Witch Tip #118 For Sunday, April 7
Before you give anyone a gift, cleanse and charge the object you are gifting with positive energy and luck for the recipient. Two gifts in one!
–Witch Tips : The Essential Guide to Contemporary Witchcraft
A. Rayne
Author: ladyoftheabyss
Spirit Message of the Day – Live in Truth, Create Honor
Spirit Message of the Day – Live in Truth, Create Honor
Today, the Cyclamen flower brings us a message of truth.
“There are different levels of honesty in life and we can all be masters of disguise when it suits us best. The Cyclamen flower spirit is calling us to embrace the essence of truth in our lives and become clearer about who we are.”
“As Shakespeare once wrote: ‘Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive’. Life is far more complicated if we pretend to people and make things up as we go along, because we have to remember what we said and to whom we said it. If we can get beyond the need to cover up aspects of ourselves that we feel are inadequate, then we are released from a heavy weight of deception. The more we open our hearts to others, hiding nothing and showing our vulnerable real side, the simpler life will become.”
MESSAGE FOR YOU
“The time may be right to look at your past or some area of your life that you have tucked away and ignored. It may be that you have not been completely honest with yourself about how you felt or feel in a particular situation or relationship, for example. Be brave, dare to look and witness how honest you are. This tiny, shy flower awakens a new possibility for you to reveal yourself truly on many levels. It offers you a rewarding opportunity to step into a new way of behaving, that will influence your every moment from now on.”
When we choose to live in truth, we create honor for ourselves and give it to others around us. Repeat Aloud: “Today, I dare to be honest and speak my own truth.”
Today’s message is from The Flower Spirit Cards by Melanie Eclare.
Originally published on Spiritblogger’s Blog
Home & Hearth Magick for Sunday, April 7
Home & Hearth Magick for Sunday, April 7
On Sunday, work for success, healing and blessings.
Planetary Influence: The Sun
Household Symbols: A rooster, a sun, gold jewelry
Colors: Yellow and gold
Kitchen Spices: Cinnamon and orange peels
–Cottage Witchery: Natural Magick for Hearth and Home
Author: Ellen Dugan
Sunday is Ruled by the Sun
Sunday is Ruled by the Sun
Sunday corresponds to the sun, our closest star. This day is full of wonder and all sorts of magical potential for success, wealth, and fame. Sundays are for personal achievements of any kind such as working towards a promotion at your job, seeking fame and wealth, or being acknowledged for a job well done. All of these goals fall under the golden influence of the sun. Some suggestions for Sunday enchantments would include:
Sitting outside at sunrise and calling on the goddess Brigid for illumination and inspiration
Wearing gold jewelry or clothing that is gold or sunshine yellow to pull some color magic into your life
Arranging a few sunflowers in a vase and empowering these “flowers of the sun” for fame and ambition
Gathering up the common marigold flower and scattering it’s petals about to encourage prosperity
Baking up a batch of cinnamon rolls for the family and enchanting them for health and success
Snacking on a solar fruit, the orange, and enjoying the magical boost it brings to your life
Correspondences for Sunday, April 7th
Correspondences for Sunday, April 7th
Magickal Intentions: Growth, Advancements, Enlightenment, Rational Thought, Exorcism, Healing, Prosperity, Hope, Exorcism, Money
Incense: Lemon, Frankincense
Planet: Sun
Sign: Leo
Angel: Michael
Colors: Gold, Yellow, Orange and White
Herbs/Plants: Marigold, Heliotrope, Sunflower, Buttercup, Cedar, Beech, Oak
Stones: Carnelian, Citrine, Tiger’s Eye, Amber, Clear Quartz and Red Agate
Oil: (Sun) Cedar, Frankincense, Neroli, Rosemary
The first day of the week is ruled by the Sun. It is an excellent time to work efforts involving business partnerships, work promotions, business ventures, and professional success.
Spells where friendships, mental or physical health, or bringing joy back into life are an issue work well on this day, too
The Witches Almanac for Sunday, April 7th
The Witches Almanac for Sunday, April 7th
Motherhood and Beauty Day (Armenian)
Waxing Moon
Moon Phase: First Quarter
Moon Sign: Taurus
Incense: Marigold
Color: Gold
–Llewellyn’s 2019 Magical Almanac
Charlie Rainbow Wolf
Sunday’s Magickal Associations
Sunday’s Magickal Associations
Taking its name from our closet star, the Sun, Sunday is the best day of the week to work magical involving fathers and other authority figures such as your boss. It is also a good day to work on questions regarding leadership, money, prosperity, and power.
Color: Yellow, gold
Planet: Sun
Deities: Brighid, Helios, Ra, Apollo
Crystals: Quartz, diamond, amber, carnelian
Herbs: Marigold, sunflower, cinnamon
Associations: Success, promotion, fame, wealth, prosperity
On Sunday, April 7th, We Celebrate…
On Sunday, April 7th, We Celebrate…
Romanian Water Offering
COVENTINA
Themes: Wishes; Water; Purity; Innocence
Symbol: Water
About Coventina: This British/Celtic goddess of sacred water sources flows with the Blajini (water spirits) to enrich our life with clarity and virtue and to answer our heart’s desires. In works of art she is depicted as a water nymph floating on a leaf while holding vessels teaming with water. Customary offerings to encourage Coventina’s favor include pins, votives, coins, and semiprecious stones.
To Do Today: In this region of the world, water spirits are called Blajini, or “gentle ones,” because they kindly reward people who give them an offering (much like wishing wells in Europe). These are citizens of the Coventina’s fairy realm, whose motivations are pure and guileless. To keep the Blajini happy and encourage Coventina’s sanction, present a special offering to them while whispering your hopes and dreams. Go to any fountain (perhaps one at the mall) and toss in a coin. The Blajini will bear the coin and the wish to Coventina for manifestation.
For personal clarity or to inspire principled actions in a situation in which you might be tempted to be a proverbial “bad witch,” start the day off with a glass of water. Recite this incantation over it before drinking:
Coventina, keep my magic pure; within my spirit let goodness endure.
Repeat this phrase throughout the day anytime you have water.
–365 Goddess: A Daily Guide To the Magic and Inspiration of the goddess
Patricia Telesco
The Goddess Book of Days for Sunday, April 7th
The Goddess Book of Days for Sunday, April 7th
Ching-Ming, Pure and Bright festival in China, the Chinese All Souls Day dedicated to Kwan Yin. Also a day of Goddess Antu or Anatu, mother of Ishtar. Third day of the Megalesia of Cybele in Rome.
Goddesses Associated With Sunday
Sunne, Sol, Frau Sonne, Aditi, Igaehindvo, Amaterasu, Arinna, Izanami, Ochumare
–The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein
The Wicca Book of Days for April 7th
The Wicca Book of Days for April 7th
In France, a children’s springtime festival takes place on this day. Miniature pine boats, each holding a burning candle, are cast into the estuaries of the Moselle River to symbolize the “sea of life” and the happiness of sailing its sacred waves.
–The Wicca Book of Days
Gerina Dunwich
Today is Sunday, April 7
Today is Sunday, April 7
Traditionally, Sunday is the first day of the week. It is also known as the Lord’s Day from it original association with the Lord, that is, the Sun God, personified as Helios, Apollo, Ogmios, Mithras, and St. Elia. But in the Northern Tradition, the sun is seen as feminine, personified as the goddess known as Phoebe in East Anglia and Saule in eastern Europe. The sun rules the conscious element of the human being, the ego, the real self, and Sunday is the day on which this conscious power is at its most effective.
Deity: Sol
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Planet: Sun
Tree: Birch
Herb: Snakeroot
Stone: Ruby
Animal: Lion
Element: Fire
Color: Gold
Rune: Sigel
Celtic Tree Month of Fearn (Alder) (March 18 – April 14)
The Runic Half Month of Ehwaz (March 30 – April 13)
Goddess of the Month Rhiannon
—The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick
Sunday: Do not get disappointed
Sunday: Do not get disappointed
Would you guess what planet is associated with this day? Easy, isn’t it? You can object that the Sun is not a planet. You are right. It is a star.
Do not get disappointed that you are not meeting any god. For ancient cultures, the Sun and its daily cycle were crucial because their lives depended on its light and warmth making it possible to grow plants and get rid of the fear of the nightly shadows. Every morning, they were afraid the great gold sphere would not rise up in the heavens again. So the Sun was mostly understood as an incarnation of their most important deity and they were begging it with their prayers to come back the other day.
In many Romance languages, Sunday is called the Lord’s Day (Domingo in Spanish, dimanche in French, domenica in Italian: based on the Latin expression Dies Dominica) since this was the day when the God started his one week creation feast.
Sunday–The Day of the Sun
Sunday–The Day of the Sun
Among all peoples in early times the sun was an object of wonder. It was to them a mystery, but although they could never understand it, they imagined many explanations of it. When we remember that in those long-ago days nothing was known of the rotation of the earth or of its movement round the sun, we can readily see how very real the movement of the sun must have seemed. But if it moved across the sky it must be a chariot, for it was in chariots that all men travelled quickly, while none but a god could ride across the sky.
The nature of the sun may have been difficult to understand, but the comforts and the benefits which it brought to men were plain to all. It was a kindly god who gave the earth warmth and light, who ripened the crops and the fruit and made them serviceable to man, who clothed the trees with leaves and scattered the fields with flowers. It is little wonder then that in all parts of the world men worshiped the sun, and the god whom they pictured in their imagination was all the more real to them because of the great worh he performed.
We have seen how the Greeks and Romans worshiped the sun as Apollo, the god who set out each day when the Gates of the East had been opened by the Goddess of the Dawn, and, driving his chariot across the sky, dipped down into the oeean, where a boat awaited him to bring him back. Apollo was the most beautiful of the gods, as befitted the giver of light and happiness, and was worshiped throughout those sunny lands of the South. On the Island of Rhodes, off the coast of Asia Minor, stood one of the Seven Wonders of the World, a statue of Apollo. It was known as the Colossus of Rhodes on account of its size, for it was 100 feet high, the fingers of the god being as long as a man. It was placed at the entrance to a harbour, and remained in position for nearly sixty years, and was then (224 B.C.) overthrown by an earthquake.
The principal temples of Apollo were in the Island of Delos, and at Delphi in Greece, and it was at this town of Delphi that the great Pythian Games were held every four years in honour of the god. The games were so called because Apollo was believed to have slain at Delphi a dragon called Python.
The sun’s daily journey, his contest with the darkness, and his final victory at the dawn of the new day are ideas which have led to endless stories, and we find these stories are very similar among different peoples. Ra, the great sun-god of Egypt, was pictured as travelling by day in a ship across the waters of the sky, and returning during the night through the kingdom of the dead. To the Egyptians Ra was a symbol of life, death, and a new birth or resurrection. Through the night Ra fought with the lord of the powers of darkness, a huge serpent, who awaited the sun in the west with a band of demons, and whom he overcame at the approach of dawn. Ra was always represented either as a hawk or as a man with a hawk’s head, with the sun on his head. The hawk was chosen as his symbol, because it was said to fly towards the sun.
In India the sun was worshiped as the god Agni, who rode in a shining chariot drawn by blood-red horses. He was golden-haired, and had a double face, seven tongues, and seven arms.
Among the gods of the early British who were driven into Ireland was the sun-god Nudd, or Ludd, as he was sometimes called. His name appears in Ludgate, and it is thought that his temple stood on what is now Ludgate Hill in London. At a town called Lydney, in Gloucestershire, the remains of a temple to Ludd have been found, with many inscriptions containing his name.
The Angles and Saxons imagined the sun to be carried in a chariot driven by a maiden named Sol, as we shall read later. They had no god whom we can describe exactly as a sun-god, but several of their gods were like the sun in many ways, particularly Frey, whose sword sent out rays of light like the sun, and who caused the crops to ripen, and Balder the Beautiful, the God of Light, who was the favourite son of Odin, father of the gods, and was, as his name shows, the most handsome of the gods, ever happy and light-hearted. His golden hair and his bright, clear eyes shone like the sun, and his radiant smile warmed the hearts of all who met him. He knew no thought of evil, but was “good and pure, and bright, was loved by all, as all love light”.
In spite of his lovable nature, however, Balder was destined to misfortune through his twin brother, Hodur, the God of Darkness, who was the exact opposite of his brother, for he was gloomy and silent, and suffered from blindness. Odin, through his great wisdom, knew that disaster was to come to Balder, and spared no effort to stave off the evil day, by making all things in creation swear that they would never harm the God of Light. This they were only too ready to do, and all made a solemn vow, with the one exception of a shoot of mistletoe, which was passed over as being too slight a thing ever to cause harm to anyone. Balder being now free from all possibility of hurt, the gods one day amused themselves by shooting and throwing at him, laughing gaily as the objects they threw fell short or turned aside. Now Loki, the God of Fire, was bitterly jealous of the God of Light, and, as he watched the sport, his evil nature prompted him to a cruel and cowardly deed. Having discovered that the mistletoe alone of all created things had made no promise, Loki hastened to the gate of Valhalla, where the mistletoe was growing and plucking it, by the help of his magical power quickly fashioned from it an arrow. He then returned and sought out Hodur, who, because of his blindness, was standing idly aside and taking no part in the sport. Loki pretended to take pity on him, and fitting the arrow to a bow which he placed in Hodur’s hands, he offered to aim the shaft for the blind god. Aided by Loki, Hodur let fly the fatal arrow, and, to the horror and amazement of the gods, Balder fell dead. The anger of the gods against Hodur knew no bounds, and they would have killed him had it not been for their own law, which forbade the shedding of blood in Asgard, the home of the gods. All Asgard was plunged in the deepest grief, and Hermod, the messenger of the gods, was sent to Hel, the Goddess of the Underworld, praying her to restore Balder to life. Hel consented to do so, on condition that all created things should weep for Balder. Messengers were at once sent out over all the world to bid all things weep for Balder. Living creatures, trees, and flowers, and even the stones shed tears for the god they had loved so well; but at last a giantess was found whose only reply to the messengers was “Let Hel keep what she has”. Thus the evil Loki, for he it was in the disguise of a giantess, showed once again his cruel hatred of Balder, and caused the whole earth to mourn the loss of the radiant God of Light.
The gods now prepared for the burial of Balder. As was the custom among the Northmen, fuel was piled on the deck of Balder’s ship Ringhorn, and the body was then laid on the funeral pyre. The sides of the ship were decorated with rich cloth and garlands of flowers, and swords, armour, drinking-vessels, and many other things which the gods valued, were placed beside the hero. A torch was then put to the fuel, and the ship was launched. The funeral pyre floated slowly towards the west, the rising flames lighting up sea and sky, until at last, like the sun itself, it sank slowly into the sea, and all light faded from the sky
A Very Glorious & Beautiful Sunday Morn’ To All Our Brothers & Sisters of The Craft!
RESOLUTION OF A WITCH
May I be as the one who weaves the cloth in a forest, deep hidden.
May I sit at the work, uninterrupted.
And may I remain an outcast, if that is what it takes.
May I know the seasonal procession in my spirit and in my body,
Celebrate cross quarters, solstices and equinoxes.
May each Full Moon find me looking upwards,
At trees outlined in luminous sky.
May I hold wildflowers.
May I cup them in my hand.
May I then release them, unpicked,
To live on in abundance.
May my friends be of the kind who are at ease with silence.
May they and I be innocent of pretension.
May I be capable of gratitude.
May I know that I was given joy, like mother’s milk.
May I know this as my dog does, in her bones and blood.
May I speak the truth about happiness and pain,
In songs that sound of the scent of rosemary,
As everyday and ancient, kitchen-herb strong.
May I not incline to self-righteousness or self-pity.
May I approach the high earthworks and the stone circles as fox or moth,
And disturb the place no more than that.
May my gaze be direct and my hand steady.
May my door be open to those who dwell outside wealth and fame and privilege.
May those who have never walked barefoot never find the path that leads up to my door.
May they be lost on the labyrinthine journey.
May they turn back.
And may I sit beside the fire in winter and see in the glowing logs what is to come.
Yet never feel the need to warn or to advise, unasked.
May I sit upon a plain wooden chair, in true contentment.
May the place where I live be as the forest.
May there be track ways where there are caves and pools.
Trees and flowers, animals and birds are all known to me and revered, loved.
May my existence change the world no more nor less,
Than the gusting of winds, or the proud growth of trees.
For this, I go in cast-off clothes.
May I keep faith, always.
May I never find excuses for the expedient.
May I know that I have no choice, and yet still make the choice.
As the song is made, in joy, and with consideration.
May I make the same choice every day, again.
When I fail, may I know forgiveness for myself.
May I dance naked, unafraid to face my own reflection.
~From The Wiccan Path by Rae Beth
A Little Humor for Your Day: Top Ten Reasons Why Beer Is Better Than Religion
Top Ten Reasons Why
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Today’s Extra: Survival Guide for Empaths and Highly Sensitive People
Survival Guide for Empaths and Highly Sensitive People
By: Jordyn Cormier
Being an empath or a highly sensitive person (HSP) in the modern world ain’t easy. Everyone is stressed—and empaths and HSPs are the emotional sponges, soaking it all up.
WHAT IS AN EMPATH?
To clarify, being a empath doesn’t just mean you care and feel for other people. It means you actually feel their emotions in your body. It can be sometimes difficult for true empaths to discern whether an emotion they’re experiencing is their own or someone else’s—which can be incredibly overwhelming and depleting.
While being highly sensitive to the needs of others can be a truly wonderful quality, it takes some dedicated effort to manage. It’s ironic that empaths are so good at being there for other people and making others feel better—but it’s often to their own emotional and energetic detriment.
Empaths can easily become oversaturated with emotions, leading them to believe they are depressed, ill or flawed in some way. But that’s not usually the case. A sensitive person just needs time to recenter.
SURVIVING AS A HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON OR EMPATH
If you’re an empath, you really need to prioritize your self care. Here are a few basics that every highly sensitive person should have in their toolkits.
Practice breathwork
You know that dramatic friend you have who is always in a crisis? As an empath, it’s important to realize that they can be an energy suck—no matter how much you love them. If, while spending time with them, you can feel your energy being drained, focus on your breathing.
Holding your breath only allows negativity to fester and grow, so breathe deeply to ground yourself. Maybe also treat yourself to a little time out. Take a stroll around the block, a reprieve in the quiet bathroom or a relaxing drive to get away from the contagious drama.
Create physical space between yourself and perceived negativity.
Social situations can be really challenging for HSPs and empaths. Highly empathetic people deeply experience others’ negative energies. In fact, they tend to absorb them.
If you find yourself at a party in a conversation with energy-sucker, make an excuse to take a walk outside to balance and reground yourself. Then, keep your distance as much as you can for the rest of the event.
Social situations are already challenging enough. Create a bubble of safe, positive space around yourself to hold onto your own energy.
Know your boundaries.
As an HSP or empathic person, you probably tend to try to help people in need, no matter what. But when it comes to being there for people and sharing your positive energy, don’t be an overgiver—it’ll only deplete you.
Be polite, but let people know when you’ve reached your limits. Yes, you want to be there for the other person, but you need to honor your needs.
Try to become aware of when your emotional energy is reaching critical levels, and prioritize yourself. Place your oxygen mask on before assisting the person next to you.
Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’.
You simply can’t always be there for everybody. You need to prioritize your own needs, too. So practice saying no.
For instance, one day you’re wiped, but a friend wants to grab a drink and talk about their absolutely horrible day at work. Be polite and honest. Say, “Sorry your day was so rough, but I can’t tonight. I can grab coffee tomorrow and talk all about it, though.” You could even suggest that maybe it’s best for your friend to stay in, take a hot bath, and treat themselves, too!
Saying no isn’t mean. It’s being open and honest. You need to make time for your own needs, too.
Being a highly sensitive person means you need to guard yourself a little more than others. Your powers of sensitivity are a wonderful gift that can really benefit those around you, but you want to make sure that you are not suffering as a result. It may be tough for you, but start putting yourself first.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac for April 6th: A KITCHEN HERB GARDEN
A KITCHEN HERB GARDEN
A kitchen herb garden can be simple or ornamental, blended with decorative flowers or combined with other edibles. Herbs will thrive in pots on the patio, in raised beds, and in plots-even on a sunny windowsill. The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden-Fresh Cookbook lists the best herbs to grow!
A Kitchen Herb Garden
The following herbs have a range of culinary uses:
Basil, an annual, grows 1 to 2 feet tall in moist soil. Encourage bushy growth by pinching off flower buds. Pick the leaves often, from the top. Use them with pasta, vegetable dishes, soups, salads, and oils or vinegars.
Chive, a perennial, grows 12 to 24 inches tall in moist soil. Harvest the hollow, grasslike leaves in the spring by snipping them close to the ground; they will soon grow back. Chives enliven rice, cheese dishes, eggs, vegetable dishes, dressings, sauces, and dips.
Cilantro/Coriander, an annual, grows 6 to 30 inches tall in light soil and full sun to partial shade. Pick the leaves (cilantro) sparingly when the plant stands 4 to 6 inches tall. Pick the aromatic seeds (coriander) when they ripen. Use leaves and flowers raw in salads and cold vegetable dishes, and the seeds in pastries, custards, confections, and meat dishes.
Dill, an annual or biennial, grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Harvest the leaves when the flowers begin to open; collect the seed heads when they are dry and brown. Use the leaves with soups, seafood, salads, green beans, potato dishes, cheese, and sauces, and the seeds for pickles.
Mint, a perennial, grows 1 to 3 feet tall in moist soil and partial shade. (Mints can be invasive. To prevent spreading, plant them in pots.) Harvest young sprigs and leaves frequently for a bushy plant. Use fresh or dry leaves and stems with roast lamb or fish and in salads, jellies, or teas.
Oregano, a tender perennial, grows 1 to 2 feet tall and tolerates poor soil. Harvest leaves when young and use in any tomato dish. Try it also with beans, mushroom dishes, potatoes, and summer squashes, or in a marinade for lamb or game.
Parsley, a biennial, grows 12 to 30 inches tall in partial shades. Leaves can be curly or flat, depending on the variety. Cut or pinch the leaves as needed. Use fresh in soups, salads, and sauces or as garnish for anything.
Rosemary, a tender perennial, grows 4 to 6 feet tall in neutral to slightly acidic soil. Gather leaves and sprigs as needed for use with vegetables or in lamb, poultry, and tomato dishes; breads and custards; and soups and stews.
Sage, a perennial, grows 1 to 3 feet tall in well-drained soil. Pick the leaves as needed for use in soups, salads, stuffings, cheese dishes, and pickles. Its strong flavor makes it excellent for salt-free cooking.
Thyme, a perennial, grows 12 to 18 inches tall in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Harvest the tops of the plants when they are in full leaf. Use the leaves, fresh or dried, in casseroles, stews, soups, and ragouts, and with fish, potatoes, green vegetables, and eggs.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
This new corner of Almanac.com will feature news, information, and cool stuff from The Old Farmer’s Almanac and its family of publications.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac for April 6: GROWING HERBS IN THE GARDEN
GROWING HERBS IN THE GARDEN
Growing herbs in containers or a small space is so easy—and who likes paying for a package of herbs from the grocery store every time you need a few sprigs or leaves.
If the meals at your house have been a little bland, fresh herbs can make a huge difference in flavor; they are considered the mark of a serious cook and are essential ingredients in many culinary classics.
In late spring, garden centers offer a wide selection of herb plants making it easy for you to start an instant herb garden. Or, many annual herbs like dill or cilantro are easy to grow from seed. Having trouble deciding what to grow? Take a look in your cupboard and start with the herbs you already like to use. Once you have become a seasoning pro, you can branch out and add some new herbs to your repertoire.
BEST HERBS TO GROW
Annual herbs such as dill, basil, cilantro, and summer savory are easy to grow from seed. The plants last for one season only so grow plenty of extra to dry or freeze for use over the winter. Once you get used to their flavors you won’t want to cook without them.
Biennial herbs such as parsley and caraway can be started from seed also. They will grow well the first year and come back the second year when they will bloom and set seeds. Then the original plants will die.
Perennial herbs include Greek oregano, thyme, sage, winter savory, chives, and mint. Once established in your garden these plants will increase in size and come back every year.
Tender perennial plants such as tarragon, rosemary, and stevia need to be grown in pots so they can spend the winter indoors. Put the pots outside as soon as the weather warms in the spring.
It is fine to have your herbs scattered throughout the landscape—many are as attractive as they are useful—but it is easier for you to harvest them if they are all in one or two spots. You can spend a lot of time planning an elaborate herb garden if you like but you don’t have to. A sunny corner close to the kitchen door is an ideal location and will make it easier for you to step out and snip what you need for the meal you are making.
A small space is all you need to grow a gourmet herb garden but if space is really limited or even non-existent, culinary herbs grow well in containers. Use window boxes, hanging baskets, or a whiskey barrel to grow a mini-garden of kitchen herbs.
Even though I have large patches of culinary herbs in the garden, I always keep a hanging pot of rosemary, thyme, oregano, summer savory, and basil growing just outside the back door. Since it is so convenient I find myself using those herbs in my dishes more often and the fresh flavor makes a huge difference in my otherwise plain cooking. When the weather gets cold, I bring the pot indoors and keep it going in a sunny kitchen window. It doesn’t get much handier than that!
TIPS TO GROWING HERBS
Herbs are forgiving plants and will grow in less than ideal conditions.
- Drainage is the most important thing to consider since many herbs do not like wet feet.
- The soil does not have to be overly fertile. In fact, if herbs are over-fertilized they tend to be less flavorful.
- Most herbs grow best with at least six hours of sun a day.
- When planting, give the perennial herbs room to grow. It may look a little bare at first but they will expand to fill the space. Crowded plants compete with each other for nutrients and water and can be difficult to harvest. Air circulation is important for healthy growth, especially during humid weather.
- Herbs respond well to regular pruning and when you clip them often to use, you’ll be encouraging fresh new growth.
The season for bumper crops of fresh produce is approaching fast! Be ready by growing the herbs necessary to flavor your world and spice up your life!
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Get inspired by Robin Sweetser’s backyard gardening tips and tricks. Robin has been a contributor to The Old Farmer’s Almanac and the All-Seasons Garden Guide for many years. She and her partner Tom have a small greenhouse business and also sell plants, cut flowers, and vegetables at their local Farmer’s Market.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac for April 6th: STARTING SEEDS INDOORS
STARTING SEEDS INDOORS
WHEN TO START SEEDS INDOORS
Starting seeds properly can make or break your entire growing season! Here’s are some tips that include when to start seeds, which seeds to start indoors, and how to do it.
WHY START SEEDS INDOORS?
- Mainly, people start seeds indoors in order to get a jump on the gardening season. Doing so allows you to gain a few weeks of growing time, which can really matter in regions with short growing seasons.
- If you want to grow a lot of plants, buying packs of seeds is usually cheaper than buying young seedlings from the nursery.
- While some nursery plants are grown really nicely, others are poor quality. When you plant your own seeds, you have control over the way the baby is raised. This may be especially important if you are an organic gardener.
- Finally, there isn’t always a great selection of plants at nurseries. When you plant from seed, you have a much wider choice of varieties, tastes, and textures—and you can experiment with new ones, too.
WHICH SEEDS SHOULD YOU START INDOORS?
Consult the table below to see which crops are typically started indoors, which are typically started outdoors, and which can be variable. (Note that gardeners in warmer climates will be able to start more crops outdoors than gardeners in colder climates.)
| Start Indoors | Start Outdoors | Variable |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | Beets | Beans |
| Brussels Sprouts | Carrots | Celery |
| Cabbage | Corn | Kale |
| Cauliflower | Garlic | Spinach |
| Eggplant | Okra | |
| Lettuce | Onions | |
| Peppers | Peas | |
| Pumpkins | Parsnips | |
| Swiss Chard | Potatoes | |
| Tomatoes | Radishes | |
| Watermelons | Squash/Zucchini | |
| Sweet Potatoes |
BEFORE YOU START SEEDS
- Be seed-savvy. Obtain seed catalogs from several companies and compare their offering and prices. Some of the regional companies may carry varieties better suited to your area.
- Make a list of what you’d like to grow. A good rule-of-thumb is to imagine your garden one-quarter the size that it really is. This allows for good spacing practices! See Vegetable Gardening for Beginners for popular beginner vegetables.
- Prepare for some losses. Though it’s good not to plant too much for your garden space, it’s also good to assume that some of your seeds won’t germinate, or that they will inexplicably die off later. Plant a few extra, just in case.
- Consider a grow light if you start in late winter. Most veggies need 6 to 8 hours of direct sun, so it’s important to have a grow light if you are sowing your vegetable seeds indoors in late winter. A grow light will also keep your seedlings from getting too leggy. Learn more about using grow lights.
- Team up with a neighbor and share seeds if you have leftovers!
- Use clean containers. Most seed catalogs offer seedling flats, peat pots, and other growing containers, but egg carton compartments make good containers, too. Be sure to poke holes in the sides near the bottom of the containers you use in order to allow excess water to drain.
- Label your containers now! There’s nothing more frustrating than forgetting what you planted.
WHEN TO START SEEDS
- We’ll get right to the answer: Just check our Planting Calendar, which lists when to start your vegetables and herbs indoors. We’ve created a customized tool, based on your zip code!
- As a general rule, most annual vegetables should be sown indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost in your area.
- Don’t start your seeds too early, especially tomatoes. Wait until six weeks before your last frost date to start tomato seeds.
HOW TO START SEEDS
- Fill clean containers with a moistened potting mix made for seedlings. Use soilless peat moss and mix in equal parts vermiculite and perlite to hold enough water and allow oxygen to flow. Don’t use regular potting soil, as it may not be fine enough for seeds to root through properly. Pre-formed seed starters (such as Jiffy pellets) work well, too.
- Plant your seeds according to the seed packet. Most seeds can simply be gently pressed into the mixture; you can use the eraser end of a pencil to do so. When planting seeds, plant the largest seeds in the packet to get the best germination rate.
- Cover containers with plastic to keep them from drying out too quickly. Poke a few holes in the plastic with a toothpick for ventilation.
- Water newly started seeds carefully. A pitcher may let the water out too forcefully. A mist sprayer is gentle but can take a long time. Try using a meat-basting syringe (turkey baster), which will dispense the water effectively without causing too much soil disruption.
- When seedlings start to appear, remove the plastic and move containers into bright light.
- When the seedlings get their second pair of leaves, prepare individual pots filled with a potting mix with plenty of compost. Move the seedlings carefully to the new pots and water well. Keep seedlings out of direct sun for a few days, until they’ve had a chance to establish themselves in their new pots.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- You may have to soak, scratch, or chill seeds before planting, as directed on packet.
- Seeds sprout best at temperatures of 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C).
- Find a place in the kitchen where there is natural bottom heat—on top of the refrigerator or near the oven are good spots. (Move the tray if the oven is on, as it may become too hot!)
- If you keep your seedlings next to a window, remember to rotate the containers every so often to keep the seedlings growing evenly. If you’re using a grow light, remember to raise it a few inches above the tallest seedling every couple of days.
MOVING SEEDLINGS OUTSIDE
Before transplanting seedlings to your garden, you’ll first need to do something called “hardening off.” This will prepare the seedlings for the harsh realities (i.e., climate) of the outside world!
- During their last week indoors, withhold fertilizer and add water less often.
- Seven to ten days before transplanting, set the seedlings outdoors in dappled shade that is protected from winds for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their exposure to full sun and windy conditions. This is the hardening-off period.
- Keep the soil moist at all times during this period. Dry air and spring breezes can result in rapid transpiration. If possible, transplant on overcast days or in the early morning, when the sun won’t be too harsh.
Watch our video on hardening off for more info:
After the hardening-off period, your seedlings are ready for transplanting. Here are a few tips:
- Set transplants into loose, well-aerated soil. Such soil will capture and retain moisture, drain well, and allow easy penetration by seedling roots.
- Soak the soil around new seedlings immediately after transplanting.
- Spread mulch to reduce soil moisture loss and to control weeds.
- To ensure the availability of phosphorus in the root zone of new transplants (phosphorus promotes strong root development), mix 2 tablespoons of a 15-30-15 starter fertilizer into a gallon of water (1 tablespoon for vining crops such as melons and cucumbers), and give each seedling a cup of the solution after transplanting.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac for April 6th: WHEN TO START SEEDS: NOT TOO EARLY!
WHEN TO START SEEDS: NOT TOO EARLY!
HOW TO KNOW WHEN TO START SEEDS
The seeds are rolling in, and if you are as eager to get the garden party started as I am, it is hard to refrain from starting them too early. When should you start your seedlings?
There is always some debate about when is the best time to start seeds indoors. If you plant seeds too early, you need to be prepared to keep potting them up into bigger pots.
Here in New Hampshire, I run a plant business with my partner and Memorial Day is usually our biggest weekend for selling plants. So, we gear our seed starting to have the plants looking their best then. As soon as I get my new calendar in January, I turn to May and mark Memorial Day weekend as our end date. Then, I number each Saturday back from there into February; 15 weeks is when we begin, and as the season gets busy, we even do some planting on Wednesday—hence the half weeks. As the seeds roll in we sort them by the number of weeks recommended on the packets.
Every location is different, but here’s an example of the way we plant:
- Week 15 – Gazania & calibrachoa. We want these plants to be blossoming by the end of May.
- Week 13 – Onions, shallots, and slow-germinating perennials.
- Week 12 – Petunias & ‘Profusion’ zinnias.
- Week 11 – Impatiens & more perennials.
- Week 10 – Parsley, thyme, coleus, last of the perennials.
- Week 9 – Eggplant, snapdragons, cleome, hollyhocks, dahlias.
- Week 8 1/2 – Peppers. We grow about 50 varieties, so they get a start day of their own.
- Week 8 – Cole crops, asters, stevia, salvias, nicotiana, and other slow to start annuals.
- Week 7 1/2 – Basil, cilantro & dill.
- Week 7 – Tomatoes. This is another marathon planting day, since we grow over 80 varieties.
- Week 6 – Marigolds, cosmos, zinnias, lettuce, and fast starting annuals. Vines are planted in individual peat pots so they don’t get their roots disturbed after they germinate.
- Weeks 4 & 5 – Cukes, squash, melons, and sunflowers (get started in individual pots instead of the community flats)
For your planting dates, look at your local last frost date and use that as your end date.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has an online planting calendar based on your last frost date, which makes it really easy to figure out when to plant what.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER (OR EARLY)
It is best to err on the side of caution if spring is usually slow to arrive where you live. To avoid having leggy weak transplants, it is better to sow seeds a little late than it is to sow them too early. Younger, vigorously growing transplants will make the transition to the garden much more successfully than spindly, overgrown ones.
Bear in mind that small seeds usually take a lot longer to germinate than big ones, but germination time is usually on the packet. There might be a few seeds that need special treatment before planting so look for that when you are sorting them. You don’t want to find out at planting time that the seeds needed a month in the fridge first. Been there, done that!
If you haven’t ordered your seeds yet, it’s not too late!
Also, are you using the Almanac’s Garden Planner tool? It’s amazing and free for the first week—enough time to plan out a garden and give it a go.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Get inspired by Robin Sweetser’s backyard gardening tips and tricks. Robin has been a contributor to The Old Farmer’s Almanac and the All-Seasons Garden Guide for many years. She and her partner Tom have a small greenhouse business and also sell plants, cut flowers, and vegetables at their local Farmer’s Market.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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