I have basil and cilantro to plant. Do they need sun or shade? Lots of room, or can I plant them in between my tomato plants?
herbs
Basil can take full sun. As far as I know, cilantro can't take the heat. Your best chances would be shade atleast for next month or two. I would love to know if anyone can grow it through the summer. Indoors?
Most basils (depending on which ones you are growing) can get quite large unless you keep them cut back.
Pruning is actually better for basil and prevents it from going to seed too quickly. When it blooms, it can get bitter.
Yes, you can interplant with the tomatoes. They are companion plantings. Basil will grow in full sun or partial shade.
Plant Cilantro around plants that get hit by grasshoppers. Hoppers dont like Cilantro.
Thanks for your input. I'll plant accordingly. I know you were all thinking, "Duh, read your tag." but I get my plants out in the country in Mansfield, and there's usually just one tag on the first flat of a row of flats, so if someone takes that one............................................,and I can hardly remember what everything is after I get home, much less what to do with it. I did ask the owner, Max, if cilantro could take the summer heat, and he said it would last all summer, but to keep it pinched back. We'll see. I just made me some raised beds and will put some there. They'll get sun all day, but will get a little shade protection by about 4pm, I think. Again, we'll see. Ok, when you need some cilantro, do you just snip a few leaves off the stem, or do you cut the stem back to the dirt? (and I'm calling myself a farmer???)
I go to a nursery in Austin, Barton Springs Nursery, and they don't mark all their plants, either.
Our last trip there a helpful young man lent me his grease pencil that wrote white on the pots. It was a great idea.
sybram, I have both cilantro and basil here in Burleson. Basil=full sun but keep watered Cilantro= can't kill the stuff here, Max is right :) Keep in pinched back, and full sun or sun/shade. It will grow with out any care once established.
catzgalore
I don’t understand how you have such success with growing cilantro in this area. My cilantro and tarragon don't last but about three or four months and die once it starts getting hot. Today it got to 90 degrees and both now look like they are on the ropes. Hopefully by bringing the pots inside and putting them on a western window sill I can extend their lives for a while before I kill them for good.
I've never tried cilantro here but French tarragon is definitely a "goner" for me even tho I love it and have tried quite a few times. Ever the optimistic gardener here...
Plant cilantro in the fall to help it along. It likes cool weather.
French tarragon is what I have too.
I have Mexican Mint Marigold which does well. It's supposed to taste like tarragon.
stephanietx
Does Mexican Mint Marigold tolerate the heat well?
I have Mexican Marigold and it is a very strong perennial that can take drought and heat.
VERY well! It's a prolific reseeder as well. It smells like licorice.
deadhead the marigold, keeps it working, chuckle,
have grown cilantro for years. It has never survived once we hit 90. What is your secret?
I don't know what I do/don't do :/ It just grows like crazy for me. I know I don't give it any special attention. I have it in my herb bed behind my greenhouse. I do let it go to seed at the end of each year.
I've not grown cilantro but was researching another herb and read that there are cultivars of cilantro that are slower to bolt in heat. That might be the difference.
Your right it very well could be the difference. I also took note today that my herb bed happens to be shaded from about 3pm until now due to an arbor I have nearby. That could be part of it also.
Maybe it is just in my head, but the cilantro I buy at Walmart tastes so much better than the cilantro in my garden. Mine is bitter. Mine does go down hill once it hits 90, but if i keep it watered, it will hang around decently, and usually flower nicely. Later I collect the seeds to plant in the fall. So because of the taste difference, I am thinking there are different varieties of course, and some may or may not do better in the heat, but may not taste as good.
Never considered that there were different varieties. Of course, that makes sense. Will have to do more research before I plant the next generation. Thank you for that information.
What do you use Mexican Marigold for/in? And thanks for all your comments. My herbs and veggies are all in, so we'll see.
Like purslane, Mexican Marigold can be used in salads, I haven't used it, but it is a native and the native plants, like daylilly were edible and fed our pioneers before grocery stores, research! there are special preps needed on some foods
Oh my goodness. Purslane is just about my favorite flower. I put it in so many pots and baskets. Had no idea it was edible.
LouC, when you research the cilantro, keep in mind that onions flavor has a LOT to do with the ground they grow in, and you can change the flavor by changing their planting medium-this may also be true of cilantro. Need to find what makes them happiest to grow in.