Side by side
Pick two or three seeds to see how they grow, side by side: sprouting, spacing, sun, water, frost and pet safety in one table.
Comparing Thyme vs. Chives vs. Basil
The comparison
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Easy | Easy |
| Life cycle | Perennial | Perennial | Annual |
| Germination time | 14–21 days | 7–14 days | 5–10 days |
| Germination temperature | 18–21 °C64–70 °F | 18–21 °C64–70 °F | 18–21 °C64–70 °F |
| Sowing depth | Not yet verified | 0.5–1 cm¼–⅜ in | 6 mm¼ in |
| Spacing between plants | 20–30 cm8–12 in | Not yet verified | Not yet verified |
| Sun | Full sun, partial shade | Full sun, partial shade | Full sun, partial shade |
| Containers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Frost tolerance | Not yet verified | Hardy | Tender (no frost) |
| Soil pH | pH 6.3 | Not yet verified | pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Toxicity to cats | Non-toxic | Toxic | Non-toxic |
| Toxicity to dogs | Non-toxic | Toxic | Non-toxic |
| Links |
Up close
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
HerbsThymus vulgaris
Common thyme is a woody, evergreen perennial herb that forms a mound 6 to 12 inches tall in full sun. It can be started from seed, but germination is uneven, so many gardeners prefer cuttings or divisions.
How to grow thymeHerbsAllium schoenoprasum
An easy, hardy perennial in the onion family with mild, onion-flavored leaves and edible flowers. Chives grow from seed or division, in pots or garden beds.
How to grow chivesHerbsOcimum basilicum
A fragrant, warm-season herb that's easy to grow from seed and does especially well in sunny pots. Start it indoors and move it outside only after the last frost.
How to grow basilKeep comparing
Add a third seed, or swap one for a close relative from the same category.
The table, row by row
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
