|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 4, 2007 20:02:56 GMT
I have two tubs - 70 x 40 x 35 cms and I would like to plant them with herbs.
I think that I would get 5/6 plants in each tub and I would like to have herbs that will stand our winter temperatures which rules out Rosemary although I could put that in a separate pot.
Has any one got any ideas for me please - I must have Parsley, Chives and Garlic Chives, - but I could find room in the garden for the Parsley if need be.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 4, 2007 20:58:07 GMT
I've planted up my butler sink with different varieties of thyme RF, it smells gorgeous and looks lovely too ;D . The planting medium is at least 50:50 JI No3 and gravel as they don't like wet feet.
I've had a couple of tubs with rosemary, bronze fennel, sage and thyme in together...they looked lovely in the summer and survived the winter...but were in a v sheltered spot.
|
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Mar 6, 2007 7:23:29 GMT
Has anyone grown Tarragon - my favourite herb - I dont usually like to flavour my food with herbs as I think it takes the flavour from the food itself - but I do tend to use this in fish and chicken dishes sometimes - have two rosemary bushes but I never use them for food - just let them grow and flower  jenny |
|
|
|
Post by isabella on Mar 6, 2007 7:53:49 GMT
Hello Jenny, I grow French Tarragon - it is really easy I have it growing in a trough with other herbs - it comes back year after year |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Mar 6, 2007 8:01:23 GMT
I bought 2 Thyme, 3 Lavedar and 1 Parsley from B&Q yesterday, 3 for £5. All in 5" pots, very good value I thought |
|
|
|
Post by 4pygmies on Mar 6, 2007 9:43:41 GMT
If you get Tarragon RF, nake sure you get French T, not Russian as that is a huge messy shrub and no good at all for cooking. Apart from the Thymes which CPB has mentioned, how about Oregano (there are several smaller types which won't take over), Winter Savory, Cotton Lavender (no culinary use though but pretty), Mints (maybe in their own pot in the tubs!),Sage and as some annual/biennial fillers - Caraway, Marigolds, Summer Savory, Chervil, Sweet Marjoram or even Fenugreek?
|
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on Mar 6, 2007 11:26:22 GMT
hia Jenny! As advised, DON'T get Russian Tarragon. I grow my French tarragon in a pot and it comes back year after year. You shouldn't find it difficult!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 6, 2007 13:52:55 GMT
Thanks to you all - certainly some lovely ideas. I had intended planting some Bärlauch - the wild garlic until I read that it was so invasive. Using your idea 4P I suppose that I could put it in a pot in the tub and the same for some mint.
I am also leaning towards a Mediterranean tub - Oregano, Thyme, Marjoram and Sage etc and then in the other, Chives, Parsley, perhaps the Wild Garlic and Mint etc.
Is there anything that I should not be without, in anybody's opinion?
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on Mar 6, 2007 14:25:38 GMT
I really would urge you to steer clear of the wild garlic - it's overrunning our garden (was here when we moved in) and it's a nightmare just to keep on top of it, let alone eradicate it.
I'd suggest that you have the mint in it's own pot because it will take over, and don't plant different types of mint close together or they all revert to the basic one apparently.
You haven't mentioned Rosemary which I couldn't do without, and that too will grow nicely in a large pot for a few years. And corriander is good too - if you grow just a bit outside and let it mature, you can then harvest the seeds and grow your own as well as drying some of the seeds for cooking.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 6, 2007 14:57:25 GMT
If the wild garlic is so bad then I will leave it be Plocket. I can use garlic chives - that is good as well.
Rosemary - well the reason is that it would not last the winter. Having said that, if we really got a bad winter I doubt that much of the herbs would survive anyway so I might just as well add Rosemary to the Mediterranean pot and enjoy it for as long as I can.
Why do the different mint types revert back to the original if they are all planted together - that is certainly interesting to know?!
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on Mar 6, 2007 16:18:21 GMT
I'm not sure why they revert but it's something that a bloke from Jekka McVicar's herb place told me - I saw them at the Tatton Show and had a natter about mint, and he told me. In her "Complete herb book" Jekka writes "planted side by side they seem to loose their individual scent and flavour" but doesn't give any more detail other than the fact that mint readily hybridizes itself.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 6, 2007 17:16:12 GMT
I have some different mints each in it's own pot RF, and I bought some dill seeds yesterday to grow with other herbs in a pot...so many seeds...so little space ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 6, 2007 17:19:18 GMT
Well that is my problem - I really only have room for 6 (at a pinch) plants for each tub and there are so many things that I would love to use that it is stopping me doing anything at the moment.
Spoilt for choice really.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Mar 6, 2007 17:48:44 GMT
Thank you everyone I will definitely get the French Tarragon - another item to get from the G C ;D ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 6, 2007 17:59:00 GMT
Probably a very silly question but if there isn't a label around is there a way of telling the difference between the Russian and the French Tarragon?
I mean are the leaves a little bit different or is there any other sign that I can watch out for?
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Plocket on Mar 6, 2007 18:52:51 GMT
The plants should be labelled because they are different - French Tarragon is a half-hardy perennial whereas Russian Tarragon is a hardy perennial. To be quite honest you've probably got to be a bit of a herbist to know the difference although Russian has greener (less olive in colour) leaves and they are coarser than that of French Tarragon. When buying plants though they tend to be small so it's probably more difficult to see the difference. To be really safe, if the plants aren't labelled then I wouldn't buy them.
|
|
|
|
Post by 4pygmies on Mar 6, 2007 19:57:44 GMT
The only way to be sure when buying small plants is if they happen to be labelled botanically - Russian Tarragon is Artemesia dracunculoides and French Tarragon is Artemesia dracunculus. Not easy! Occasionally French Tarragon is labelled Estragon on those multi language labels...... I would ask the GC to specify and if they look puzzled, don't bother!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 6, 2007 20:04:07 GMT
Hi 4P
With the botanical names it is easy to make a mistake isn't it?
In Germany Tarragon is called Estragon actually, but does that automatically make it the French Tarragon I wonder?
I will write the botanical names down and take them with me just to be on the safe side.
Sue
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 13:28:14 GMT
Rosefriend, 4P mentions growing chervil: it is a lovely herb and not easily available in shops. As well as growing it outside in the summer, we have a pot of it on the kitchen windowsill - it's rampant and delicious with chicken and fish - cheers ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 7, 2007 13:35:12 GMT
Rosefriend, 4P mentions growing chervil: it is a lovely herb and not easily available in shops. As well as growing it outside in the summer, we have a pot of it on the kitchen windowsill - it's rampant and delicious with chicken and fish - cheers ... Now then that is something that I hadn't thought of - oh blimey there is no way that I am going to get all the plants that I would like into just those two tubs. I wonder if I can reduce the list of my summer plants and squeeze another couple of herb plants in........ RF |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 13:45:55 GMT
I grow chamomile and dry the flowers for tea, lovely apple-drop scent when you run your hand over the foliage.
I also grow (and use with)
Sage - anything roasted, epscially with pumpkin
Chives - chuck in salads
Thyme - use with chicken
Pot Marjoram - lovely chopped fresh with a cold pasta salad
Rosemary - for anything roasted
Mint (in a pot) - for feta parcels
Parlsey - use with fish and in soups
Fennel - leaves and seeds with fish/pork
Lavendar - intend to make lavendar sugar for baking
Coriander - salads and chicken dishes.
Rocket - saldas, grow like cut and come again leaves
I've more herbs than veg at the moment ;D.
Rosemary for me seems to survive the cold perfectly well, I'm in Leeds so quite far north.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 13:49:02 GMT
Paul, that's a lovely list . Rosefriend, have you thought of saving space by using something like a strawberry planter (tall planters allowing you to plant in the sides as well as top). We have a very small one in the kitchen and it grows four herbs - more than you could fit into a conventional pot of the same size ... cheers ... |
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 7, 2007 13:54:52 GMT
I have just read through Paul's list - thank you Paul - some marvellous ideas.
Well I must be mad but I gave my strawberry planter away last Spring to a neighbour that just had to have one. I am wondering if one of those 3 tiered thingys for the terrace would help so that I can have more pots.
I have absolutely no room in the garden except for some Parsley perhaps.
My list is getting longer and longer - must admit that it is fun though.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 14:02:42 GMT
Thanks Canary Creeper
A Strawberry planter is a very good idea, you can get plastic ones quite cheaply or pay a bit more for a clay/terracotta one. You could probably it a lot more in as well as you are growing upwards. A terracotta one would be harder to move around but would weather better than a plastic one.
Tarragon is something I want to try but for French you need to get a cutting (or buy a plant) as they either don't produce seed or don't grow well from it, can't remember which, it's taste is far superior to Russian Tarragon from what I have read. I've not been able to find a cutting or plant yet
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 14:20:20 GMT
Rosefriend, strawberry planters aren't easily available in Germany, are they? Could you get one from the UK by mail order, or could a friend bring one out? - the plastic ones on sale here are flat-packed (although, as Paul says, they're not as sturdy as the terracotta ones and certainly don't look as good). Paul, i got a French Tarragon plant late last autumn and I don't think it's survived the wet and cold  ... cheers ... |
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 7, 2007 14:28:35 GMT
Well I could kick myself that I gave my terracotta strawberry planter away. No we cannot get them so easily here and the plastic ones not at all.
I will have a look around - French Tarragon/Estragon plants by the look of it are easily bought - I have phoned the GC up - however I would rather have a look myself.......
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 14:58:59 GMT
Artemisia dracanculus is the scientific name for French Tarragon. I would double check it says that on the label somewhere to make sure you get the French instead of Russian. Apparently it needs some pampering to get it through bad winters. |
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 7, 2007 15:03:37 GMT
Well Paul as I don't have a greenhouse, unless I bring it inside there is no way that I would get it through the winter or Rosemary for that matter.
This winter was mild for us all, but minus 15 - 18 and more is fairly normal for us here in Germany.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 15:08:57 GMT
Well, if French tarragon was beaten by an Irish winter I don't think it'll have much chance in northern Germany - sorry Rosefriend! But, re. strawberry planter, check this out: www.mrmiddleton.com/shop/product.php?productid=315&cat=0&bestsellerI don't know if they deliver outside Ireland, but it's worth an e-mail to find out ... cheers ... |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 15:17:45 GMT
 I never thought it would get that cold in Germany. Minus 15, as a normal temperature. crikey. You could always grow Icebergs..... Yep, that was terrible, sorry! 
|
|
... cheers ...
