Herb & Lime Lab
General seasonal guidance for the nine Asian herbs we cover. Pick a season to see what to plant and what to harvest — in broad strokes, for the Northern hemisphere.
What to do, by season
Spring
- Warm-season herbs (Thai basil, lemongrass, Thai chile, ginger, mint): plant outdoors after frost risk has passed in your area. Check the Almanac calendar for your local date.
- Cool-season herbs (cilantro, bok choy): sow early in spring while the weather is mild, and harvest before summer heat arrives.
- Garlic planted last fall should be growing steadily; harvest comes in summer, with timing that varies by climate.
- Scallions: sow or transplant now, and sow a little more every few weeks for a steady supply.
Summer
- Warm-season herbs are at their peak — harvest basil, mint, and chile peppers regularly, and pinch basil flower buds to keep leaves coming.
- Cool-season herbs: skip sowing cilantro and bok choy in heat; both bolt quickly and turn bitter.
- Garlic is typically harvested in summer; exact timing varies by climate and variety.
- Scallions: keep sowing through summer for a fall supply.
Fall
- Garlic: plant cloves in fall for next summer's harvest — this is garlic's main planting season.
- Cool-season herbs: sow cilantro and bok choy again where autumns are mild.
- Tender warm-season herbs (lemongrass, ginger): move pots indoors before frost in cold climates.
- Basil and chile: harvest the last leaves before the first frost.
Winter
- In frost-free climates, cool-season crops like cilantro and bok choy keep producing.
- Elsewhere, winter is for resting, planning, and ordering seeds — warm-season herbs wait for spring.
- Overwintered mint dies back and returns from its roots in spring in most climates.
- Use the Almanac planting calendar to look up your spring dates by ZIP code.
The nine herbs, by season type
Warm-season herbs
Thai basil · Mint · Lemongrass · Thai chile · Ginger
These need warm soil and long, warm days. Plant after frost risk passes; harvest through summer and fall. General guidance — your climate sets the actual dates.
Cool-season herbs
Cilantro · Bok choy
These prefer mild weather and bolt in summer heat. Sow in spring and again in fall where the climate allows. General guidance — your climate sets the actual dates.
Planted in fall, harvested in summer
Garlic
Garlic is planted from cloves in fall, grows through winter and spring, and is harvested the following summer. Timing varies by climate and variety — check the Almanac calendar for your area.
Cool- and warm-weather adaptable
Scallions
Scallions adapt across cool and warm weather. Succession sowing — a little every few weeks — gives the steadiest supply. General guidance; exact timing still depends on your climate.
Provenance: seasonal categories reflect standard horticultural knowledge (warm-season vs. cool-season vs. fall-planted crops), presented as general Northern-hemisphere guidance — not measured data and not local advice.