Your GardenZeus business card contains seeds for basil, chives, oregano, parsley, and thyme. These seeds normally remain viable for 2 to 4 years or longer if they are kept cool and dry, except for chives, which last for a year or two.
To sprout the business-card seeds:
1) The flecks or dark spots in the business card are seeds. Cut the card into pieces, taking care to include 1 to 3 seeds per cut piece.
2) Wet a paper towel and place it into a large flat bowl or dish that has a firmly fitting lid.
3) Place the pieces of business card onto the wet paper towel, spacing them at least one inch apart. Put the lid onto the bowl or dish to create a humid environment.
4) Place the dish in a warm-but-not-hot area indoors, out of the sun, preferably at temperatures of 70° to 85°F for at least a few hours each day.
5) Monitor seeds daily. Add water as needed to keep the paper towel moist but not wet. Seeds may take 10 to 30 days or longer to germinate. Oregano and parsley may be very slow to germinate.
6) Remove sprouts as soon as possible from the bowl or dish. Be careful not to damage tiny roots; tear the paper towel if necessary.
7) Plant sprouts in cells or small pots to grow into seedlings, or plant directly outdoors in a protected area. Cover sprouts in soil up to the base of their tiny leaves, or cover the entire sprout with soil if no leaves are visible.
8) Sprouts need moist soil and partial shade for at least a week or two to safely establish outdoors.
For customized information about growing these herbs in your California climate zone, including the best times to germinate seeds, plant sprouts, other tips, and much more, see: http://gardenzeus1.wpengine.com/plants/parsley/