Not every patient survives a transplant operation, you know!

Teryaki, if you haven't removed the lovage yet, don't. Lovage really enjoys cooler weather and due to the horribly hot, muggy weather we have been having, may just be in a coma. Leave it be and see what happens next spring. Good luck!

Well, I did pull up one of the seedlings, and it looks really, REALLY dead. But I'll leave the others in place.

I've got enough seed left for another sowing, when should I plant those?

Oh, I just went outside and some of the parsley is toast too. The other isn't looking very good.

Should I be fertilizing? I've got no idea what to use or how/when.

I would not fertilize a sick seedling  it can add more stress. I have had problems with my lovage dying with transplantation also. If you start another, place it where it can stay

If you are growing the Mexican coriander Eryngium foetidum, you should definitely not transplant it, unless you have a good sized plant. Once you have a good sized plant it is fairly hardy.

Don't feel bad... you will learn! some plants don't like to be started from seed indoors... they don't like to be transplanted either. I don't know about lovage, but don't give up... starting from seed is a painful process and I have almost given up on it (except this year I went crazy) all the advice above is great. P.S. One of the hard things a gardener has to learn is that some plants just die... no reason to be found, they just die...

I guess so...

As for the fertilizing, I meant for the healthy ones as well. I'm really clueless here. It's a wonder I got anything to grow. :)

As for the Eryngium foetidum, it's been growing VERY slowly, but that's my fault, because at first I thought it would want sun. I mean, Mexican=desert in my mind, y'know? Wasn't expecting a Yucatan rainforest plant. I'm going to keep it potted since it would never survive the winters here.

My Eryngium foetidum was about 4 inches tall when I got it & it transplanted without problems. Your younger plants may be just waiting to bolt. About 2 months after I had mine it flowered. Mine gets some afternoon shade but still gets quite a bit of sun. The little ones should be in the shade, however.

Actually, the majority of culinary herbs require little to no fertilizing. In fact, it tends to cut down considerably on their flavor.

Thanks. :)

A couple weeks on...

I applied a 6-10-10 fertilizer and a sparse sprinkling of epsom salts to the garden and the potted plants. Am watering less frequently. Have switched from commercial potting mix to homemade compost as my primary potting medium. It definitely drains better.

The basil is beautiful, both in the garden and the pots. I've got way more than I know what to do with, since I never cook with it anyhow.

The English thyme's growing at an agonizingly slow pace. About 2-3 inches tall at most. It's spreading laterally more than it is vertically.

The potted lovage has come back from the brink, and while still only an inch high, looks healthy and is sending up new stalks.

Divided the thorny Mexican coriander. Still tiny, but also a healthy color.

Since it cooled off, the parsley's FINALLY gaining some height.

The dill's flowering and attracting moths and the occaisonal butterfly. Keeps flopping over. VERY few leaves. No more bouquet. Next year, I'm gonna try fernleaf or dukat.

It'll be a miracle if the greek oregano comes back in the spring. Tiny plants that've made no progress in a month.

The rosemary's stopped growing. I transplanted it today to a 3-gallon plastic pot. It's a really irregular plant. Smells and looks very healthy, though. How do I prune it so as to encourage growth, rather than kill it?

I really appreciate all the help I've gotten here. It's made a world of difference. :)