How to Plant Clary

Best location: Plant clary in full sun.

Soil preparation: Grow clary in average to sandy, dry, well-drained soil. Clary prefers a soil pH of 4.8 to 7.5.

Seed starting indoors: Start clary seeds indoors about 8 weeks before the last spring frost. Seed germinates in about 14 days.

Transplanting to the garden: Transplant clary seedlings to the garden about a week before the last expected frost.

Outdoor planting time: Sow clary seeds outdoors in mid-spring once the soil has warmed to 55° to 60°

Planting depth: Sow seed ½ inches deep. Freeze seeds for three to five days before planting. Seeds require darkness for germination.

Spacing: Space clary plants 10 to 24 inches apart.

How many to grow: Grow 1 clary plant for cooking and culinary use; grow 6 plants for tea and preserving.

How to Grow Clary

Watering: Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry before watering clary again.

Feeding: Side dress clary with aged compost or feed with compost tea during the growing season. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. Excess fertilizer will result in leggy growth and fewer flowers

Care: After the first frost, cut the stems of first-year plants to 1 inch above the soil. Mulch clary heavily to protect the roots over the winter.

Container growing: Grow clary in pots at least 6 inches wide and deep.

Winter growing: Grow clary indoors in winter in a bright window. Mulch outdoor plantings after the ground freezes in winter and remove the mulch gradually in spring to protect plants from heaving.