herb, it boasts benefits such as gut healing and immune system support. As a cover crop, it reduces soil compaction and suppresses weeds. As a forage crop, this plant is most popularly used for beef and lamb raising. Also known as English Plantain, Ribwort, Ribgrass, Black Jack, Hen Plant, and Buckhorn. Will grow in any soil type, including heavy clay. It grows very well on compacted soils and helps loosen them. Tolerant of poor soil nutrients. Drought Tolerant. Heat Tolerant. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

100 days. Silybum marianum. Annual/Biennial. Open Pollinated. Milk Thistle. The plant produces high yields of spiny green leaves, marbled in white, and crowned with brilliant purple flowers. The plant's species name, marianum, refers to the Virgin Mary because the white mottling on the leaf is said to be her tears. Used in salads, smoothies, or steamed. Use young leaves cooked or in spring salads, remove spines first. Flower stalks put out large purple thistle flowers that were eaten like artichokes. Milk thistle is a favorite in the wellness world for its natural healing properties. Silymarin, found in the flowers and seeds, has been used to strengthen and regenerate liver tissue. The Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides (40–90 AD) was the first to describe milk thistle's healing properties. Later, in 1597, John Gerard noted that milk thistle was the best remedy against melancholy diseases. Silymarin, derived from milk thistle, is the most commonly used liver protectant (hepatoprotectant) by patients in gastrointestinal clinics in the USA. In Germany, where the government regulates herbal medicine use, milk thistle has been listed in the Commission E monograph for the treatment of dyspepsia, cirrhosis, and liver damage due to toxins. Milk thistle requires little maintenance and thrives in poor, well-drained soil. Also known as Blessed Milk Thistle and Mary Thistle. Drought Tolerant. Heat Tolerant. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, NA 47041. A variety from the Mediterranean region.

75 days. Petroselinum crispum. Biennial. Forest Green Parsley. The plant produces good yields of bright green aromatic curled parsley leaves. It is a popular heirloom variety of curly parsley known for its compact, upright growth, long stems, and deeply curled, dark green leaves. It stays dark green all summer. Adds color to soups, salads, and gourmet dishes. It can also be used as a garnish. Heat Tolerant. Good regrowth after multiple harvests. An excellent choice for herb gardens, Farmer’s Markets, and market growers. An heirloom variety from the USA.

90 days. Foeniculum vulgare. Biennial. Open Pollinated. Florence Fennel Seeds. The plant produces good yields of very flavorful, large fennel. It is a popular herb variety prized for its mild, sweet anise flavor and used extensively in Mediterranean and Italian cuisine. The bulbs are crisp and flavorful with a sweet, mild anise flavor. Excellent for seasoning sauces and sausage, or for cooking and sautéing as a vegetable. Fresh leaves are served in salads, sauces, fish, and egg dishes. Also known as Bulb Fennel and Finocchio. An excellent choice for herb gardens and market growers. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 2063. An heirloom variety native to the Mediterranean region.