Hyssop Seeds

Official Name: Hyssopus officinalis 

General description: Hyssop, (Hyssopus officinalis), evergreen garden herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae), grown for its aromatic leaves and flowers. The plant has a sweet scent and a warm bitter taste and has long been used as a flavouring for foods and beverages and as a folk medicine.D

How to grow:

• Best location: Hyssop grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade.
• Soil preparation: Plant hyssop in compost-rich, well-drained soil. Add aged compost or commercial organic planting mix to planting area ahead of planting. Hyssop grows best in a soil pH of 7.0 to 8.0—slightly alkaline.
• Seed starting indoors: Sow hyssop seed indoors in early spring just a week or so before the last frost. Start seed in flats under fluorescent lights. Germination takes about 14 days.
• Transplanting to the garden: Transplant hyssop outdoors in mid- to late spring after the last frost.
• Outdoor planting time: Hyssop can be grown from seed, division, or stem cuttings. Sow seed outdoors after the last spring frost. Seeds also can also be sown in autumn. Start plants from cuttings in late spring or early fall. Start plants from root divisions in early spring or late summer.
• Planting depth: Sow seeds ¼ inch deep. Cover seeds lightly.
• Spacing: Space hyssop plants 12 to 18 inches apart.
• How much to plant: Grow 2 hyssop plants for cooking; grow 10 to 20 plants for tea and preserving.
• Companion planting: Grow hyssop with lavender, rosemary, garlic chives, and catmint. Hyssop repels flea beetles and other pests; it lures cabbage moths so it can be used as a trap plant. Hyssop attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plant hyssop near beehives; the collected nectar will flavor the honey. Hyssop is said to increase the yield of grapevines. Radishes are said to suffer if planted near hyssop.
• Watering: Let the top inch of the soil dry between waterings. Do not overwater hyssop. Hyssop can tolerate drought. It will thrive with light, even watering.
• Feeding: Feed hyssop compost tea or dilute fish emulsion a couple of times during the growing season.
• Care: Remove faded hyssop flowers to prolong bloom time and encourage bushy growth. Renew plants by cutting them back by half or more in early spring or late fall; this will encourage more flowering the second year. Hyssop should be divided every three or four years or plantings will become sparse. Plants lose vigor after 5 years and should be replaced with plants started from cuttings or division.
• Container growing: Hyssop can be grown in a container 14 inches or more deep and wide.

Benefits: