Discover a wide selection of fresh herbs and vegetable plants perfect for your home garden.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, our garden center offers everything you need to grow healthy, delicious produce right in your backyard.
Our Vegetable Plants
Enjoy homegrown produce with our wide selection of vegetable plants, sold by size for easy planning and planting. From beginners to seasoned gardeners, our vegetable plants are ready to thrive in your garden.
Leaf Vegetables
Grow your own fresh leafy greens, from crisp lettuces and tender spinach to nutrient-rich kale, chard, and flavorful Asian greens
Root Vegetables
Enjoy a reliable harvest and satisfying homegrown flavor with our root vegetables, including potatoes, onions, garlic, and more.
Fruit Vegetables
Our “fruit” vegetables will be a great addition to your summer meals, whether adding fresh tomatoes or spicing it up with some poblano peppers.
Our Herb Plants
Grow fresh flavor at home with our selection of garden-ready herb plants. Our herbs are sold by size, making it easy to choose the right plant for containers, raised beds, or in-ground gardens.
Cooking Herbs
Grow your own fresh cooking herbs, from classic basil and oregano to rosemary, thyme, and dill, bringing vibrant, garden-to-table flavor to every dish.
Tea Herbs
Grow your own fragrant tea herbs, from chamomile and mint to lemon balm and lavender, perfect for crafting fresh or dried herbal infusions at home.
Herbs & Veggies FAQs
When is the best time to plant herbs and vegetables in the Lehigh Valley?
The Lehigh Valley sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b, with an average last frost date around April 15–May 1. Cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, kale, and herbs such as cilantro and parsley can be planted outdoors as early as mid-March to early April. Warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and basil should wait until after the last frost — typically mid-May — to avoid cold damage.
Which herbs grow best in the Emmaus, PA area?
Most culinary herbs thrive in the Lehigh Valley with the right conditions. Perennial herbs like chives, thyme, sage, oregano, and mint come back year after year and are excellent choices for local gardens. Annual herbs like basil, dill, and cilantro perform well during our warm summers. Rosemary can survive mild winters here but may benefit from mulching or bringing indoors during harsh cold snaps.
Can I grow vegetables in containers or raised beds in Pennsylvania?
Absolutely! Container and raised bed gardening are excellent options in the Lehigh Valley, especially for homeowners with limited yard space or poor native soil. Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, herbs, and even compact squash varieties do very well in containers with quality potting mix. Raised beds allow you to control your soil composition and tend to warm up faster in spring, giving you a head start on the growing season.
What vegetables can I plant in the fall in the Lehigh Valley?
Fall gardening is a great way to extend your harvest season. In the Emmaus area, you can plant cool-season crops like broccoli, kale, spinach, arugula, and Swiss chard starting in late July through September. Garlic is also traditionally planted in October for a summer harvest the following year. Many fall crops actually taste better after a light frost, as the cold intensifies their natural sweetness.
How do I know if my vegetable garden is getting enough sun?
Most vegetables and herbs require a minimum of 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce well. Fruiting crops like tomatoes, peppers, and squash need the most sun — aim for a full-sun location. Leafy greens and some herbs like parsley, mint, and cilantro can tolerate partial shade (4–6 hours), which can actually help prevent them from bolting too quickly during our hot Lehigh Valley summers.
What are common pests and diseases that affect herb and vegetable gardens in Pennsylvania?
Gardeners in the Lehigh Valley commonly deal with aphids, Japanese beetles, tomato hornworms, squash vine borers, and slugs. Disease-wise, watch for powdery mildew (especially on squash and herbs), early blight on tomatoes, and downy mildew on basil. Practicing crop rotation, choosing disease-resistant varieties, ensuring good air circulation, and watering at the base of plants rather than overhead can all help minimize these issues.
Do you carry organic herb and vegetable plants at Herbein's Garden Center?
Yes! At Herbein’s Garden Center in Emmaus, PA, we carry a wide selection of herb and vegetable plants throughout the growing season, including many organically grown options. Our staff can help you choose the right varieties for your space, soil type, and gardening goals — whether you’re planting a small patio container garden or a large backyard vegetable plot. Stop in and see what’s fresh and in season!