General Information

• Scroll down or click on any month for plant care instructions
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

  January 1. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 2. Protect Protect from frost and cold weather.

  February 1. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 2. Protect Protect from frost and cold weather.

  March 1. Buy Buy starter plants from specialty mail-order sources. 2. Plant Plant in containers or in the ground in a rich, well-drained soil. 3. Sow Seeds Seeds may be planted in containers, but they are difficult to sprout. 4. Fertilize Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. 5. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 6. Prune Cut back older plants to promote new spring growth.

  April 1. Buy Buy starter plants from specialty mail-order sources. 2. Plant Plant in containers or in the ground in a rich, well-drained soil. 3. Sow Seeds Seeds may be planted in containers, but they are difficult to sprout. 4. Fertilize Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. 5. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 6. Prune Cut back older plants to promote new spring growth.

  May 1. Buy Buy starter plants from specialty mail-order sources. 2. Plant Plant in containers or in the ground in a rich, well-drained soil. 3. Sow Seeds Seeds may be planted in containers, but they are difficult to sprout. 4. Fertilize Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. 5. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 6. Prune Tip pinch or shear lightly to encourage bushy growth and maximum foiage. 7. Propagate Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. 8. Harvest Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried.

  June 1. Fertilize Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. 2. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 3. Prune Tip pinch or shear lightly to encourage bushy growth and maximum foiage. 4. Propagate Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. 5. Harvest Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried.

  July 1. Fertilize Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. 2. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 3. Prune Tip pinch or shear lightly to encourage bushy growth and maximum foiage. 4. Propagate Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. 5. Harvest Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried.

  August 1. Fertilize Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. 2. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 3. Prune Tip pinch or shear lightly to encourage bushy growth and maximum foiage. 4. Propagate Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. 5. Harvest Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried.

  September 1. Fertilize Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. 2. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 3. Prune Remove flower buds as they form, since leaves will not be as sweet once plants start flowering. 4. Propagate Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. Once rooted, these can be wintered-over indoors or in a greenhouse to insure a supply of plants for next year. 5. Harvest Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried.

  October 1. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 2. Prune Remove flower buds as they form, since leaves will not be as sweet once plants start flowering. 3. Propagate Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. Once rooted, these can be wintered-over indoors or in a greenhouse to insure a supply of plants for next year. 4. Harvest Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried.

  November 1. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 2. Prune Remove flower buds as they form, since leaves will not be as sweet once plants start flowering. 3. Harvest Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried.

  December 1. Water Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. 2. Protect Protect from frost and cold weather.

• Buy When's the best time to buy this plant? When can you buy these from seed (if you can)? When is it usually available? What are things to look for when you're buying it? Or anything other tidbit of information you can share! March Buy starter plants from specialty mail-order sources. April Buy starter plants from specialty mail-order sources. May Buy starter plants from specialty mail-order sources.

  Plant When's a good time to plant this plant or bulb? Any special planting instructions? March Plant in containers or in the ground in a rich, well-drained soil. April Plant in containers or in the ground in a rich, well-drained soil. May Plant in containers or in the ground in a rich, well-drained soil.

  Sow Seeds When can you plant these seeds? When's the best time? Can you start them indoors and move them out? Do they have any special requirements? March Seeds may be planted in containers, but they are difficult to sprout. April Seeds may be planted in containers, but they are difficult to sprout. May Seeds may be planted in containers, but they are difficult to sprout.

  Fertilize When should you fertilize this plant? Which kind of fertilizer do you recommend? Should you use different fertilizers at different times of year? March Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. April Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. May Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. June Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. July Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. August Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. September Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize. October Fertilize with half-strength liquid fertilizer. Do not overfertilize.

  Water Is there a time to reduce or increase watering? Any special requirements? Things to avoid during certain times of the year? January Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. February Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. March Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. April Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. May Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. June Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. July Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. August Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. September Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. October Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. November Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater. December Water regularly but lightly during dry periods. Do not overwater.

  Prune When's a good time to prune this plant? How about deadheading, pinching back, trimming or any other grooming? Any special requirements? March Cut back older plants to promote new spring growth. April Cut back older plants to promote new spring growth. May Tip pinch or shear lightly to encourage bushy growth and maximum foiage. June Tip pinch or shear lightly to encourage bushy growth and maximum foiage. July Tip pinch or shear lightly to encourage bushy growth and maximum foiage. August Tip pinch or shear lightly to encourage bushy growth and maximum foiage. September Remove flower buds as they form, since leaves will not be as sweet once plants start flowering. October Remove flower buds as they form, since leaves will not be as sweet once plants start flowering. November Remove flower buds as they form, since leaves will not be as sweet once plants start flowering.

  Protect When and how should you protect this plant from birds, deer, rabbits? Does this plant need be covered, or wrapped or painted or moved? January Protect from frost and cold weather. February Protect from frost and cold weather. December Protect from frost and cold weather.

  Propagate When's a good time to divide, take cuttings, layer or propagate this plant. Any special requirements? May Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. June Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. July Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. August Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. September Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. Once rooted, these can be wintered-over indoors or in a greenhouse to insure a supply of plants for next year. October Propagate by taking softwood cuttings. Once rooted, these can be wintered-over indoors or in a greenhouse to insure a supply of plants for next year.

  Harvest When's a good time to harvest this plant? What's the best way to harvest? Are there special requirements or features? May Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried. June Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried. July Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried. August Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried. September Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried. October Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried. November Harvest leaves for use fresh or dried.