What are good places to get plants/seeds for herbs this time of year? I want to get a jump on next year's growing, and I need some obscure things that I just can't seem to find. French Tarragon, Lemon Balm (plants for those 2, as the lemon balm seeds are not growing for me), Calendula, etc. I have sources for the popular herbs, but I'm looking for stuff that most people don't use. I'm in Michigan, and I will have a greenhouse (arriving today!!!) to grow in for the winter. Your help is appreciated!

Hi, Mizshelly:

French tarragon doesn't propagate by seed, so you will definitely need to find plants or cuttings. Calandula should grow easily from seed, and seed are fairly easy to find at most nurseries or even big-box stores. Not sure you'd want to start it much earlier than next spring, though. I don't know if it would make it through a winter, even in a green house.

Lemon balm--most of us find it to be an aggressive grower. You may wish to see if someone in your area has some starts to share. I know I'd willingly dig some starts for anyone that needed them.

Unfortunately, most on-line nurseries seem to stop shipping most things this time of year. I wish you luck in finding what you need, though.

Does anyone have a source for French Tarragon or Lemon Balm? Even if I can't order until spring, these are 2 plants I'd really like to have!

http://companionplants.com/

I've ordered from this site. Their plants were excellent
Their site drives me nuts but easy to navigate once you get used to it

My go-to herb site is https://www.crimson-sage.com/ Good selection, nicely packed healthy plants. It seems there is a trick to the shipping, I think order enough for the minimum. I do agree that you should be able to find Melissa locally, either from a nursery or a fellow gardener. Tarragon for me (zone 8) is not hardy to over-winter and may be an annual for you as well. Both should be readily available in the spring.

@Mizshelli--do you have any good local nurseries? You should be able to find french tarragon in the spring and then you could avoid shipping.

If you would like some starts of lemon balm, I would be glad to send them for postage. You should have plenty of time to get them established yet this year. Tree mail me if you are interested.

Richters Herbs has seeds and plants.
I think they ship into Fall.

I second the Companion Plants recommendations. In OH so shipping shouldn't be too bad. Got French tarragon, Mexican oregano, patchouli from them.

@Mindy03 Boy, you weren't kidding about that website. What a pain!!!! They do have A LOT of unique stuff though. If shipping wasn't $12.50 for 2 plants I might have ordered. Maybe when I have more disposable cash.......

Take a look at Victory Seeds. They have herbs and shipping is very reasonable. Don't know if they have the herbs you want but ya never know.

I love Victory Seeds. I've gotten most of my seeds there, herb or otherwise. That's actually where I got the lemon balm seeds that have never sprouted, so I was a little sad. Everything else they sold me is doing great!

I have no idea if anyone sells the seeds because I always buy transplants, but a wonderful alternative to French tarragon is Texas Tarragon aka Mexican Mint Marigold aka a gazillion other names. The botanical name is Tagetes lucida. It's a perennial that likes heat so I don't know if you could grow it up north. Has really pretty yellow flowers that are edible and both the flowers and leaves are great in tea. Or salads. Or anything that you'd use French tarragon for. It's one of my very favorite herbs and I recently got myself a nice one to transplant.

I googled it just now and Johnny's Select Seeds has them. So does Baker Creek. Maybe others.

I grow T. lucida in the Pacific NW which has a relatively short growing season with not a huge amount of heat (well, that is obviously changing). I thought it would not overwinter, and figured it for an annual, but so far it has either made it through the winters or perhaps has self-seeded itself. I've had it for I think 4 seasons now.