I had to take a break talking about the herbs we will grow this year to talk about spring. I want to make sure I write this down! Since Januay, I have been declaring to anyone who will lsiten; "It will be an early spring this year!" Now I am not just saying this because I wish it to be true. I have evidence!
(1) I saw robins in January. While I hear everyone marveling at seeing their first robin in early March, I stopped my car and watched 3 robins on my neighbors lawn in January 2010. This is March in Wisconsin people.
(2) My dog is shedding an unusual amount. I swear she has shed her weight in dog hair in the past 3 months.
(3.) Those nasty beetles are back. Oh they look all cute like a lady bug, but I am not fooled.
(4) The spiders are on the OUTSIDE of the house, not just lurking in the corners where I failed to dust.
(5) And finally, I have the ultimate proof! I walked out to the garden and to my surprise many of my herbs were green and growing. Garlic as high as 6". Oregano, Thyme, Lemon Balm - all green. Parsley is everywhere and beautiful. Even the raspberry bushes have new beautiful growth.
Yes, despite the forecast of snow in the next few days, I am convinced of an early spring. I hope mother nature protects my early plants.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
More about the Herbs
Over the next few days, I will take 3 herbs each day and tell you a little bit about them. You will want to keep in mind how tall each herb grows, and how far apart they need to be planted. When you get a minute, take a piece of paper and sketch your garden area. If you plan to use pots, or tuck your herbs between current landscaping, it will still be helpful to make yourself a few notes. Note where the sun is in your garden at different times of the day. Do this many times during the spring and summer keeping notes and sketches in your garden journal.
Chamomile: You will commonly find German Chamomile and Roman chamomile. I use German Chamomile. It can grow to a height of 2 -3 feet. You can scatter the seeds in your garden after the last frost, or start the seeds inside. Chamomile likes full sun to partial shade. German Chamomile is not a perennial but will reseed . Roman Chamomile grows lower to the ground and will return each year. Chamomile is easy to grow. Chamomile will attract bees and butterflies. Plan about 12-18 inches apart. Chose either type.
Chamomile has calming effects and is wonderful in tea. Try a cup of Chamomile tea before bed. It has a slight apple-like taste. Chamomile also has properties that are good for the skin.
Cilantro: If you like cilantro, you will want to plant it continuously throughout the growing season. I use it quickly and I also want to allow some to go to seed (coriander) for harvesting. Plant it about every 2 - 3 weeks. Plant your seeds a 4” – 10” apart. You may need to thin if they all come up. Cilantro will grow best in full sun, however, from the middle of July through August, tuck it behind some taller plants for partial shade. Choose an area where it gets the morning sun but is shaded in the hot afternoon sun. Cilantro can bolt – quickly turn to seed- especially in the middle of summer if exposed to full sun the entire day - my first year, I harvest very little of the wonderful green cilantro greens believing it absolutely need full sun.
At first I had trouble getting my cilantro seeds started until someone shared this technique. Wet a few paper towels and place on a plate or platter. Place a dozen or so cilantro/coriander seeds on the wet paper towel. Fold the wet towel over the seeds and place the plate in a warm place such as a sunny window sill or on top of the refrigerator. After several days the seeds will sprout. Transfer them to a growing medium. Don’t worry, we can do that together.
Lavender: I purchase my lavender from a nursery. You may be able to find some at your local farmer’s market. I have tried lavender from seed, but have not had good luck. I am in growing zone 5, so I am hoping my lavender comes back, I will let you know. Luckily, I have friends who grow lots of lavender and have wonderful luck with it coming up each spring. The lavender I have in my garden is hidcote lavender, a very dark lavender. Lavender will grow about 15 – 24 inches. It makes a nice border. I planted mine about a foot apart.
Chamomile: You will commonly find German Chamomile and Roman chamomile. I use German Chamomile. It can grow to a height of 2 -3 feet. You can scatter the seeds in your garden after the last frost, or start the seeds inside. Chamomile likes full sun to partial shade. German Chamomile is not a perennial but will reseed . Roman Chamomile grows lower to the ground and will return each year. Chamomile is easy to grow. Chamomile will attract bees and butterflies. Plan about 12-18 inches apart. Chose either type.
Chamomile has calming effects and is wonderful in tea. Try a cup of Chamomile tea before bed. It has a slight apple-like taste. Chamomile also has properties that are good for the skin.
Cilantro: If you like cilantro, you will want to plant it continuously throughout the growing season. I use it quickly and I also want to allow some to go to seed (coriander) for harvesting. Plant it about every 2 - 3 weeks. Plant your seeds a 4” – 10” apart. You may need to thin if they all come up. Cilantro will grow best in full sun, however, from the middle of July through August, tuck it behind some taller plants for partial shade. Choose an area where it gets the morning sun but is shaded in the hot afternoon sun. Cilantro can bolt – quickly turn to seed- especially in the middle of summer if exposed to full sun the entire day - my first year, I harvest very little of the wonderful green cilantro greens believing it absolutely need full sun.
At first I had trouble getting my cilantro seeds started until someone shared this technique. Wet a few paper towels and place on a plate or platter. Place a dozen or so cilantro/coriander seeds on the wet paper towel. Fold the wet towel over the seeds and place the plate in a warm place such as a sunny window sill or on top of the refrigerator. After several days the seeds will sprout. Transfer them to a growing medium. Don’t worry, we can do that together.
Lavender: I purchase my lavender from a nursery. You may be able to find some at your local farmer’s market. I have tried lavender from seed, but have not had good luck. I am in growing zone 5, so I am hoping my lavender comes back, I will let you know. Luckily, I have friends who grow lots of lavender and have wonderful luck with it coming up each spring. The lavender I have in my garden is hidcote lavender, a very dark lavender. Lavender will grow about 15 – 24 inches. It makes a nice border. I planted mine about a foot apart.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Let's Select the Herbs to Plant
Now that we know what we want to do with our herbs, we can select the herbs to plant. The herbs we need to complete our list of projects are a variety of common, well known herbs. In the following few posts, we will learn a little more about each herb.
The herbs we will need: Calendula, (even if you don't use Calendula, it is pretty and so easy to grow,) Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbana, (you don't need both- it is up to you), Thyme or Lemon Thyme, Basil, (I use sweet basil), Rosemary, Mint (You can select the variety you prefer.), Lavender, Sage, Dill, Oregano and I'm tossing in Feverfew as an extra that I will be adding to my garden this year. If you like mexican food, you may want to also add cilantro. It is one of my favorites, but I find Cilantro is an herb that people either love or hate. I also like it because it's a 2 for 1. You plant your seeds, and harvest the leaves as cilantro. Then you enjoy the pretty white flowers, and when they go to seed, you harvest the seeds as coriander. Bonus!
If this is your first garden, let's keep in mind the cost. We will want to do this economically. Some if not most of our herbs can be planted either in pots or in the ground. One thing they will need is full sun. Think about where you will plant your herbs, or place your pots.
Some of your herbs will fit nicely tucked into your landscaping. Calendula produces pretty yellow and orange flowers. It grows to about 18" - 24" tall. As the flowers open up, we will begin harvesting, the flower heads, but I found that I had plenty of blooms so some were left to just enjoy the color.
If you plan to use pots. Start looking around your house. Think out of the box. See that old pair of boots? Could that be a planter? Search your garage and your basement. When spring hits we all know there is a garage sale on every corner. Keep your garden in mind and shop for bargains.
You also want to watch for sales at your local plant shops, nurseries, home and garden centers. Look for seeds to purchase. We will start some of our herbs from seeds and I will show you an easy way to make newspaper pots. We want to re-use and recycle whenever possible. And don't through away those plastic vinegar bottles! We may need them for a small 'greenhouse'.
The herbs we will need: Calendula, (even if you don't use Calendula, it is pretty and so easy to grow,) Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbana, (you don't need both- it is up to you), Thyme or Lemon Thyme, Basil, (I use sweet basil), Rosemary, Mint (You can select the variety you prefer.), Lavender, Sage, Dill, Oregano and I'm tossing in Feverfew as an extra that I will be adding to my garden this year. If you like mexican food, you may want to also add cilantro. It is one of my favorites, but I find Cilantro is an herb that people either love or hate. I also like it because it's a 2 for 1. You plant your seeds, and harvest the leaves as cilantro. Then you enjoy the pretty white flowers, and when they go to seed, you harvest the seeds as coriander. Bonus!
If this is your first garden, let's keep in mind the cost. We will want to do this economically. Some if not most of our herbs can be planted either in pots or in the ground. One thing they will need is full sun. Think about where you will plant your herbs, or place your pots.
Some of your herbs will fit nicely tucked into your landscaping. Calendula produces pretty yellow and orange flowers. It grows to about 18" - 24" tall. As the flowers open up, we will begin harvesting, the flower heads, but I found that I had plenty of blooms so some were left to just enjoy the color.
If you plan to use pots. Start looking around your house. Think out of the box. See that old pair of boots? Could that be a planter? Search your garage and your basement. When spring hits we all know there is a garage sale on every corner. Keep your garden in mind and shop for bargains.
You also want to watch for sales at your local plant shops, nurseries, home and garden centers. Look for seeds to purchase. We will start some of our herbs from seeds and I will show you an easy way to make newspaper pots. We want to re-use and recycle whenever possible. And don't through away those plastic vinegar bottles! We may need them for a small 'greenhouse'.
Friday, March 12, 2010
How Will We Use Our Herbs?
It's time to decide just what to plant in the herb garden. Before that decision is made, we should decide how to use the herbs that are grown. As I was asking others how to get my first herb garden started, they kept asking me - "How are you going to use them?" As my knowledge on herbs was limited, that was a difficult question to answer.
Before I suggest to you what to grow, I would like to list some ways to use herbs. From the list of uses, my garden plan will begin to develop.
I think what comes to mind for most people is the culinary use of herbs. That was certainly my first motivation for having an herb garden. I wanted to cut down on salt in cooking, but I did not want to give up flavor. I was hoping to add flavor with herbs. So first on my list is using herbs in recipes/cooking/baking. Let's make some herbal vinegars. The garden will supply lots of fresh herbs to use throughout the summer as well as extra herbs to dry for next winter.
Along with using herbs in recipes, some of the herbs from my garden can be used for herbal teas. Did you know you can use herbs fresh or dried in your tea?
Infusions, decoctions, tinctures....oh my! Didn't your grandmother have a favorite home remedy? Many herbs are very good for you, and easy to use. How about an herbal salve? Did you know that some herbs are good for your skin? You can use herbs to make herbal baths, herbal lip balm, herbal lotion and other bath products with simple ingredients from your herb garden and your kitchen.
And we cannot forget the herbs used for potpourri, a sachet for our linen closet or drawers.
It's time to start choosing the herbs to grow for the following uses:
Cooking
Herbal Vinegars
Herbed Butters
Herbed Sugars
Herbed Salts
Baking
Herbal Teas/Infusions
Herbal Baths
Lip Balm
Herbal Salve
Potpourri
Linen Mist
Linen Sachet
Poultice
Compress
Before I suggest to you what to grow, I would like to list some ways to use herbs. From the list of uses, my garden plan will begin to develop.
I think what comes to mind for most people is the culinary use of herbs. That was certainly my first motivation for having an herb garden. I wanted to cut down on salt in cooking, but I did not want to give up flavor. I was hoping to add flavor with herbs. So first on my list is using herbs in recipes/cooking/baking. Let's make some herbal vinegars. The garden will supply lots of fresh herbs to use throughout the summer as well as extra herbs to dry for next winter.
Along with using herbs in recipes, some of the herbs from my garden can be used for herbal teas. Did you know you can use herbs fresh or dried in your tea?
Infusions, decoctions, tinctures....oh my! Didn't your grandmother have a favorite home remedy? Many herbs are very good for you, and easy to use. How about an herbal salve? Did you know that some herbs are good for your skin? You can use herbs to make herbal baths, herbal lip balm, herbal lotion and other bath products with simple ingredients from your herb garden and your kitchen.
And we cannot forget the herbs used for potpourri, a sachet for our linen closet or drawers.
It's time to start choosing the herbs to grow for the following uses:
Cooking
Herbal Vinegars
Herbed Butters
Herbed Sugars
Herbed Salts
Baking
Herbal Teas/Infusions
Herbal Baths
Lip Balm
Herbal Salve
Potpourri
Linen Mist
Linen Sachet
Poultice
Compress
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
You Want an Herb Garden - Now What?
So you decided to try herbs...now what? I remember when I first knew I wanted an herb garden, but didn't have a clue where or how to start. No problem, right? Just get a book.
Now there are many good books to get you started, but what I wanted was a simple plan for a real beginner-STEP BY STEP. The books I found went into so much detail about soil and damping off, and how to propagate, knot gardens, formal gardens, planting by color, WAY more information than I wanted, and somewhat intimidating for the real novice.
Plan B: Just ask someone who grows herbs. Again, there are many knowledgeable people out there. Actually very very knowledgeable. They met my questions with questions. What herbs do you want to grow? How do you want to use them? Where will you be planting them? I didn't want to tell them those were the same question I was asking. I had no idea where to start.
And although my first motivation was to use herbs in cooking, I knew that herbs are good for you in so many ways, and have many uses... I wanted to learn more but didn't know where to start.
I was back to square one not knowing what to do. Determined not to get discouraged, armed with my books and the internet, I decided to give it a go. My first year consisted of a few herbs in pots, and although they grew readily, other than looking quite nice on my patio, and getting tossed in few dishes in the kitchen, they didn't get much use.
Over the next fews year, I learned more. And although I am not an expert, I hope I can help someone else get started growing and using herbs. This blog is going to be a plan and journal on a beginners herb garden. I will suggest a few herbs to start in your garden. We will grow them together. We will harvest them together and learn to dry them. But most importantly, we will have a plan on how to use the herbs.
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