August feels like the end of summer in a lot of ways, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your herb garden. While other plants are fading and only the hardiest fall flowers remain, you can still plant some herbs that will persist well into fall, even up to the first frost.

These common herbs are the best choices for planting now and enjoying several fall harvests. Look for young nursery plants and consider putting them in pots that you can move indoors once it gets too cold. How long these herbs will last depends, of course, on your local weather and climate, but with good care, you can enjoy them for weeks or even months.

Let's dig in and see what you need to be planting now to keep the flavor coming!

1. Parsley

Parsley is one of the most versatile of all herbs with a fresh, green flavor that is more subtle than others. It’s an herb that actually prefers cooler weather, so now is a good time to start a new plant. Its lush green foliage will remain while plants around it fade and brown.

Give your parsley plant full sun or a spot with a little shade. Keep the soil consistently moist, but don’t let it get soggy. Harvest outer stems as needed to encourage fresh growth well into fall. Find a wide variety of parsley seeds from True Leaf Market.

2. Cilantro

Like parsley, cilantro prefers the cooler weather of the shoulder season. It tends to bolt in the heat of summer, resulting in lower flavor quality of the leaves. This is a love-it or hate-it kind of herb, but if you’re in the former camp, plant one now.

Full sun or partial shade is ideal for a cilantro plant. Keep the soil moist but ensure it drains well. As with parsley, trim off stems from the outside in to use and encourage fresh growth while decent temperatures persist. Burpee offers organic cilantro seeds for growing your own cilantro to pair perfectly with Asian and Mexican dishes this fall!

3. Chives

With a delicate oniony flavor, chives are a great addition to almost any savory dish, including salads, fish, and eggs. Chives not only tolerate cooler weather, but they’re also actually hardy in many climates. Get a plant established now, enjoy it this fall, and, with good care, expect it to emerge again next spring.

Plant chives in full sun or partial shade. Make sure the soil drains well and keep the soil moist as the plant establishes strong roots. Snip off leaves to use as needed, making clean cuts at the base. Don’t harvest too heavily this season if you’re hoping it will come back next year. You can find heirloom chive seeds from Sow Right Seeds on Amazon.

4. Thyme

Thyme is a hardy perennial in zones 5 through 9, so plant and get it established now to enjoy this fall, even as temperatures drop, and again next year. The tiny leaves of thyme plants pack a punch and are especially tasty with meats, poultry, tomato dishes, and soups and stews.

You can grow thyme in a container or in beds. Its low profile makes it a good edging plant. Choose a sunny spot and ensure the soil drains very well. Thyme doesn’t like getting too soggy and will tolerate dry conditions very well. Water regularly now to help it get established. You can start harvesting stems this fall, but avoid cutting into woody growth, which won’t regrow. Organic English thyme seeds can be found at the Home Depot.

5. Sage

Like thyme, sage is a perennial suited to many climates. It will keep green, usable foliage well into fall and even through the first few light frosts. Sage has a strong flavor, so pair it with foods that can stand up to it, like meats, turkey, buttery pasta dishes, and squash.

Plant sage in full sun in an area that has very good drainage. Water it regularly to get it established and then water only when the soil dries out. You can harvest individual leaves or cut off stems. Add a layer of mulch around the plant to help protect it during winter. Find sage seeds from Sow Right Seeds on Amazon.

6. Mint

Mint is a very easy herb to grow. It is tough and vigorous, spreading and growing rapidly from runners. For this reason, it’s a good option to grow now but only in containers. In beds, mint can quickly run amok. Use mint leaves in desserts, salads, and savory dishes. (You can even burn peppermint like Content Editor Kayleigh Dray to freshen your space and ward off pests).

Mint will tolerate a spot in full sun or partial shade. Keep the soil evenly moist and harvest entire stems to encourage new growth. Consider bringing your mint indoors to enjoy all winter or let it go dormant outside. It will likely come back next year. Peppermint seeds can be purchased from True Leaf Market.

Starting herbs in August is worthwhile if you choose the right ones. While the rest of the garden winds down, these hardy herbs will continue producing tasty leaves for weeks or months.

Keep them well watered, provide some winter protection if needed, and some of these herbs will even come back in the spring.