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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2007 16:32:08 GMT
I would like to grow some herbs for cooking, Coriander, Basil, lemon thyme, etc. the pots one buys from supermarkets last about a week then die. so should they be grown indoors or outdoors, in a box or in small pots. And how best to treat them once they are in place. I dont really want to grow them from seed at the moment cos i want to use them straight away. But i could grow some from seed as well if there is any room in the greenhouse once TJ has finished in there. So maybe some tips on that front would be good also.
I think thats it
Thanks
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Post by Rosefriend on Jan 16, 2007 17:42:19 GMT
Replies to your question from another thread.
Today at 4:23pm, clinty wrote:
oh yes
i would like to grow some herbs for cooking, Coriander, Basil, lemon thyme, etc. the pots one buys from supermarkets last about a week then die. so should they be grown indoors or outdoors, in a box or in small pots. And how best to treat them once they are in place. I dont really want to grow them from seed at the moment cos i want to use them straight away. But i could grow some from seed as well if there is any room in the greenhouse once TJ has finished in there. So maybe some tips on that front would be good also.
I think thats it
Thanks
The pots one buys from the supermarket are best kept in an unheated propagator, they have been grown(forced) in conditions difficult to replicate in the home, and dont like draughts. Grown from seed they are a lot tougher and TJ`s greenhouse will be great for that. Just follow instructions on the seed pack and use good compost ,Seed/cutting compost ....and with basil esp look out for blackfly.
From Sweetleaf.
and
If you do want to stick with supermarket herbs then you would be best advised to split them. They cram hundreds of little plants into the pots so that they look lush but really they are just seedlings. Dig out some empty pots, put a tea-bag at the bottom of each one (or more depending on the size of the pot) and fill with well-draining compost (potting compost is good if you need to go and buy some). Then carefully tease out the plants and split them if possible, being careful with the roots. If you have a pot of about the same size as the herbs came in you could probably get about nine in - if that helps. Then you will have loads of pots and loads of healthy herbs.
As already said, keep basil in a warm bright spot but away from the glass of the window because it will feel the cold. Parsley and corriander aren't so fussy. Keep one of your pots of corriander and let it flower - that way they flowers will produce seeds so you can grow more!
from plocket.
RF
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 16, 2007 18:48:46 GMT
Fab idea P.....those from the smkt don't last 5 minutes. I have a herb planter but I'm afraid Rosemary and Thyme has gone all woody because I've not looked after them  . Have got Mint and Pineapple Mint in tubs. A new herb bed is on my list but down at the bottom I'm afraid. Good Luck with yours Clinty. |
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Post by Plocket on Jan 16, 2007 19:00:53 GMT
I won't let OH cut herbs from the pots he buys - I cut them so I cut individual plants out leaving the others to grow some more. I've had a pot of basil on the go for months now!
My rosemary is rampant but I was careful to get an upright one, rather than a bush one - it takes up much less space. Want me to post you some cuttings in spring so you can root them? And you are very wise to grow mint in containers - they will soon take over your garden. Mum was given an old variety of mint a couple of years ago, already growing in a half rotten tub. She told me she was going to bug the mint in the ground and I told her she was bonkers. At the end of last year she was fretting about it dying because she'd moved it, but blow me over it's coming up all over the place now - sometimes a metre from where it was originally planted.
If you really want herbs you don't need a big area BB. How about getting yourself a few pots to grow them in? Choose say your four fave herbs and just grow them. I've got tarragon, loads of pots of parsley, sage, thyme, mint and chives all in pots. The rosemary must be the only herb in the ground! And of course you can continually grow basil on a windowsill.
Sorry I'm going on - I like herbs!!!
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 16, 2007 19:12:01 GMT
Your not going on P  I'd not thought about doing cutting's from the Rosemary. Thanks for the offer to send me cuttings, I guess I could do some from the newer shoots from mine. I borrowed some Thyme from the gdn were OH is working and stuck them in yesterday, they'll either go or not. And where I have a bonfire there is an old Sage growing. Oooooh you've set me off now  |
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Post by Plocket on Jan 16, 2007 19:22:50 GMT
Hurrah! Herbs are such a good thing! See if you can layer a bit off the old sage in spring (softwood) that's a good time, or just take softwood cuttings. Sage bushes do get old and woody so should be replaced every few years anyway. I love the idea of "borrowing thyme" - somewhat Dr Who-ish!!!
Most people have room for a few pots of herbs!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2007 19:25:45 GMT
I dont really want to grow them from seed at the moment cos i want to use them straight away. But i could grow some from seed as well if there is any room in the greenhouse once TJ has finished in there. So maybe some tips on that front would be good also. Sowing from seed is generally dead easy and you may wish to start on your kitchen windowsill until greenhouse is available. I just use a sprinkle in a 3'' pot, so it doesn't take up room and I can stagger the harvest. Money saving tip - If you have a Wilko's locally then they do a six packets-in-one for £2.29 (in 2006), plus you get a further packet of seed of your choice free. Basil. chives, coriander, dill, mint and parsley. If you get more adventurous then visit www.jekkasherbfarm.com |
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 16, 2007 19:55:52 GMT
Just had an idea.......The gaps in the path we laid up in my new veg area are crying out for something like Thyme to be planted in them. The bits where the slabs turn and there is a thin triangular gap.....good idea.
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Post by Plocket on Jan 16, 2007 20:53:28 GMT
Oooh Jekka's herbs are divine but I've only ever bought her stuff from shows.
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 16, 2007 21:57:13 GMT
Hello. I adore herbs. And I'm just starting to organise myself to send for all the ones I'll sell. What fun!
Can I just say, Chuckles, that it might not be a great idea to plant some of the woody herbs where you want to grow veggies as generally they like very poor soil and the tougher the ground they're growing in the better they like it, thyme for example, likes gritty poor soil or it doesn't "go". Maybe grow your thyme etc in pots near the veggies. Sorry - just a thought.
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 16, 2007 22:05:25 GMT
Thanks 4P I was only thinking Thyme in the gaps nothing else. The top 2" they would be in is course sand then soil underneath that, It would get mixed when I dug a hole for planting would Thyme be ok in that. . If not I may get some small Alpines to put in the gaps. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 17, 2007 7:38:52 GMT
Morning, I see - you're quite right Chuckles. Can I put in a good word for Corsican Mint in your gaps (as it were)? Very very low growing, covered in tiny lilac/pink flowers, prolly wouldn't spread in dry conditions and DIVINE scent when trodden on...s'luvverly.
Also Clinty - if you want to keep and pot on supermarket herbs it's also best to buy them when the weather has warmed up and the light levels are good. I have kept Basil all through summer that way. If you buy them now they are already struggling as they have been somewhat abused to get them to selling condition - particularly Basil which often already looks knackered even in the shop! Woody herbs such as Thyme, Tarragon etc are much easier. Sorry if you know all this!
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 17, 2007 8:31:21 GMT
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Post by Plocket on Jan 17, 2007 9:24:41 GMT
That "TAKE A LOOKS GUYS" bit didn't work for me Chuckles  |
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 17, 2007 9:33:00 GMT
That "TAKE A LOOKS GUYS" bit didn't work for me Chuckles Sorry P....fixed it |
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Post by Plocket on Jan 17, 2007 9:37:31 GMT
Well done! ;D
What a cute little plant, but I'm a tad wary of the "spread: indefinte" comment!!! ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 17, 2007 9:44:21 GMT
I thought the same P, it reminded me of Pratia pedunculata in habit. I keep that in pots. I think if you keep it to nooks and crannies rather than in the gdn so to speak you could keep it in check.
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Post by Plocket on Jan 17, 2007 9:53:26 GMT
Yes - made me think of Soleirolia soleirolii/Mind your own business too! Horrible stuff!!!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2007 10:04:58 GMT
Morning all,
Thanks for all your suggestions gang. As I am at home at the moment and TJ is hard at work (hmm) i may just nip to the GC and get some seeds on the go in the greenhouse without her noticing. ;D
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 17, 2007 10:18:30 GMT
Its a bit early for that perhaps you could wait a few weeks, the GH is unheated isnt it?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2007 10:38:15 GMT
Morning all, Thanks for all your suggestions gang. As I am at home at the moment and TJ is hard at work (hmm) i may just nip to the GC and get some seeds on the go in the greenhouse without her noticing. ;D  I saw that Clinty, make sure you get some seed compost, I need some |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2007 13:25:49 GMT
What a cute little plant, but I'm a tad wary of the "spread: indefinte" comment!!! ;D Just what I was thinking - it could end up being a nightmare. |
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Post by MamIDdau on Jan 17, 2007 20:24:04 GMT
all my mints are staying in pots. Partly cos I want to take them with me and partly cos I know they spread. I'm hoping my lemon mint is practising being herbaceous at the moment cos the others all have leaves on but that one doesn't... We'll see. No big worries if it's given up the ghost, got 7 other varieties of mint growing ;D
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Post by Plocket on Jan 18, 2007 8:24:18 GMT
Another good reason for growing mint in pots is that apparently they lose their flavour if they intermingle.
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Post by Dutchy on Jan 18, 2007 14:46:07 GMT
I have Mentha Pepperita in my garden in full soil.
It comes up all over but I don't mind. The taste is great and even now when I want mint tea I can find some fresh in my garden.
Mind that I have heavy clay. On good garden soil it would become by far too rampant.
I have gravel beds in which most of my herbs grow.
The Mediterranean ones love to grow in gravel.
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Post by MamIDdau on Jan 18, 2007 19:40:34 GMT
I've got chocolate mint, spear mint, peppermint, lemon mint, apple mint, grapefruit mint, pineapple mint...I think that's it... All in pots.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2007 13:25:55 GMT
In addition to all the ones mentioned, oregano is ridiculously easy to grow from seed, perfectly hardy (at least here in Dublin) and delicious with everything from grilled cheese on toast to Bolognese. Plus, bees adore it ... cheers ...
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Post by Chuckles on Jan 26, 2007 17:59:09 GMT
Thanks Canarycreeper, Oregano is on my list now.
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 26, 2007 18:09:26 GMT
CC good suggestion! Im looking for things that attract bees to the lottie, and Oregano fits in nicely ;D
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 27, 2007 7:26:33 GMT
Oregano is one of my favourite garden herbs but since you're worried about plants which spread, be aware that the Oregano (wild Marjoram) does self seed amazingly and is as tough as old boots. Lovely plant though and beloved by bees. There is a beautiful variegated Oregano , Cream and Gold I think it's called, which has the same flavour but is not quite so prolific and has a smaller growing habit.
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. Have got Mint and Pineapple Mint in tubs. A new herb bed is on my list but down at the bottom I'm afraid.
I'd not thought about doing cutting's from the Rosemary. Thanks for the offer to send me cuttings, I guess I could do some from the newer shoots from mine. I borrowed some Thyme from the gdn were OH is working and stuck them in yesterday, they'll either go or not. And where I have a bonfire there is an old Sage growing. Oooooh you've set me off now 
