| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| JojoNH |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 06:13:49 AM
 Decided to challenge my herb growing this year. I am good at some things and bad at others. . . so I am trying to grow all the herbs I use in my kitchen on a regular basis. My challenge? Basil, it never makes it to maturity. . I either over water or something else happens to it. So this year I am bound and determined to "grow my own" !!
How about you? What herb is a challenge for you? Are you willing to give it another try? Let me know!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| mountainmomma |
Posted - May 23 2011 : 05:44:33 AM
This year my challenge is to put in a formal herb garden. Some of the herbs I recently purchased and others I am moving from other places around my yard. It has been slow going with all the rocks and stones I have to dig up. So far everything I've planted is doing well. I have planted: parsley, feverfew, anise, yarrow, oregano, sage, pot marigold, tarragon and hoarhound. I still have: southernwood, basil, thyme, bee balm, cilantro, chives, lavender, camomile, stevia, nasturtium and marjoram to plant.
Miriam |
| french08 |
Posted - May 20 2011 : 07:45:53 AM
I have lemon balm and lavender. I am thinking it's about time I step out and add some more herbs!
~~Kim French~~
Farmgirl Sister #2997
Farmgirl at Heart From The Start |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - May 19 2011 : 06:52:52 AM
Chamomile is my challenge. I tried direct sowing outdoors and failed. This year I tried starting seeds inside and they are still barely big enough to hold their own when I water them. Maybe some warm weather will bring them around!
-Paula
'Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift' - Eleanor Roosevelt |
| JojoNH |
Posted - May 17 2011 : 04:11:50 AM
Your herb garden sounds perfect! Isn't it wonderful when the mower cuts the mint, I have peppermint in our field and love it when it's mowed.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
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| Bensgrandma |
Posted - May 15 2011 : 06:46:18 AM
I love herbs. This year Cilantro is new to my garden. I have chives, sweet basil, sage, oregano, parsley, celantro, lavender (SEEDS SMELL HEAVENlY) and I still need to put in rosemary. it never makes it through the winter. Sage does well and so does the oregano. Both come back year after year.
I had a lot of spearmint and now it is in the field out back.Guess I must have transferred some. Boy that smells wonderful when we hit it with the garden tractor!
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| JojoNH |
Posted - May 14 2011 : 04:51:44 AM
Wow! That's wonderful!! WaHOOO!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
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| FieldsofThyme |
Posted - May 13 2011 : 09:14:36 AM
My challenge was to keep my rosemary alive all winter inside, long enough to replant outside. Every year it dies in April.
This year 2 of the 6 lived! Woo hoo!
They have happily made their home outdoors now.
Farmgirl #800
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| Fannie |
Posted - Apr 21 2011 : 02:58:46 AM
Thanks Joanna, the journal sounds like a good idea.
Fannie
Farm Girl #2746 |
| JojoNH |
Posted - Apr 20 2011 : 05:22:36 AM
Hi Fannie, I am so excited for you! Keep us posted and remember to take pictures of your process. . in a year or two if you need to do this again, it will help if you have some records of how you did this planting. A friend of mine got me into doing a journal of my herb gardens. . . it is a useful reference book with all your notes and pictures, not to mention fun to look at on a dreary winters day!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
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| Fannie |
Posted - Apr 13 2011 : 03:09:39 AM
I'm so excited...I got my herbs and I'm ready to plant. I am really looking forward to see how this goes.
Fannie
Farm Girl #2746 |
| CMac |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 12:44:12 PM
What a good idea Joanna! I bet one of those foamy plastic pots would be perfect. I got a plan!
Thanks!
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| JojoNH |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 12:02:06 PM
ZenGoddess, glad I am able to help.
Connie, Although the Rosemary does not like mulch, it maybe that you need to mulch at the base of the plant and maybe place a pot over the rosemary plant then pile the mulch up around the pot. Since the pot has a hole in it, there would be air circulation enough for the plant and it would be protected from the harsh winds and snow. Worth a try.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
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| CMac |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 10:43:18 AM
I want to grow lovage again. I grew it at my old place and have not found where it will be happy on the farm yet. I've planted twice and lost it both times. I also want to try and keep rosemary in the ground over winter. I've heard the variety "Arp" is more cold hardy. Haven't tried to find it yet. I'm thinking if I mulch well with a light weight mulch after the first frost I may keep the roots alive over winter. (Straw or pine needles) Rosemary really does not like mulch but I can't figure out what else to try. Maybe wrap the plant in burlap?
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
| ZenGoddess |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 10:15:06 AM
Inge, the bird cage idea is wonderful !!
I can send you some rooted lemon Thyme if your interested. Soon as the ground thaws : ))
Joanna, you are always a wealth of info, the growing tips are great !
Hugs,
ZenGoddess/Southernplum
My life goal is to Simply - Simplify my life.
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| JojoNH |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 08:11:51 AM
Wow, that's a bonus, finding your catnip wild!! Love it!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
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| adnama |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 07:48:49 AM
This year I am doing a lemon herb garden, any and all lemon fragrance herbs, hope I thought of all of them. I too grow catnip for both my cats and myself for tea. I find old bird cages to cover my catnip, what grows through the bars is fair game for the cats, otherwise the lay on the plant and totaly destroy it, but I find my catnip growing wild. If you have wet paper towels to wrap the roots in, they transplant to home just fine. I find that the wilders have a stronger scent then those that I had purchused in the past. |
| ZenGoddess |
Posted - Apr 03 2011 : 11:07:06 AM
Hi Girls,
I simple can not make it without catmint!! Zen and I both love it and its a main stay for my tea and his treat "that means I still luvvvvvv" him. With him and the barn cats and a few strays I can't plant it out in the ground ... I wouldn't have anything left of the plants. This is what I did last year and will do it on a bigger scale this year. I planted my catnip in a hanging basket and hung it up high on the porch. When it was time to pick the leaves it was easy to take the hanging basket down harvest the leaves and then hang it back up!! I actually think I have out smarted the cats!!
The porch protected the catmint from the wind and too much sun so all-in all, this methodhas worked the best for me : )
Hugs,
ZenGoddess/Southernplum
My life goal is to Simply - Simplify my life.
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| Fannie |
Posted - Apr 03 2011 : 06:16:14 AM
Thanks JojoNH
You have answered alot of questions. I may have more once I get started...thanks again
Fannie
Farm Girl #2746 |
| Arctic Flower |
Posted - Apr 02 2011 : 2:14:15 PM
There is nothing like weeding in an herb garden. The smells offer aromatherapy at its finest. It great to know there is so much herb gardening going on.
Farmgirl #2416
Believe in the power of Love! |
| JojoNH |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 3:03:06 PM
Well to answer the first question on drying your herbs, two things to keep in mind. 1: harvest your herbs just after the morning dew has dried from the herbs and before the heat of the day. . . I use 11:00 am as a rule. 2: when drying them: either bundle them a few pieces together and hang in a dim cool area with air circulation. .. even if it is a fan placed on low. If you are using a dehydrator, this takes a little practice and needs your attention until the process is done. Too long in the dehydrator will rob your herbs of everything your harvesting them for, not long enough will result in a mold situation.
So, a little practice and you will get that down to a science
For the cats, they can be a big pest for sure and fencing is about the only way to discourage them. We have feral cats and barn cats around, the fence is the only thing that has worked. For the herbs in my small garden that we don't place a fence around, I made small cages to go over the herbs. . . they look like small bird cages sitting in the garden. . it allows the sunlight and rain in and keeps the mischievous kitties out.
Joanna #566
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| SantaTeresita |
Posted - Mar 26 2011 : 3:29:26 PM
I'd like to have an herb garden or at least grow some herbs like basil and cilantro for sure and some mint. BUT I have a problem that no one has yet mentioned here....... I have cats and strays that come by. I can grow them in the containers but sometimes they jump into my pots too.
They are leaving the rosemary alone.
So let's see if anyone has any recommendations for me!
"Find your own Calcutta!" Mother Teresa
Farmgirl Sister #2503 |
| sunflowercritters |
Posted - Mar 24 2011 : 05:02:23 AM
Oh! Me too. Thats my goal this year is to try planting herbs. I make goat milk soap and love to grow my own as well.
But one question I have is how do you keep you herbs so..green while drying the herbs out?
I Thessalonians 5:16,17
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Deb-farmgirl sister #462
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| JojoNH |
Posted - Mar 24 2011 : 04:51:00 AM
Hi Fannie,
Well, I always recommend to start with mint. . . purchase a plant or two from your local nursery and plant it in a container. Mint is very invasive if not properly attended in your garden. . . although for me, that's not a bad thing With mint there are endless possibilities for it's use from teas, jellies, flavorings to sachets, nosegays and more. Once your doing well with mints ( did I mention there are more than just Peppermint and Spearmint? You are in for a world of fun, there are plants called "chocolate mint" and more!) You will find your ready to experiment with more herbs. Some of my favorites in the garden that basically take care of themselves are catnip, oregano, all thymes, and marjoram. Simply dig a hole, stick them in, water as needed and within a month or two you will be harvesting fresh herbs!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
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| Fannie |
Posted - Mar 20 2011 : 06:26:44 AM
I always wanted to start a herb garden...Where do I start? God knows I don't have a green thumb so I have always steered away from growing things. I really want to try and see how it goes.
Fannie
Farm Girl #2746 |
| JojoNH |
Posted - Mar 12 2011 : 2:41:19 PM
Don't you just love it when they arrive!! I am excited for you, bet you cannot wait until spring is officially here! For us it is still a long way off. If we are lucky the ground will be thawed in time for the June planting. . however, I am starting a container garden for my front porch. So at least I can start several things inside and then when the weather finally cooperates, move them out onto the porch.
Let me know how you do with all your new herbs. . . I am always curious how each person does with theirs. . even if it ends up not being successful, we can all share what we did in hopes of figuring it all out.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
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