Herbs (Miscellaneous)
Herb-specific crop notes stay here; shared crop counts, active-control status, vision context, and stress panels live on the crop overview pages.
Cilantro, parsley, dill, mint, and other herbs beyond basil. Each has distinct temperature and light preferences. Herbs can be high value for the space they occupy, but most are reference crops rather than active-control records today.
Quick Reference
| Herb | Day Temp | Night Temp | VPD | DLI | pH | EC | Days to Harvest | Bolt Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cilantro | 60-72°F | 50-60°F | 0.8-1.0 | 12-16 | 6.0-6.5 | 1.0-1.4 | 30-45 | HIGH above 75°F |
| Parsley | 65-75°F | 55-65°F | 0.8-1.2 | 12-18 | 5.5-6.5 | 1.0-1.6 | 45-60 | Low |
| Dill | 60-72°F | 50-60°F | 0.8-1.0 | 14-18 | 5.5-6.5 | 1.0-1.4 | 40-55 | HIGH above 75°F |
| Mint | 65-75°F | 55-65°F | 0.8-1.2 | 12-16 | 6.0-7.0 | 1.2-1.6 | 30-45 | Low |
| Chives | 65-75°F | 55-65°F | 0.8-1.2 | 14-18 | 6.0-6.5 | 1.2-1.6 | 60-90 | Low |
| Oregano | 70-80°F | 60-65°F | 0.8-1.2 | 14-18 | 6.0-7.0 | 1.2-1.8 | 45-60 | Low |
| Thyme | 65-75°F | 55-65°F | 0.8-1.2 | 14-18 | 5.5-7.0 | 0.8-1.2 | 60-90 | Low |
The Cilantro Problem
Cilantro bolts (goes to flower/seed) at temperatures above 75°F. The East Zone hits 91°F on hot days. This means:
- March-April: Good window. East zone is cool enough.
- May-September: Too hot. Cilantro will bolt within days of hitting 80°F.
- October-February: Good window if supplemental light is adequate. Mitigation: Use slow-bolt varieties (Calypso, Santo). Plant in rapid succession — cilantro from seed to harvest in 30 days. Or accept the bolt and harvest the coriander seed. Dill has the same bolting problem.
Zone Recommendations
| Herb | Best Zone | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Cilantro | East hydro, spring/fall only | Needs coolest zone + correct season |
| Parsley | East or West | Tolerant, flexible |
| Dill | East, spring/fall only | Bolt-sensitive like cilantro |
| Mint | West shelving, isolated | Mint is invasive. Never in hydro. Keep it in a contained pot on shelving. |
| Chives | East or West | Perennial, tough, any zone |
| Oregano | West or South | Heat-tolerant, likes light |
| Thyme | West or South | Drought-tolerant, likes dry conditions |
Mint Caution
Never plant mint in the hydroponic system. Mint is aggressively rhizomatous — it sends runners through any shared growing medium and will colonize the entire hydro rail system. Keep mint in an isolated container on shelving.
Hydroponic Growing Notes
- Spacing: Most herbs can go in consecutive positions
- Harvest method: Cut-and-come-again for most
- Nutrient level: Light feeders. EC 1.0-1.6 for most herbs.
- Mixed planting: Herbs with similar needs (parsley + chives) can share adjacent hydro positions
Economics
| Herb | Grocery Price | Greenhouse Yield | Value/Position/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cilantro | USD 2-3/bunch | 2-4 bunches/month | USD 4-12 |
| Parsley | USD 2-3/bunch | 2-4 bunches/month | USD 4-12 |
| Mint | USD 2-3/bunch | 3-6 bunches/month | USD 6-18 |
| Chives | USD 2-3/bunch | 2-3 bunches/month | USD 4-9 |
| Dill | USD 2-3/bunch | 2-3 bunches/month | USD 4-9 |
| Herbs are the highest-value crop per position. |
See Basil for the primary herb profile and All Crops.
Catalog Entry
Slug herbs; category herb.
Cycle —; scientific name —.
Default DLI; default VPD 0.80-1.20 kPa.
Crop-Control Status
Does not count toward the active-control crop total. Mixed-herb reference profile; individual herb species are not active control records right now.
Current occupied positions from v_position_current: none.
Target Bands
No hourly target profiles defined for Herbs yet.
Current Plantings
No active Herbs plantings are recorded right now.
Latest Vision
No camera observations have been linked to Herbs yet.
Planting History
No historical Herbs plantings are recorded yet.