I have never done this before, well not a garden anyway.

I have grown herbs in pots on my kitchen window sill but they always seem to die off so quickly. (these have been the ones from the supermarket in pots)
Can anyone suggest where to go for the herbs, what are the best ones to get and do I plant straight into the soil or in pots?

Also if anyone could recommend any good books to read

Thanks

I made a herb garden out of those potted herbs from the supermarket, if you leave thm in the pots they die off quickly but if you plant them they take off well. I used normal potting soil for mine

Hi,

I have had luck with oregano, mint, parsley, sage, rosemary, lemon balm and sorrel (although I'm still not sure what to do with the latter). My dill died but I know others have had success with it. In my experience Basil is best grown in the kitchen, I repotted one from the supermarket. I've given up on coriander.

I'm not sure you're just thinking of cooking but I have also grown lavendar and valarium in pots outside.

Yeah, basil seems to like somewhere warm and sunny and sheltered, and thrives on the kitchen window sill.

Mint tends to go a bit crazy if put straight in to the soil, and can take over a small patch. We put it in pots alongside the herb garden to keep it under control - it seems to do alright. Sage and thyme are quite woody little plants, and can grow quite tall, they don't seem to mind a good trim though.

Curly leaved parsley gorws well, but I've never been able to keep it going over the winter - so re-sow it every year. Chives are dead easy too - when the clump gets too big you can just chop it in half to reduce the size. I don't think you are supposed to let it flower (does it ruin the flavour or something?) but we do as it is so pretty.

You can buy herbs as seeds, or garden centre should have some of the more common ones. Best advice is to think about what kind of food you cook, and what would go well with it. We like basil, marjoram, sage, tyme, mint, chives and parsley. You don't need a lot of space, we use about 1m x 1m.

This was a useful email chain - I have tried transplanting my herbs out doors - particularly basil as I use that a lot in cooking but the basil always died - at least I know know it wasnt me.

thanks

Don't forget to keep the mint in the pot though - or it will take over!

I was in Burncross Nurseries today - and they have loads of herbs if you are still on the look out. Seemed reasonably priced - there was a really big range, hadn't heard of some of them! But they had all the standard ones too.

Burncross Nurseries are on Burncross Road, just behind the Jet garage.

http://www.pier55.com/Home-Garden/Start-Herb-Garden.shtml

I have never done this before, well not a garden anyway.

I have grown herbs in pots on my kitchen window sill but they always seem to die off so quickly. (these have been the ones from the supermarket in pots)
Can anyone suggest where to go for the herbs, what are the best ones to get and do I plant straight into the soil or in pots?

Also if anyone could recommend any good books to read

Thanks

I have found that herbs bought at a garden centre, establish better than those in pots from the supermarket. I have had success with Coriander, Fennel & Camomile. I adore Coriander fresh in salads, and I make Fennel or Camomile tea.I do like herbs which I know I am going to cut & use, and not just to leave in the garden.

We have had some success with herbs bought from the supermarket but as said above ones from garden centres usually do better. The mint we bought from the supermarket has taken over the herb garden and needs chopping every now and then. The sage, parsley, rosemary, thyme and chives all thrive in our little herb garden and were bought from various places including the supermarket.

I have found that herbs bought at a garden centre, establish better than those in pots from the supermarket. I have had success with Coriander, Fennel & Camomile. I adore Coriander fresh in salads, and I make Fennel or Camomile tea.I do like herbs which I know I am going to cut & use, and not just to leave in the garden.

How and where do you grow your coriander? I keep killing mine

Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.
I now know about leaving mint in the pot which I didnt before. Should have realised though as I have some growing wild in my garden already. This is what gave me the idea of the herb garden in the first place.
I definately want to grow lavender as I want to make lavendar bags. Am also interested in using herbs in cooking rather than salt and pepper for seasoning.

Might take a visit to Bunrcross Nursery this weekend. Does anyone know if there is a better time to plant herbs?

How and where do you grow your coriander? I keep killing mine

Grow it in pots in your garden any reasonably sunny spot should do,if you are growing it from seed don't go to the garden centre go to an asian shop they will sell you a huge bag of corriander seed for a pound and it grows very nicely.

Grow it in pots in your garden any reasonably sunny spot should do,if you are growing it from seed don't go to the garden centre go to an asian shop they will sell you a huge bag of corriander seed for a pound and it grows very nicely.


Thank you, I'll give that a go :)

Might take a visit to Bunrcross Nursery this weekend. Does anyone know if there is a better time to plant herbs?

I think you can just bung them in right now and they should take off - you'll be able to make a few cuttings this year, and they'll get a bit of growth in before the winter. Fresh herbs are great in homecooked food. They seem to taste different. And you can always hang some up to dry and then crush it, and use it anytime.

Whats the best way to dry herbs then?

How and where do you grow your coriander? I keep killing mine

I grow it in a pot in ordinary compost.

Whats the best way to dry herbs then?

We just tie a bunch up on a sunny kitchin window and wait until they've gone crispy - is that the best way to do it? I don't know! It seems to work.

Do you just store them in an air tight container once they're dry then?

Yeah. I just strip the leaves off the stalk, then crush them up and put them in one of those little herb jars you buy dried herbs in from the shops and feel quite smug!

can anybody offer any advice on my rosemary?

the leaves are starting to go a little yellow and they look a bit wrinkly.

at first i though perhaps it wasnt getting watered enough, but even watering it regularly doesnt seem to be doing the trick in plumping the leaves back out.

it is in a well drained pot so its not getting too soggy....i just dont know what to do to help it.


x

How long has it been in the pot? I've always planted mine out as it gets quite big.

How long has it been in the pot? I've always planted mine out as it gets quite big.

just under a year, although if im honest, it doesnt appear to have grown that much. could that be the problem, that it needs repotting?

id love to plant it out, but unfortunately my garden is completely tarmaced/concreted so i just have to make do with my pots.

it is a consideration for next year though to put a raised bed in...and ill be straight in here for some helpful tips and pointers when the time comes. :thumbsup:


x

Doesn't sound like it could be pot-bound, then. Have you tried tapping it out to check if anything is eating the roots? Bay also tends to get scale insects.

ill give that a whirl tonight and keep you posted.

if something is eating the roots, whats the best way to deal with the problem?

thanks,


x

http://weedfarmer.com/growing_guide/hydroponics.php

http://weedfarmer.com/growing_guide/hydroponics.php

what has that got to do with rosemary....other than its a 'herb':huh::rolleyes:


x

what has that got to do with rosemary....other than its a 'herb':huh::rolleyes:


x

Sorry, I wat taking the mick.
Rosamary will grow well in your garden though. We have a fair bit of it growing in ours.

if something is eating the roots, whats the best way to deal with the problem?x

Rinsing the roots in water until all old soil and pests are gone, then re-potting.

Well I've got my herb garden started. Have planted chives, flat leaf parsley, coriander (already starting to droop), basil, thyme and mint.
I've started off with small garden pots on my garden wall and will see how they go. See what you mean about coriander though as already it looks like its dieing off.

Wow the coriander has really come back to life and all I did was turn the pot so it was facing a different way!
A work colleague is going to bring me some cuttings too from her herb garden so things are really starting to look good :)
How long before I can start to use the herbs do you think?

Does anyone know if Lemon Balm is easy to grow?
I have IBS and someone has suggested drinking it as a tea.

Thanks

Lemon Balm ist really easy - just get some roots from an established clump. It likes partial shade and a bit of moisture, and the crushed leaves also make a very relaxing bath scent.

Just a quick update and a thanks to everyone who has given me advice.

My herbs are thriving, and I mean that! Already a couple look like I may need to find larger pots for them. A friend gave me some sage grown from seed, a tiny little cutting and already it must be a good 2 inches high.
I have some oregano coming on Monday from another work colleague.
I've used of the mint already with some new potatoes and plan to use some of the basil tomorrow.
Still after some lemon balm though!