The short version: December suits herbs that like warm soil: basil, tulsi and purslane in every zone, shiso everywhere but the tropics, and lemongrass in the north and inland. Temperate and cool gardens can still sow parsley, chives, dill, mint and some perennials in afternoon shade. Coriander and mustard greens wait for autumn, and culantro fills in outside the arid inland. Sow a second round of basil, and trim established herbs early in December for fresh Christmas shoots.
By December the spring coriander has usually flowered, the basil is ready to raid, and a seed tray on hot paving can be dry by lunchtime.
The jobs are second sowings, shade and scissors: heat lovers go in, and herbs that sulk in heat wait for autumn.
Sort December herbs by the soil they like
Seed responds to soil temperature, not the date. Basil germinates once the soil holds 18°C, coriander at about 10 to 25°C, and mustard greens tend to turn bitter or bolt in weather above about 25°C. What to Sow Now has each herb's calendar.
| Group | Herbs | December sowing suits |
|---|---|---|
| Warm-soil annuals | Basil, tulsi, purslane | Every zone; start indoors in cool and alpine gardens |
| Warm-soil annual | Shiso (perilla) | Every zone except tropical |
| Tropical perennial | Lemongrass | Tropical, subtropical, arid and semi-arid |
| Tropical biennial | Culantro | Every zone except arid and semi-arid, in shade |
| Soft leafy herb | Parsley | Temperate, cool and alpine, and the Adelaide plains |
| Soft leafy herbs | Chives, dill, mint, borage, lemon mint (bergamot) | Temperate, cool and alpine |
| Perennials | Oregano, hyssop, lovage, lemon balm, catnip, Russian tarragon | Temperate, cool and alpine; tarragon also Mediterranean |
| Cool-climate extras | Thyme, sage, chervil, catmint, anise hyssop, summer savory, yarrow, garden cress, Florence fennel | Cool and alpine. We do not send fennel seed to Tasmania or Victoria |
| Wait | Coriander, mustard greens, lavender, echinacea, feverfew, sorrel | Autumn or spring; see below |
A second round of basil and chives
Sow basil again in December and once more in January, and the picking runs well into autumn. Sow it 2 to 6 mm deep; our basil growing article suggests a sowing about every four weeks. The first picking comes 6 to 12 weeks from sowing, sooner in warm soil, so a row sown early in December is ready between mid-January and late February.
Temperate and cool gardens can resow chives too: a pinch 5 to 10 mm deep in part shade, cut lightly from 8 to 12 weeks.
Coriander waits; parsley depends on your zone
No zone on our calendar sows coriander in December. Warmth, long days and dry soil send it to seed fast, as our lesson on why coriander bolts explains. Cool gardens sow it until November; every zone resumes between February and April. Mustard greens also skip December, and garden cress waits everywhere except cool gardens, apart from a windowsill tray cut at two to three weeks.
Outside the arid inland, sow culantro (Eryngium foetidum) for coriander flavour. It is slow, with saw-edged leaves: press the seed onto warm mix under 2 mm of cover, keep it shaded and moist, and expect leaves from 10 to 12 weeks.
Parsley reaches further into summer. Temperate and cool gardens and the Adelaide plains can sow it in December; elsewhere it waits for late summer or autumn. Soak untreated seed overnight, sow in afternoon shade and check the bed daily, because seedlings may not show for 2 to 5 weeks.
Perennials from seed in early summer
Lavender, echinacea and feverfew are better sown in spring or autumn. Lavender comes up better after a few weeks in the fridge, narrow-leaved echinacea needs a cold spell, and feverfew prefers 15 to 24°C. Sorrel also waits for autumn or spring. December suits the table's perennials instead, such as oregano, lovage and lemon balm. Raise them in pots in bright shade and plant out once the heat eases.
Sowing into December heat
Seed trays dry out fast in December heat, so give them more mix, shade and early water.
- Size up. Deeper cells or small pots hold more mix than punnets, so seed stays damp longer.
- Shade the trays with 30% to 50% shade cloth, or set them in afternoon shade.
- Lift them off hot paving.
- Water early, from below where you can, and run the hose until the water is cool.
- Sow dill and borage direct, where a taller crop shades them after midday, because they dislike being moved.
Pots work the same way; see pot sizes for herbs and vegetables and watering seeds and seedlings.
Trim before Christmas, then keep picking
Trim established herbs in the first week of December and they have about three weeks to regrow before Christmas. A cut above a leaf pair leaves two buds, which on basil usually grow within a week.
- Basil and tulsi: nip tips above a leaf pair and pinch out flower spikes; see pinching basil.
- Mint, oregano and lemon balm: take up to a third.
- Parsley and chives: cut outer parsley stems at the base, and chives a section at a time.
- Thyme, sage and rosemary: trim lightly within green growth, as bare wood often will not reshoot.
Then pick a little every few days to keep plants compact and leafy, and dry or freeze the surplus; see harvesting and drying herbs.
Herbs to sow in December, zone by zone
The six zones are broad groupings; between two, or at altitude, go by local cues such as first and last frosts.
Tropical
Darwin in the Northern Territory, Cairns and Townsville in Queensland, Broome in Western Australia. Sow basil, tulsi, culantro, lemongrass and purslane, raising fine seed under a rain shelter so storms cannot wash it out. From about Cairns north, cut culantro flower stalks early to keep it out of bushland. Coriander, parsley, dill and chives wait for April.
Subtropical
Brisbane and south-east Queensland, northern New South Wales. Sow basil, tulsi, shiso, culantro, lemongrass and purslane, with afternoon shade for basil and shiso. Parsley and chives wait until February, coriander until March.
Arid and semi-arid
Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Broken Hill in New South Wales, Mildura in Victoria, Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Sow basil, tulsi, shiso, lemongrass and purslane behind 50% shade cloth and a windbreak. Parsley waits until February, coriander until April.
Temperate
Sydney and the New South Wales coast, Melbourne in Victoria. Sow the warm-soil herbs, plus parsley, chives, dill, mint and borage in afternoon shade, and raise oregano, lovage and lemon balm in pots. Coriander waits until March.
Mediterranean
Perth and southern Western Australia, Adelaide in South Australia. Dry heat limits sowing to basil, tulsi, shiso, purslane, culantro and Russian tarragon, plus parsley around Adelaide. Coriander returns in March around Adelaide and April around Perth.
Cool and alpine
Tasmania, Canberra in the ACT, Ballarat in Victoria, Orange and Armidale in New South Wales, Stanthorpe in Queensland. Mild summers give this zone the longest December list, thyme, sage, chervil and cress included. Raise basil, tulsi, shiso and culantro indoors and plant out once nights are mild; cold nights end basil picking around March. Coriander resumes in February.
Before you eat or store them
- Herbs in oil: herbs or pesto under oil are a botulism risk, so keep them in the fridge at 5°C or below, as CSIRO's guide to vegetables and herbs in oil advises, or freeze them.
- Self-sown purslane: eat it only if sure. Purslane has fleshy leaves and clear sap; spurges such as caustic weed form flat mats with thin leaves and milky sap that can burn skin and eyes. If in doubt, do not eat it.
- Borage: the leaves and stems carry pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can harm the liver, especially eaten often or as tea. Keep the flowers to an occasional garnish and avoid borage in pregnancy; see growing borage for bees.
- Hyssop: chewing it can upset the stomach, and hyssop oil can cause seizures; avoid it in pregnancy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sow coriander in December?
Not with much reward: heat sends it to seed, so our calendar skips it. Resow from February to April, by zone, and grow culantro meanwhile outside the arid inland.
How long does basil take from a December sowing?
Usually 6 to 12 weeks to the first picking, sooner in warm soil. Pinch the tip at 15 to 25 cm so it branches.
Which herbs cope with part shade in summer?
Parsley, chives, mint, shiso and culantro take part shade. Thyme and oregano want full sun, and basil at least 6 hours.
Should I let my herbs flower?
Pinch basil and tulsi for leaf, because flowering slows leaf growth. Other flowers feed bees and hoverflies, and borage, dill, shiso, purslane, flat-leaf parsley, garlic chives, lovage, tulsi and coriander can resow themselves. Near bushland, cut borage and tulsi heads before seed drops.
Sow the heat lovers, shade the soft ones and give coriander the summer off.
Related growing guides
- Pinching out, the Chelsea chop and the summer cut-back
- Herbs to sow in January, zone by zone
- Herbs to sow in November, zone by zone
- What to sow in December: vegetables for every zone
- Flowers to sow in December, zone by zone
- Harvesting, drying and storing herbs
- Protecting the garden in a heatwave
Browse our herb seeds and basil collection.