Thanks Sowmo, I love Cilantro but it bolts with ease here (the humidity clobbers it)
Bigidlily, I agree about the water. Heck, even the furbaby drinks bottled! We moved here 3 almost 4 years ago now and still can't say I'm thrilled to be here but I'm trying. I do love the extend growing seasons and I'm really getting into veggie gardening, now if I could just do something with the yard.
Show your 'Herb garden photos
Cilantro does not transplant well and likes cool weather. What happened when you tried to grow it?
Many herb seeds, especially some medicinal herbs have very specific requirements for sucessful germination, and it varies specifically for each herb. Some require whats called "Cold stratification". These plants are called multi-cycle germinators and require going through periods of warm/then cold weather before they will germinate. The easiest way to do this is to plant and allow the seeds to overwinter and germinate in the spring, but this can also be acomplished using refrigerators/freezers etc. Some seeds actually require intense heat, others have very thick seed coating with natural germination inhibitors (phytates and other enzyme inhibitors). Some of these can be germinated by soaking, others by what's known as scarification, filing the seed coating with a file or sandpaper.
The paper copy of the horizon herbs http://www.horizonherbs.com seed catalog provides basic information about germination requirements for each seed that they sell, as well as having a section on the different germination techniques. http://www.horizonherbs.com/organic-growing-guide.htm has the section from the catalog that describes the various germination techniques.
If your going to grow alot of herbs, you may want to get some books that describe specifics for different herbs. "The Herb Society of Americia New Encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses" by Deni Bown (2001, hardcover) is an excellent general guide containing both culinary and medicinial herbs. It is indexed by Latin names Genus/species, so be prepared to learn them and use the cross reference table in the back.
Another excellent book, for medicinal herbs only is http://www.altrue.net/site/scha/content.php?type=1&id=5855 This book was written to be specific to Sonoma county california, but in practice I think it is a weath of information for anyone. It was co-authored by Leslie Gardener who teaches and manages the herb garden at the California school of herbal studie http://www.cshs.com Though not formally open to drop in visits, there are ways to visit there, including open houses (scheduled on web pages), volunteer work in the garden etc. They have one of the most incredible herb gardens I have ever seen which spirals up the side of a mountain in a natural setting with labels on all the plants so you can learn herb identification.
Nataraj
Thanks Nataraj I won't be growing tons...just a few standards such as Cilantro, several different types of parsley, chives, dill that type of thing, also will be planting lettuce, spinich and garlic. I found a place thru another DGer here in TX that has a good selection of garlics for our climate.
Thanks! I'll be checking out some of these. The cilantro was interestin to me. I tried to grow it this spring/summer to no availle.
I wish I could find the pic of youngest son lying on my parents back porch holding a nut in his mouth and the squirrel coming up and taking it out of his mouth:) Nasty, yes, but DS loves animals and took his chances. K~
I have fall cilantro growing now.
The spring crop was outstanding - used many pounds of it at the restaurant and home, then let it go to seed. Took 6-8 weeks to dry on the stems before I could harvest the seed, but collected about 2-3 cups of seed -and that much more was scattered.
Wasn't sure the seeds would germinate, so this was a test. Good one by the looks of the plants - up about 3 inches now. But this time, only a 6 foot row, not 10. Also planted "harvested" dill - also about the same size and amount.
I have plenty of cilantro & dill seed and chili pequin peppers to share if anyone wants some. Just d-mail with address, etc.
Will get some pix tonight.
Can't wait to see the pictures...Bubba makin burgers tonight...have me 2lbs of Angus prime beef just waiting...gonna give me some tips from a pro? *G*
Bubba: Which variety of dill do you grow? Does yours have a heavy foliage? I've grown several dills (will have to dig out my seed packs to say which), and I do get, what look like healthy plants, but none of them have a thick foliage like some dill that I've purchased from a produce distributor.
Nataraj
Speaking of cilantro... I planted some back in the spring. First time I've ever grown this. I planted it from seed and it really got started good. Then the summer began and with the HOT and humidity we have here in Bama it almost completely died. Since it has cooled off the past month the cilantro has come back with a fury!!! I didnt realize it liked cool weather. Learned from experience on that one! I actually used some of it today along with some of my jalepeno peppers I've been growing in some chicken salad and OMG was it tasty!
I have really enjoyed growing herbs and have found it to be somewhat therapeutic believe it or not.
Katy
lol found out the same last year Katy....anything over 85 here and the cilantro bolts like crazy. I have some to be planted out now and can't wait.
Went home to Alabama a few weeks ago, was in heaven, loved the weather.
I put my herbs in a raised bed. Want to add to surrounding area. Any ideas on how to do this?
This message was edited Oct 11, 2006 8:58 AM
what a pretty raised bed...
Thanks! It is new this year. Want to "enhance" area. Thought I'd share my rain solution, too. We have to haul water because of a shallow well. This is how I water some of my plants. I have two barrels set up.
This is the other watering solution.
how cute...love what you've done. I will NOT be posting pictures of my ugly yard! *LOL* you are very talented.
That is so cute! I just leave a 5 gallon bucket at the corner of the house to collect the runnoff from the roof. Not nearly as neat looking as your setup.
What lovely Herb Beds everybody!
Just in case anyone in here have noticed the creatures who like to try and 'share' your herbs, such as Black Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail,and Great Spangled Fritillary etc. Some people dont like the Caterpillar dammage and others just plant a little extra in another location of their yard to move the cats to once they are noticed. This is something I have done with a few who like what I plant outside. A good idea for those of you with raised beds might be to plant another bed of herbs on the ground for the Butterflies, and even add some Milkweed to that for the Monarchs. If any of you are moved to join us you would be welcome.
We are into a lot more about Host Plants specifically in a NEW THREAD just started in the Gardening for Butterfly and Hummers Discussion Forum.
This is the Main Thread for Host Plant Discussion:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/656598/
This is the Thread for Seed Exchange Lists (only):
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/659555/
Our focus in the discussion for now is about Host Plants and the creatures they provide food for. Then moving on from there in a couple months to Nectar Plants.
Here is my little herb patch this morning after a good rain, and leaves that fell mussed it up a little. The Parsley has 3 Black Swallowtail cats on it. :oDeb
BB, that's a lovely new raised bed -- love the corner posts! I was thinking about your wanting to put something around it... There are a lot of low growing herbs like creeping thymes that do very well in shallow soil (I don't know how compacted or unfertile the soil is under your raised bed), and I was thinking that you could mound dirt up around the perimeter of your raised bed, maybe up high enough to cover the lower board but leaving most of the top one exposed, to create an additional planting area around your bed. If I were doing it (LOL), I would lay out an irregular curving "island" shape around the raised bed (an old garden hose works really well to lay out curves... just keep nudging it around until you like the shape), cut out the sod, and then mound a little topsoil to make a shallow slope up to the edge of the bed. You could do a very formal layout inside your raised bed, and the curved outer bed would soften the effect. Also, you can run the lawnmower along (even over) thyme plants and not have to trim the grass around the boards.
I'm also looking at your fence and thinking of what you might plant against it as a backdrop to your lovely new herb garden... I love big rosemary plants, but even a hardy variety like 'Arp' might need additional protection in your zone... maybe if you made a raised planting area using rocks or bricks that could act as a heat sink? I planted one against a boulder, stacking softball-sized rocks to make a low retaining wall curving out and back to the boulder, almost like a bottomless planter that I could fill with topsoil... it survived the winter and got absolutely enormous this year!
I could also see an old fashioned rose climbing up the fence -- what's that one they call the apothecary's rose, that gets the big rose hips? Ah, there it is, Rosa gallica, http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/116/index.html
Does anything grow along the fence now? I was trying to make it out, looks like you've got some edging pieces in front of the fence?
I planted sunflowers and morning glories along my neighbor's fence this summer. I needed something that wouldn't climb the actual fence, since it wasn't mine, and the morning glories climbed the sunflowers very obediently! Unfortunatly, a big storm knocked them down last month, but it's something I'd try again, and I think it's a good solution until my rose of sharon seedlings get established along there.
Well, since I was bragging about my rosemary plant, I figured I'd show you a picture.... It's at least 4 x 2 x 3 feet, and I don't think the picture does justice to the massive size of the plant (although it does do justice to the cuteness of my youngest niece). :-)
right... sorry.... here is the photo!
I've posted this one before but here's my bed for my mints and their cousins, it keeps them from spreading without having to keep an eye on them.
Critter, the rosemary is nice (though I must say I used to live in a house in california that had a monster at least six feet tall that was watered by the leaky swamp cooler), and your niece is very cute but I am quite jealous of that big rock. We are always looking for nice rocks. We were out on a university field trip last weekend and saw a place to pick up some great basalt. I swap locations of good rock collecting sites with the other gardeners at work. I'm glad our state has no shortage of interesting rocks.
critter, I appreciate all of your suggestions. It seems like my bed is just stuck in the middle of nowhere. I like the idea of surrounding it with soil and making it easier to mow around. Someone once suggested lasagna gardening rather than removing grass. I transplantted a lilac bush next to the fence. We have excellent rich black farm soil around, so it is a good base for most anything. Hopefully I'll get something started this fall. Thanks! Your niece is sooo cute! I wish I had that rock, too!
I love your collection of chimney pots!
I think somebody posted about doing a new bed by taking up the sod and basically flipping it over, then adding mulch or something on top... If you did that now, it should have a chance to break down some and be ready to plant into this spring. With good soil underneath, you could use the raised bed as a focal point and do any number of plantings around or near it.
If you're adding more things around it to create a whole garden area, remember to plan for pathways and maybe include a spot for a bench... LOL, I always forget to leave enough space for walking between planting areas!
Katlian,
I, too, love your flue tile herb garden. You have so many sizes and shapes of tiles. With herbs in them they look very artistic.
My herbs are all over the place. I grow the most of what I use the most. This is a picture of a bed that contains, garlic chives, lovage, parsley, chervil and red mustard. Some are visible one time of the year or another. It isn't neat and organized, but it is very productive.
This is a picture of parsley and chervil growing in the back of the bed shown in the previous photo.
This message was edited Oct 14, 2006 9:30 PM
Oops! forgot the picture. Here it is.
Thai basil and Red Shiso are lovely in a pot together. Here is the picture below.
I have a mint patch in the vacant lot behind my house, just spearmint, but allowed to grow wild. I have lemon verbena in a raised bed with my flowers and oregano, sage, thyme, holy basil, Genovese battle and marjoram growing in pots at the side of the house.
I have a kaffir lime which I grow in a pot outdoors and which I bring indoors each winter. Rosemary doesn't overwinter so I keep it in a pot and replace it every year with a new plant. Sorrel grows in my raised beds with my veggies out in the vacant lot behind our house as well.
Don't know what I would do without a constant source of fresh herbs. Actually, I would use dried as I am forced to do each winter. Sigh. I miss them when they are unavailable. I usually keep a small pot of mint in the house. Other than that it is dried or the store, if it has anything available.
This message was edited Oct 15, 2006 5:29 PM
Pajaritomt ~ Lovely herb garden. That is one that would work on all the senses. Beautiful to look at, fragrant, delightful to touch and wonderful to sample. Too bad you don't have a greenhouse to keep some going thru winter for fresh use.
Part of me would like a green house, part of me doesn't want the extra work and bugs-- I had one once. I will send a photo of the mint garden when I get out to take one. It is more like a mint field.
I am loving this thread. never seen an herb garden I didn't like
bbdonks...such a pretty raised bed, and the water catchers, all like a picture! and good soil to boot!
critter...your niece is adorable :0) I planted a rosemary near a huge bolder in the sun this year. hope I can come near your success with it
katlian...I've mentioned it on your other thread (how much I LOVE your herb flues). I've bought some and I'm working on a design for a garden with them for next year. credit will go to you for inspiration
pajaritomt...your garden is wonderful! herbs that are there as they were meant to be...useful, lovely, fresh
here's most of my perennial herbs, either growing 'somewhere' in another bed or in pots waiting for a permanent home: chocolate mint, lavender mint, pineapple mint, rosemary, tri-color sage, Munstead lavender, Hidcote lavender, Elfin thyme, Mother-of-thyme, golden thyme, Hopley's purple oregano, showy pink oregano. I have at least 5 other kinds of thyme, which I obviously love, and a new lavender, 'Lacy Frills'. many of these are ornamental, but when I get the herb garden built there will be more cooking herbs, and herbs that butterflies use for host plants as well.
this whole thread is inspirational
gram ~a girl~
gram ~a girl~ pretty herb collection. I think you have a weakness for purple colors as well.... Very nice... pod
gram, Your herbs all look so healthy and vibrant. I find myself buying for how they look and not using them in the kitchen. It is so relaxing to work in my herb garden because of the wonderful fragrances. You have a real knack for photography!
Pod, I guess I do have a weakness for the purples (pinks, too, but purple is easier to find in herbs). My 'Fairy Garden', designed for butterflies, hummingbirds (& fairies!) is mostly pinks & purples.
bbd, thanks for the comment on the photography. I've been working on it all summer.
Hi Everyone,
thanks for the compliments. I've had a couple dmails asking permission to copy my design and by all means YES! Go ahead. I should caution you thourgh, I didn't seal the blocks before I put them in the ground and now I have salt accumulating around the tops (a problem in our area). I'm not sure I have the energy to dig them all up right now so I just rinse it off, but I think it will be a problem in the future. I think thompsons makes a sealant for concrete but it would have to go on all of the surfaces while the blocks are very dry. If you had well drained soil or sand underneath or no salt problems you probably wouldn't need sealant.
Like gram I have members of the mint family almost exclusively. The odd one out is the block with pink chives. My guests get that little botany quiz when they admire the garden :)
Katlian ~ Do you use fertilizer much? This type of salts accumulation will happen from that. I don't know if I would seal the flues as then the plants could stay waterlogged. Of course, I don't mean to question as you know the area you are in, just that I've had fertilizer salts accumulate on clay pots. But the beauty of clay is the porosity. Just a thought... pod
Since the flues are open at the bottom (right?), I don't think they'd be waterlogged if you sealed them. I've started sealing clay pots when I buy them, and the plants are all much happier without the salt buildup. If you're planting in potting mix, which drains really well, then I don't think you'll have a problem with pots getting waterlogged anyway -- at least the plastic and foam pots on my deck never present any problems that way.
The problem with my little garden is that the soil underneath is clay and compacted next to the foundation according to building regulations. And our soil has a lot of alkaline salts around here. The soil inside the flues is nice potting soil but it is pulling salts from the soil underneath. I rarely fertilize the herbs because I've heard fertilizer causes more growth at the expense of flavor.
Well, its two' years later now, and here is a pic of my thriving Rosemary...
lol ok my poor rosemary plant now has a complex! How do you get it so full? Is that more than one plant?
It`s one plant, planted in the ground, but right in back of it is a Citronella bush also.
here is a pic from last June...
And another...
