Spring is often seen as the go-to time for planting many garden plants, but don’t forget that late summer and fall are also great times to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and herbs!
And yes, herbs can definitely be grown in fall! In fact, fall is a great time to plant a variety of herbs, including annuals, biennials, and perennials.
Check out these ten culinary herbs you can plant in your garden and containers this autumn!
1. Parsley
Out of all the herbs I grow in the fall, parsley is definitely my go-to. I love snipping fresh sprigs of my curly and flat-leaved parsley for all sorts of dishes like salads, marinades, soups, and pastas.
Parsley is super easy to grow and can be used in so many dishes, making it a top choice for herbs to plant in the fall. I like to plant parsley in the spring, and then I also do it again in late summer and early autumn using my cold frames and polytunnel.
Before the hard frost sets in, we make sure to cover any plants left in the garden with a mini hoop tunnel in late autumn. After that, we can enjoy harvesting our homegrown parsley during late autumn and winter.
Since parsley is a biennial, the plants start to flower in the next spring. If you have the space, you might want to let them flower since the pollinators really enjoy the blooms. For now, I just pull them up and toss them on the compost pile.
2. Sage
I’ve been growing sage for more than ten years, and even though I don’t use it often in my cooking, I can’t imagine having a garden without it. Why you ask? Sage is such a lovely plant with its gray-green leaves, and when it blooms in early summer, it turns into a fantastic pollinator plant, drawing in tons of butterflies and bees to your garden.
Sage is a woody shrub that reaches about two to three feet tall in my zone 5 garden. It might be prone to winter damage, but if you cover the plant with evergreen boughs in late autumn, it can help keep it insulated throughout the winter.
3. Chives
Chives are definitely one of the easiest perennial herbs to grow. They’re included in this list of herbs to plant in the fall because they’re super easy to dig up, divide, and share for replanting.
The spiky, onion-flavored leaves bring a lovely texture to your herb garden, and in late spring, the round purple blooms draw in bees and other pollinators.
4. Chervil
Chervil is definitely one of my top picks for herbs to grow in the fall and winter – that’s right, winter! I planted the seeds in early fall in a little spot of one of my cold frames.
As autumn rolls in, the plants have really taken over that area, and the cold-tolerant leaves are all set for harvesting throughout the winter, bringing a delightful licorice flavor to our meals. Chervil leaves resemble parsley quite a bit, but they have a more delicate look to them. It looks really great when you use it in fall containers as well!
Start off strong by planting seeds indoors with grow lights in late summer, then transfer them to beds or pots outside in early autumn. In a fall or winter garden, you can expect the plants to grow around a foot tall.
5. Marjoram
This tasty perennial herb can thrive in zone 7, but I’ve had success keeping it alive through the winter in my cold frames and polytunnel in my zone 5 garden in the past as well.
If you’re in zones 7 and above, marjoram is a fantastic choice to plant in the fall! Make sure to tuck it in beds by early to mid-autumn so it has time to establish roots before winter rolls in.
6. Thyme
Thyme is an ideal option for the border of your herb garden. It’s low-growing and spreads out nicely, plus it’s super drought tolerant! The little flowers are super friendly to bees, and the leaves smell and taste amazing!
You can usually find thyme plants in four-inch pots at your local garden center, and they often have a few varieties like lemon, lime, English, French, and common thyme available.
7. Greek Oregano
I have a few different kinds of oregano growing in my gardens. Common oregano is a dependable perennial that not only comes back year after year but also self-sows like crazy!
Sadly, the flavor of common oregano is pretty mild and not the best choice for cooking. I like to grow Greek oregano in my
herb garden for that reason. Even though it’s tough enough for zone 5, it doesn’t always make it through the winter, so I end up planting new seedlings in the fall every couple of years.
Feel free to harvest regularly, whether you’re drying the leaves for your herb cupboard or using them fresh from the garden.
8. Cilantro
Not everyone loves cilantro, but the ones that do definitely do! Personally, I love cilantro. It’s a fast-growing plant with a strong flavor that’s used in many cuisines. And autumn is optimal for cilantro since spring-planted cilantro bolts quickly.
While cilantro bolts faster in spring and summer, it prefers fall’s shorter days and cooler temperatures. Early to mid-autumn, sow seeds in pots, window boxes, or garden beds and harvest often.
9. Lavender
Lavender not only likes well-drained soil, it really needs it. Look for a sunny spot, such as a raised bed, that drains nicely so your lavender doesn’t end up in soggy soil.
When you’re planting lavender in the fall, try to do it about six to eight weeks before the ground freezes. This gives the plants a chance to settle in.
To keep the plant safe during its first winter, be sure to mulch in late autumn using evergreen boughs or a layer of straw.
10. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm, with its lovely lemon-scented leaves, is a must-have herb for brewing tea and adding a fresh touch to fruit salads.
Just keep in mind that it can be a bit invasive, so it’s best to plant it in a spot where it has room to spread, or you can use pots or fabric planters to keep it contained.
It thrives in full sun to partial shade and is perfect for planting in the fall. Make sure to keep the soil nice and moist, especially if it hasn’t rained in a while!
Other Guides from Planet Natural:
How to Keep Potted Plants From Freezing Outside (12 Methods)
11 Veggies That Thrive During Fall Growing Season
Ultimate Beginners Guide to Growing Herbs Indoors
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