Herbs (not the colorado kind ;) )

[NariaDreaming]

Ok,

Someone talk to me about herbs. I always manage to kill them. Thoroughly.


Does anyone here grow from seeds? Should I just plan on buying some starts from the local nursery?


What kind of container do you grow them in?


I'd like to not kill them this year

[octoberstars]

I cannot for the life of me keep basil alive. I think I had a nutrients problem last year. Do herbs need more nitrogen than other plants?

I also cannot keep cilantro from bolting. It goes from seed to bolt before I can even get a salsa made. WTF cilantro, how do you even grow in Mexico? I am in new england so heat shouldn't be a problem!

I've had good luck getting bail and cilantro to sprout from seeds by just throwing them in a planter outside, I just can't keep them alive once they get more than a few inches tall.

[NariaDreaming]

Feb 5, 2015 9:50:51 GMT -5 octoberstars said:

I cannot for the life of me keep basil alive. I think I had a nutrients problem last year. Do herbs need more nitrogen than other plants?

I also cannot keep cilantro from bolting. It goes from seed to bolt before I can even get a salsa made. WTF cilantro, how do you even grow in Mexico? I am in new england so heat shouldn't be a problem!

I've had good luck getting bail and cilantro to sprout from seeds by just throwing them in a planter outside, I just can't keep them alive once they get more than a few inches tall.

Yep. That's about where I'm at.

On the upside at least you get coriander out of the situation

[mlal78]

I grow my herbs in the vegetable garden and they have always been fine. I always have monster sized basil plants. For the basil you have to pinch it off right where it starts to flower so that it isn't utilizing too much energy with the flowering. This will also keep them from getting tall and leggy. After they flower it apparently changes the taste.

Does cilantro flower or does it grow like parsley? Maybe keep an eye out for any flowers and pinch it off if they do?

I buy the parsley and the basil as small plants, and my chives are perennial.

[4furrypaws]

I have had a bugger of a time over the years with them as well...

[allie1079]

I'm so excited this board is here!

I've usually had a lot of success with basil but last year it was really sickly. There was something going around in our area affecting the plants. In my experience, oregano, dill, chives and mint are fairly easy to grow. Especially mint, it grows like crazy and seems pretty hardy.

Looking forward to learning from this board!

[ProfessorChaos]

Cilantro has been booted from my garden for the bolting reason. I think it's one you're supposed to plant TONS of in waves, then just harvest as soon as it has the usual sets of leaves. It does not, IMHO, merit the space.

Basil is one that thrives on some neglect. It likes HEAT, not too much water, and as much sunlight as you can give it. Under no circumstances should it be allowed to flower, as mlal78 said. It will lose all interest in leaves after that. I don't think it's picky about soils, but I always grow it in well-amended beds. As allie1079 said, there was some fungus going around last year that damaged crops. Really hoping that doesn't happen again this year, as I'm already out of freezer pesto, which is NOT okay.

I grew all herbs from seed last year, but the perennials could be bought as plants. We have/had basil, Thai basil, oregano, thyme, mint (that was a plant start), rosemary, sage, cilantro (byebye), parsley, chives (came with house), and lemongrass (forgot to bring it in last year, so it's dead now). DH built me an herb bed in 2012, so all this is in there. I think every single one of these could be grown in pots, too, but all of them like full, blazing sun.

[4furrypaws]

When I have parsley I use it on my pups food to help their doggie breath!

[silentsara]

I grow my annual herbs in boxes on my deck railing. Basil has to be pinched off as soon as it looks like it's going to flower. Cilantro is a total PITA, but I love the stuff so I keep fighting with it. Basil and cilantro I start from seed every year, I guess in waves, so I keep it going all summer. My oregano, thyme, rosemary, etc are all so established they winter just fine here in the ground. I *think* I just bought starters for them.

Does anyone have ideas for drying herbs for use later?

[BJ Dealer]

From the sounds of it, it wasn't just my fault for my cilantro being a pain! I think maybe I will skip that one. I grew basil last year and will probably do it again!

[rubysi]

My understanding of cilantro is that once it is mature the weather hits a certain temperature it is done. I think you need to replant to get more. I never need to replant parsley or chives they reseed On their own, rosemary,sage, and mint survive the winter. I have them planted in a couple different planters. I have 3 beds that are 8x4 and a couple made of urbanite.

[rosetyler72]

Feb 5, 2015 12:41:58 GMT -5 4furrypaws said:

When I have parsley I use it on my pups food to help their doggie breath!

This looks so gourmet! Spoiled dogs you've got there.