Advice On Herbs

Erysichthon

Well-Known Member
im going to grow a lot of different herbs this year and ive never grown any before. parsley, thyme, oregano, cilantro, basil, rosemary. that sort.

i could use any tips from experienced herb growers.

gonna start em in peat pods. anyone think this is bad idea? after that they will go in 8inch pots or maybe a bit bigger.
 

Dr. Greenhorn

Well-Known Member
i would just get starters from the nursery and put them into thoose rectangle type containers made for herbs.i wouldn't bother with the peat pods.. :)
 

Erysichthon

Well-Known Member
well ive already bought peat pods for an upcoming indoor grow. actually started soaking seeds last night and into peat a couple ours ago. as well ive baught 7 packs of seeds so i may as well do it.
 
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fureelz

Guest
peat pods as in the jiffy pellets? (expand with water) Those are great to start those types of herbs in.
 

lozac123

Well-Known Member
i always start my herbs form seed. fill a small pot with potting compost, then tap it down, add a few seeds, and sprinkle a layer of compost over the top.
when big enough i then transplant into bigger pots or into the ground.

if youre after an easy way of growing fresh herbs, like dr green said, buy the plants from a nursery.

all the herbs you said iv grown from seeds with great germ results. its said parsley sometimes can be a prob, but iv never found it hard to germ.
good luck!
 

Erysichthon

Well-Known Member
yeah its the expandable peat pods, ive got some of the herbs started, i hope in goes well. thanks for the replys
 

MrFishy

Well-Known Member
Freezing parsley seeds briefly (fake winter) helps in seed germination, per some article I read years ago.
I guess it's supposed to be a hard herb to grow from seed?
 

lozac123

Well-Known Member
its supposed to be, but i found it rele easy. boiling water and watering the soil with that 10 mins b4 you sow the seeds is supposed to make it easier too.
 

cunningham19

Active Member
Advice about herbs and information about herb gardening.


Herbs have been used for centuries - and still are still being used - in this country any many other parts of the world for all sorts of reasons. We offer advice and information about growing and using herbs - in your cooking and medicinal uses. Herb gardening is once again gaining in popularity as we move away from synthetic drugs and chemicals.


Never forget that we (mankind) got as far as we have by using herbs for eating and healing. There was no National Health - or even easy access to doctors until after 1940. We got that far with the use of herbs! In the days of 'conversation' Advice and information about herbs was freely available and handed down through generations. As other forms of communication have developed, and modernization has been the 'Go word' Herbs have lost some of their importance in the western civilizations.


Herb seeds have been discovered in late stone age settlements, and the Chinese described medicinal plants and herbs from as early as 3000 BC - that's five thousand years ago. We probably owe our very survival in no mean part to the knowledge base of advice and information about herbs that was built up thousands of years ago. Much of that herbal advice and information, has been preserved by folklore and written word over the centuries. We aim to re-discover that database of herbal knowledge, and put it to good use.
Even animals - or at least those fortunate (?) enough not to have access to a vet - use herbs (plants) to cure themselves of all sorts of ailments! Surely we are as clever as these animals.
The growing and use of herbs is shrouded in mystique - probably as a result of historical uses by witches, and witch doctors. Read the information we have here and follow our advice about herb growing and we should be able to dispel some of the mysteries that surround Herbs and Herbals!
Even if grown just as 'Plants' there should be room for a wide range of herbs in any garden - or patio container. Help is here on this site as we develop our database of knowledge of advice and information about herbs.
 

akgrown

Well-Known Member
there are several varieties of basil to grow that add a different flavor to foods ie: pinapple basil, lemon basil, lime basil, purple basil google search them.
 

Erysichthon

Well-Known Member
things are going good. i had to leave them home alone for 2 days. was worried about the peat pods drying out but they were fine in the little greenhouse.

the basil is all sprouted. chives, oregano, thyme and cilantro are all starting to sprout. still waiting on both parsleys and rosemary. here are a few pics of em
 

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Higher Education

Well-Known Member
Looking good. One thing I have learned about Rosemary is that it likes rather dry roots and it performs better when its not in direct sunlight. Also, I can't remember if you eventually plan on transplanting outside but lavender, sage, and Rosemary all assist each other with nutrients and rooting if planted outdoors in the ground or in one container if you ever plan on getting sage or lavender (smells great by the way). Lemon Balm is another good herb. It can relieve naesea and menstrual cramps. Good luck.
 

Erysichthon

Well-Known Member
thanks for the info. im thinkin about planting outdoors, probably in 8 inch pots. the soil in my area is mostly just red mud. 8 inch will do for these?

i have some pods with multiple seeds started as well. should i split these sprouts up or will the be fine with 2 or 3 in 8"?
 

Higher Education

Well-Known Member
Which sprouts are you talking about splitting? I wouldn't have more than one Rosemary and one basil plant in a single pot. If given enough light, they will grow to a decent size in one season. If you planned on having them for multiple seasons you would probably never be able to transplant them out of a pot if their roots are graphed together. So planting one per pot or killing off the weaker sprouts later on would probably be a good idea, at least for those two plants.
 

Erysichthon

Well-Known Member
the only ones i have goin solo are the cilantro, oregano, and italian parsley. the others are mostly singles but some have 2 and i even started 3 of the chives together. and i had 3 rosemary in one too. i guess ill thin them out or split the peat pod when i transplant. im headed to town now to get some more pots for transplanting. are there any i could or should leave with 2 per pot. and ill be growing all i can multiple seasons. maybe even try to take em all into multiple seasons by bringing them inside and keep em alive.

thanks
 

Higher Education

Well-Known Member
the only ones i have goin solo are the cilantro, oregano, and italian parsley. the others are mostly singles but some have 2 and i even started 3 of the chives together. and i had 3 rosemary in one too. i guess ill thin them out or split the peat pod when i transplant. im headed to town now to get some more pots for transplanting. are there any i could or should leave with 2 per pot. and ill be growing all i can multiple seasons. maybe even try to take em all into multiple seasons by bringing them inside and keep em alive.

thanks
Rosemary and basil are the only two herbs that I am familiar with enough to give qualified advice on, sorry. Maybe try wikipedia. I do know that the density of the root mass of a given plant will closely correspond to the density of the above ground foliage. Any thin, tall, lanky herb will do better with a roommate (pot/ container mate) than a thicker, densers one. Hope that helps a little.
 

Dfunk

Well-Known Member
I've grown enough Basil to give some advice on it. I grew some inside & outside, in different sized containers, under 24 hours light, & ran several other experiments with growing Basil. I even grew three 7/8 inch tall Basil plants in a container the size of a of a coffee cup. They were healthy as well. What I can tell you is this...Basil does not like temps below 50F at all, it does enjoy direct light all day(especially real sun), grows very fast, picking the leaves often will encourage growth(bushier), spider mites love basil...they will destroy it quickly left unchecked. The roots don't need much space although the more they have the better, water like you would a tomato or cannabis plant...allow the soil to dry between waterings.
 
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