Living Organic Herbs
Frequently Asked Questions

We hope this list of FAQs will give you some quick answers to general questions you might have about living organic herbs.

For information about specific kinds of living organic herb plants, see the more detailed information in the Guide to Living Organic Herb Varieties (pdf).

1. Why are living organic herbs the best way to buy and use fresh herbs?
2. What should I look for when purchasing a living organic herb plant in the store?
3. Now that I have the plant at home, what do I do with it?
4. How long will my living organic herb plant last?
5. What if I don’t have direct light in my kitchen?
6. What if I find a bug on my plant?
7. Can living organic herbs be planted outside?
8. What do I do with the soil and plastic pot after I have finished using my herb plant?

1. Why are living organic herbs the best way to use fresh herbs?

At Shenandoah Growers, we believe nothing enhances the flavor of food like organically grown fresh herbs straight from the plant. Kept on a kitchen counter or on a windowsill, a living organic herb plant can provide garden-fresh herbs that are ready to use at your convenience. And because an herb’s natural oil content is at its most concentrated immediately after it has been picked, our living organic herb plants deliver a more intense flavor and a healthier product.

2. What should I look for when purchasing a living organic herb plant in the store?

Choose a plant that looks fresh and healthy. Such plants have nice, green leaves that fill the plastic sleeve. Avoid plants that have some wilted or discolored leaves. It is important to water all plants as soon as you get home to ensure the soil does not get too dry.

3. Now that I have the plant at home, what do I do with it?

Congratulations! You have just taken the first step towards adding healthy flavor to your everyday foods. Now that you have your plant at home, the first thing to do is tear away the plastic sleeve at the perforation in order to give the leaves more room to spread out.

Next, place the potted plant on a bowl or saucer. Instead of watering your plant from above, keep the leaves clean and dry by watering it from below. Simply pour water into the bowl or saucer and allow your plant’s roots to absorb what they need. After 30-60 minutes, dump out any water that has not been absorbed.

Water the plant every two days or whenever the topsoil looks or feels dry. Always water your plant from the bottom, and remember, you should never let the soil get completely dry—fresh herbs like a moist environment!

4. How long will my living organic herb plant last?

This varies by herb variety and a number of other factors, such as the rate at which leaves are removed from the plant and the heartiness of the herb. You can see our guide that lists the lifespan of each individual herb by clicking here. It is important to note that living organic herb plants will not regenerate leaves after they have been harvested.

5. What if I don’t have direct light in my kitchen?

If you don’t have direct sunlight in your home, you can still keep your living organic herb plant inside. If possible, put it in a location that has indirect light and be sure to water it from the bottom whenever the top of the soil looks dry.

6. What if I find a bug on my plant?

Our organic living herbs represent the best in innovative technology and sustainable agricultural practice coming together to achieve the simple goal of providing our customers with the freshest, cleanest, and most nutritious produce available.
Instead of using prohibited pesticides to control our plants’ quality, we have a number of organic and biological ways of staving off plant predators, including the controlled release of beneficial insects (like adorable ladybugs!) to help keep plant parasites at bay.

Before shipment, all plants go through a screening process to make sure that all of the beneficial insects have been removed from the plants; however, if an insect does get through this screening process and makes its way into your home, please be assured that it is not hazardous. Simply discard it with the knowledge that it has not caused any damage to your plant and has probably helped keep it healthy and parasite-free!

7. Can living organic herbs be planted outside?

Living Organic Herbs need a warm environment in order to flourish. During the winter months, we do not encourage you to keep your living organic plant outside unless you live in a particularly warm climate.

In the spring and summer months, living organic plants may be able to survive outside. If you wish to plant your living organic herb plant outdoors, simply remove the plant and roots from the plastic pot in which you purchased them and transplant them into your garden or into a larger pot. Most herbs do best in a partly sunny location, avoiding full sun if possible. Water your herb plant when the top of the soil looks dry, and cut the leaves as you need them for your meals. Find out more about how to care for individual herb varieties in our Guide to Living Organic Herb Varieties.

8. What do I do with the soil and plastic pot after I have finished using my herb plant?

At Shenandoah Growers, we remain committed to sustainability and encourage you to recycle the packaging of your fresh herbs. When you are finished with your plant, you can turn out the soil into your garden or reuse it in other potted plants. Recycle the plastic pot and return to your local grocery store to buy a fresh plant.

Guide to Living Organic Herb Varieties (pdf)