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Elizabeth
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We've made beds out of 20 cubic yards of dirt  . I've waited nearly a week...But now, I think it's time to put some veggies and herbs inthe ground before showers tomorrow night. So, I think we'll head to the nursery after chores are finished this afternoon. Does anybody have anything on the veggie/herb must buy list? Anything should avoid?? The herb bed is HUGE! I can't wait to plant  .
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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JennGM
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My list of herbs is long...but I pick what I use in cooking or use in other things. Lavender, rosemary, thyme, oregano, flat leaf parsley, sage, chives, basil. If your herb garden area is so huge, you can have different varieties of the same herb.
I like growing mint, but it spreads everywhere, so you have to confine it somehow or it will overtake your flowerbeds.
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Lissa
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I ditto all of Jenn's suggestions, plus cilantro. We are mad for cilantro. Can't get enough.
Also on my lazy-gardener's list (only kind of gardening I can manage these days, er years): cherry tomatoes.
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marihalojen
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JennGM wrote:
| I like growing mint, but it spreads everywhere, so you have to confine it somehow or it will overtake your flowerbeds. |
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Place mint in a clay pot inside the bed to somewhat control the runners. Or play to its strengths and use it in the walkways if its a creeping style or in an area where nothing else will grow or you don't want to mow (like the side of a hill=dangerous)
I always planted some beside the porch or steps where ever I lived for one simple reason. A scene in the Anne-with-an-e books where she is sitting on the steps running her hand through the mint to release the fragrance in the night. It was just as lovely in my real life as in my reading life.
And if all else fails and the mint escapes and rampages through your garden just be brutal and pull it up and stomp it in the ground somewhere else. You can't hurt it if you keep it a bit moist.
Other herbs:
Nasturtiums grow easily from seed
Lots of basil for that yummy tomato basil mozzarella salad
Dill (either seed or plant and it might self-seed for next year)
Edible Marigolds (Lemon Gem, seed or plant)
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Hmm... here's what I have in my herb garden...
LOTS of basil for pesto 
Lavender (make sachets and dream pillows with the kids) both English and French
Chives, both garlic and regular (need it for new potatoes)
valerian... I have dreams of one day using the root  but the flowers look and smell pretty
Lemon Balm (IN a pot ladies... it spreads too)
Peppermint (in a pot)
Spearmint and catmint in a small area of their own
Monarda (Bee Balm) for the hummingbirds
thyme (because I can't live without it in cooking)
Sage (likewise)
Rue (herb of grace)
Motherwort (I dont recall why I wanted it, but it growns EVERYWHERE so dont forget to deadhead the flowers!!)
Dill and fennel (not for the caterpillars which love them but because I liked the seeds... good for gripe water for babies)
Tomatoes
Green beans
Lima beans
Corn (eventually... we're a little late)
Potatoes (from eyes in the kitchen)
Santolina (decorative)
Anise (like the smell)
horseradish (this year it will be old enough to get some root)
I have a foxglove because I love the flowers
A mullein because it was on my list
OK now the list is long enough.
I have only to add ROSES which should be in every herb garden
Hope you get some good ideas from here!
(parsely and cilantro are still waiting for me... )
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Dawn
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| Posted: May 04 2006 at 1:49pm | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
| The herb bed is HUGE! I can't wait to plant . |
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Elizabeth, I'm so excited for you! What fun you and the children will have gardening all summer! Lots of material for Blossoms and Bees. 
We are working on a much smaller gardening scheme. Some things will go in the Mary garden and some things will go in containers on the deck. A few things will go against the back fence.
Here are some of the things we have planted or hope to plant:
lavender*
marigolds
roses
mint*
tomatoes (some cherry for the kids, some plum for the sauce)
Kentucky Wonder beans*
zucchini
miniature pumpkins*
nasturtiums*
sunflowers!!* (seeds for the birds come fall  )
basil* (2 kinds)
Hummingbird mint*
catnip*
sage*
cilantro
bee balm*
raspberries* (red and gold)
Gosh, this list is longer than I realized! I've starred the things we have already (plants or seeds). The rest are on the honey-dew list.
Please let us know what you end up planting!
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JennGM
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I figured out what plant I have in my flower box...phlox. That makes a nice border, and there are different colors.
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Magnificat
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We have Rosemary, mint, sage, lavender, parsley and gold raspberries. We even have flowers on our raspberries already! Last year, they came in late!!!
Charlotte
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MacBeth
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Lissa wrote:
, plus cilantro. We are mad for cilantro. Can't get enough.
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I am totally with Lissa on this necessary herb. Plant it today!
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MacBeth
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| Posted: May 05 2006 at 7:26pm | IP Logged
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Oh, and plant thyme and read The Time Garden. The play on words is great, but the story is better.
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MacBeth in NY
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Elizabeth
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MacBeth wrote:
Lissa wrote:
, plus cilantro. We are mad for cilantro. Can't get enough.
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I am totally with Lissa on this necessary herb. Plant it today! |
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Not yet. We're supposed to have a cold snap this weekend. And then rain on Monday, which will delay the second dirt delivery, too. We did get the hardy herbs in this morning, but my faithful blogger left the unfinished entry in the draft folder. She's got what my calls "  fresh air poisoning ." They will all sleep well tonight.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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JennGM
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marihalojen wrote:
JennGM wrote:
| I like growing mint, but it spreads everywhere, so you have to confine it somehow or it will overtake your flowerbeds. |
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Place mint in a clay pot inside the bed to somewhat control the runners. Or play to its strengths and use it in the walkways if its a creeping style or in an area where nothing else will grow or you don't want to mow (like the side of a hill=dangerous) |
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Jen, does it have to be a clay pot?
marihalojen wrote:
I always planted some beside the porch or steps where ever I lived for one simple reason. A scene in the Anne-with-an-e books where she is sitting on the steps running her hand through the mint to release the fragrance in the night. It was just as lovely in my real life as in my reading life.[/url]
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I've been thinking of this and did it over the weekend. One side of my porch is perfect for this. Thanks for the lovely visual, Jen!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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marihalojen
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The clay helped with drainage I believe as it is porous, if it is heavy soil where drainage is an issue you could knock the bottom out of any pot but on the other hand if it is a dry area and you wanted to keep the soil moist about the roots plastic would do so.
And actually, you know there is a big push to use clay pots from magazines (looks better in the lay-out, I guess) but the only purpose of the pot is to corral the roots and runners and the pot is buried mostly so recycling another pot that you already have (A big one a tree or rose or tomato came in...) would be cool. And plastic pots are usually dark green or black so will blend nicely with dirt and foliage. But plastic does disintegrate over time becoming brittle, so if you are thinking years down the road, clay may be better. But if you like to move plants about every so often, keep recycling the plastic pots!
There, nice long ramble of an answer with no clear solution!
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marihalojen
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I can picture you and your son on the porch with the scent of mint wafting through the air!
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~Jennifer
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JennGM
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marihalojen wrote:
I can picture you and your son on the porch with the scent of mint wafting through the air!
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Yes. I also planted Lavender in the front bed...I'm a sucker for the scent of herbs in the air. Last garden I just would go and touch the lavender, oregano and thyme to breathe the wonderful scents.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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~Rachel~
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JennGM wrote:
Yes. I also planted Lavender in the front bed...I'm a sucker for the scent of herbs in the air. Last garden I just would go and touch the lavender, oregano and thyme to breathe the wonderful scents. |
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You, me and my kids Yes... the 2 y.o. can now identify Lemon Balm and she knows to brush the foliage... my DS loves to pick mints and give them to me... I like to plant the scented herbs right at the path so you can brush them as you walk past... a great excuse for long skirts
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materdei7
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Least we forget about the lovely chamomile...great for
relaxing teas and small bouquets for small hands. Hardy and a recurrent for the seasons that follow!
Feverfew is also pretty....with daisy-like flowers.
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materdei7
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Forgot to add this....last season we planted lemon cucumbers.
They look like yellow baseballs, but are actually very
yummy cucumbers....great for salads with lots of vinegars and herbs!!!
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JennGM
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materdei7 wrote:
Least we forget about the lovely chamomile...great for
relaxing teas and small bouquets for small hands. Hardy and a recurrent for the seasons that follow!
Feverfew is also pretty....with daisy-like flowers. |
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I love how chamomile looks. I don't put in my garden because it's in the ragweed family to which I'm highly allergic.
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Herb and veggie recommendations??
