Herbs: How to Grow & Harvest

Knowing how to harvest and prune herbs like basil, mint, and parsley helps you get fuller, more flavorful plants that keep growing for weeks. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best ways to care for herbs—when to snip, how much to take, and how to keep them from flowering too soon.

To keep your herbs productive and full of life, harvest them often and thoughtfully:

• Always cut just above a leaf node (where new leaves branch out).

• Only take about one-third of the plant at a time—this keeps it healthy and growing strong.

• Once your herb has developed around six leaves, start snipping the top to encourage bushier growth and more harvests ahead.

Pruning helps your herbs focus their energy where it matters: flavorful leaves.

• Use clean scissors or your fingertips to gently remove flower buds as soon as they appear. This keeps the plant from putting its energy into flowering.

• For delicate herbs, a light touch is best—minimal pruning helps them maintain their natural shape.

• Occasionally remove the top set of leaves to prevent the plant from growing too tall or flowering too soon, which can affect the taste.

How many should you grow?

In most cases, one Vext pod per herb is plenty for regular use—but feel free to scale up based on your cooking habits and favorite recipes.

How long do they take?

• Sprouting: Most herbs emerge in 10–20 days.

• Harvesting: You can begin harvesting after about 30–50 days.

• Lifespan: With the right care, your herb plant can thrive for around 12 weeks.

Want plant-specific tips?

If you're looking for detailed advice on harvesting, pruning, or caring for a particular herb—check out the dedicated guide for each variety below. Every plant has its own rhythm, and we’re here to help you grow with it.

Green mint

Basil will sprout in 10-20 days and you can start harvesting within 30-50 days. With proper care, this basil will continue to provide fresh leaves for up to 18 weeks.

Dill will sprout in 10-20 days and you can begin harvesting within 30-40 days. With proper care, you can enjoy fresh dill for up to 8 weeks.

Tip: Begin harvesting the dill plant once it has established a good amount of foliage (leaves), around 15 cm of growth.

Coriander will sprout in 10-20 days and you can begin harvesting within 30-45 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy fresh coriander for up to 8 weeks.

Parsley will sprout in 20-30 days and you can start harvesting within 30-45 days. With proper care, you’ll enjoy fresh parsley for up to 10 weeks.

Rosemary will sprout in 15-20 days and you can start harvesting within 40-50 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy fresh rosemary for up to 12-months.

Tip: Begin harvesting the rosemary plant once stems reach 12–15 cm and are well branched. Snip 5–8 cm sprigs just above a leaf node using clean scissors, so that the plants can continue to grow.

Marjoram will sprout in 5-15 days and you can start harvesting within 50-70 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy fresh marjoram for up to 12 weeks.

Thyme will sprout in 10-20 days and you can start harvesting within 40-60 days. With proper care, you’ll enjoy fresh thyme for up to 12 months.

Chives will sprout in 10-20 days and you can start harvesting within 30-45 days. With proper care, you can enjoy fresh chives for up to 12 weeks.

Tip: When harvesting chives pull the larger growth to the side and cut those chives at the base, let the younger chives keep growing.

Basil will sprout in 7-21 days and you can begin harvesting in just 25-35 days. With proper care, you can enjoy this basil for up to 18 weeks.

Green mint will sprout in 7-14 days and you can begin harvesting within 30-45 days. With proper care, you'll enjoy fresh mint for up to 12 weeks.

Note: Mint will spread its flavor through its roots to neighboring plants.

Tip: Mint can grow fast so cut off any long and leggy stems.