Scientific Name: Rudbeckia hirta

Plant type: Annual, however ours perennialized in an uncovered area, so you may want to leave yours in the ground to see if it comes back.

Plant Spacing: 12-18”

Pinching: Not necessary

Exposure: Sun

Soil Needs: Pretty happy and resilient in even poor soil. Well drained would be a plus.

Support Needs: None

Water needs: Drought tolerant although shouldn’t be bone dry. Water when the top of the soil feels dry. Don’t let the soil get waterlogged and muddy as it’s prone to rot.

Harvest: Fresh: before blooms are completely open. Dried: when blooms are completely open.

Notes: Deadhead (remove blooms) to promote continual flowering. Will produce all summer long, although the later season may produce shorter stems. Cut and come again, so it will continue producing when cut.

Scientific Name: Antirrhinum majus

Plant type: Annual

Plant Spacing: 4-12”

Pinching: I have already pinched these for you, so now they should grow into a bushier plant with lots of stems, rather than one long stem.

Exposure: Sun/Part Shade

Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, moist soil. pH: Neutral soil is preferred.

Support Needs: Staking or corralling is suggested to support them as they grow taller.

Water needs: Need a good amount of watering. 1” of water per week when there is no rain. Drip irrigation or watering directly at the root is best. Avoid overhead water.

Harvest: When florets on lower 1/3-1/2 are open.

Notes: Cut and come again flower, so the more you cut, the more they will continue producing all summer long.

Scientific Name: Antirrhinum majus

Plant type: Annual

Plant Spacing: 4-12”

Pinching: I have already pinched these for you, so now they should grow into a bushier plant with lots of stems, rather than one long stem.

Exposure: Sun/Part Shade

Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, moist soil. pH: Neutral soil is preferred.

Support Needs: Staking or corralling is suggested to support them as they grow taller.

Water needs: Need a good amount of watering. 1” of water per week when there is no rain. Drip irrigation or watering directly at the root is best. Avoid overhead water.

Harvest: When florets on lower 1/3-1/2 are open.

Notes: Cut and come again flower, so the more you cut, the more they will continue producing all summer long.

Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium

Plant type: Perennial

Plant Spacing: 12-24”

Pinching: Not necessary

Exposure: Sun

Soil Needs: Any well drained soil

Support Needs: None

Water needs: Drought tolerant. Water around once per month. Once it has established, it will be fine with just the natural rainfall.

Harvest: Fresh: Harvest when pollen is visible on the flowers. Cut in the coolest part of the day.

Notes: Cut or dried flower. Continue to deadhead to encourage continuous blooms. Because this is a perennial it may take longer to establish and bloom.

Scientific Name: Bracteantha bracteata

Plant type: Annual

Plant Spacing: 10-12”

Pinching: Not necessary

Exposure: Full sun

Soil Needs: Average, well drained soil

Support Needs: Provide stake support if necessary.

Water needs: Do not let get water logged as they are prone to rot with excess water. Drip or hose water them when the soil is mostly dried out.

Harvest: When 2-3 layers of petals have opened. Harvest on a bright morning to ensure they are ready for harvest as overripe blooms close at night or overcast days and can appear to be ready for harvest. Overripe blooms can be discarded.

Notes: Excellent dried flower. They are also cut and come again, which means they will continue producing blooms after they have been cut.

Scientific Name: Calendula officinalis

Plant type: Annual

Plant Spacing: 6-12”

Exposure: Sun/Part shade

Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil

Water needs: 1-1.5” water per week.

Harvest: Harvest once the bloom is about 50% open. For eating, harvest once the flowers are fully open and pull petals off before using in dishes. Do not eat the calyx or flower centres.

Scientific Name: Thymus spp.

Plant type: Perennial

Plant Spacing: 6-8”

Exposure: Sun/Part Shade. In very hot climates, thyme will need part shade to do well.

Soil Needs: Light, dry, well=drained soil

Water needs: Drought tolerant. Water around every 10-15 days.

Harvest: Cut only a few stems the first year in order for the plants to winter over. In subsequent years, harvest just as the flowers being to open. Cut back to within 4-5" above the ground.

Note: Thyme will become woody and needs to be divided or replaced after 3-4 years.

Scientific Name: Petroselinum crispum

Plant type: Biennial

Plant Spacing: 8-12”

Pinching: Not necessary

Exposure: Sun

Soil Needs: Moist, fertile soil.

Support Needs: None

Water needs: 2-3 times per week. If it’s wilting, it needs water. Once you water it, it will perk back up again.

Harvest: Clip leaves when needed. To maintain the crispness and appearance of freshly harvested parsley, store at temperatures of 32–36°F/0–2.2°C at 95% relative humidity. Parsley can be used either fresh or dried. To dry, wash clipped leaves and spread out shallowly on screens in a warm, airy place. When thoroughly dry, rub and store in jars.

Scientific Name: Origanum heracleoticum

Plant type: Perennial

Plant Spacing: 8-24”

Exposure: sun/part shade

Soil Needs: Grows best in well-drained, sandy soil. If grown in rich soils it may lose its pungent scent.

Support Needs: Not necessary

Water needs: Fairly drought tolerant, water about 1” per week. Don’t overwater.

Harvest: Harvest entire stems just as plants are coming into bloom, cutting about 2" above the base of the plant. An established planting can be cut back two to six times during the growing season.

Scientific Name: Artemisia dracunculus

Plant type: Perennial

Plant Spacing: 18-24”

Exposure: Sun

Soil Needs: Well drained, possibly even sandy soil. Don’t over-fertilize.

Support Needs: None

Water needs: Every other day when young. Every 3 days when more established.

Harvest: Pick young leaves throughout the summer for immediate use, or trim up to 1/3 of stems for tarragon sprigs. Scale back harvesting at the end of summer for the plant to store up energy for the winter; tarragon leaves are best harvested before the solstice.