Learn how to start herb seeds the right way with The Herbal Academy’s new, FREE online course!
Home Garden Joy is an Herbal Academy affiliate. We love their ebooks and courses. I’ve taken many of them and found them to be very helpful. They get to the heart of herbalism without introducing spiritual aspects in the way many herbal courses do, and that aligns with my Christian worldview. I want to learn how to partner with plants and learn about their natural health benefits. And of course – to grow them myself!
That’s why I was thrilled when The Herbal Academy announced a new free introductory series and a paid course. I am going to include the links here so you can check them out for yourself. As an affiliate, Home Garden Joy makes a commission when you make a purchase from The Herbal Academy. This does not impact your price in any way. Thank you for your support of Home Garden Joy, and here’s to nurturing your interest in herbs!
Learn How to Start an Herb Garden from Seeds
Do you currently grow any of your own herbs, or have you considered giving it a try?
I truly believe that we all have a green thumb, it’s just a matter of learning how to cultivate it. And one thing I love about growing herbs is that many of them are really quite low-maintenance, so they’re a great starting spot, especially for beginning gardeners! And for experienced gardeners, they make incredible companion plants, while adding healthy variety to your kitchen spice drawer and herbal apothecary cabinet.
My hypothesis is that many herbs are easy to grow because they’re hardy and rugged, just like their wild sisters. Unlike most ornamental flowers and modern, hybridized fruits and vegetables, many herbs have not been bred to select for color, scent, and production, and many can thrive in less than ideal growing conditions. In general, herbs have deep roots in our landscapes and gardens that have withstood the test of time.
And in most cases, herbalists grow the same varieties you’d see in the wild. Many of these resilient plants are naturally drought- and disease-tolerant with a penchant for attracting beneficial pollinators. If you’ve ever visited an herbalist’s garden, then you know just how alive these gardens are, with buzzing bees and visiting butterflies. It’s a beautiful sight to see.
If you’ve never gardened before, I know how intimidating it can feel to get started. Where do you even begin? The equipment, the space, the seeds, the soil – it can feel like a lot.
And if you’re an experienced gardener, then adding apothecary herbs to your garden will present some new, unique challenges (and rewards!). This is largely because many of the herbs that herbalists use – like motherwort, horehound, and skullcap – are not widely available at local nurseries, so you’ll need to start them from seed or order starts online. It’s also important that you’re sourcing the correct variety, not some ornamental spin-off (like bright pink yarrow, for example).
Next Steps: Free Resources for Herbal Gardeners
If you’d like to start – or expand – your garden to include herbs this year, then it all starts with the seeds. My friends over at Herbal Academy have released a few really helpful, free seed-starting resources that you can use to get started today.
How to Start Herb Seeds – Free Resources
Start here 👉 If you’ve never grown your own plants from seeds before (or, if you’ve tried unsuccessfully), then Herbal Academy’s upcoming free 3-part Herbal Seed-Starting Webinar will cover everything you need to know, and it’s happening March 9 – 13. RSVP today, and you’ll receive replays and downloads of all the materials after it airs, even if you can’t make it live.
Free Seed Starting Troubleshooting Guide
Free Herbal Seed Starting Calendar
And in the meantime 👉 Herbal Academy has also released this super handy Seed-Starting Troubleshooting Guide. If you’ve tried to start seeds before, but they didn’t germinate, got leggy, or developed other issues, then this guide will help you figure out what went wrong (and how to fix it)!
I love seed starting. If you’ve followed Home Garden Joy for any length of time, you know that seed starting season makes me as excited as a kid at Christmas. So here’s to your success – here’s to starting herb seeds the right way!
