Tag: Amy Jeanroy

5 Herbs That Are Best Purchased As Plants

5 Herbs That Are Best Purchased As Plants

What Herbs Should I Buy Instead Of Starting From Seed?

By , about.com

Why, you might wonder, would someone want to avoid starting herbs from seed? This is such a great way to start your herb garden for pennies. Starting an herb garden from plants, is also a good way to start. In my garden, all the herbs that are purchased instead of started as seeds, fall under these areas:

  • They are fussy to start from seed (I am a busy, impatient gardener)
  • They don’t have a snowball’s chance of growing to any useful size in my zone (which is why a good nursery is always so important)
  • They are perennial, and I am only going to grow a single plant
  • I need to replace an established perennial

1. Rosemary

Rosemary is one of those herbs that demands attention. Unless living in a Mediterranean zone, Rosemary needs to be able to come and go in the outdoor environment according to the temperature. This is not as difficult as it seems. In my garden, my rosemary gets planted pot-in-pot, so I can move it inside when we get our endless rains, and back to the garden until the fall temperatures start to loom.Rosemary plants just make sense. They can be matched for size and shape, and if you (like me) kill one, it is simple enough to pop out and replace with a fresh, new plant.

2. Lemongrass

Lemongrass, and herbs like it, should be purchased as plants. They are fussy and sensitive to temperature fluctuation, so for many of us growing lemongrass would be nearly impossible.

Buy these as small plants, and enjoy them throughout the season. They tolerate sun to partial shade and make wonderful focal points. We buy trays of lemongrass, and keep them in the greenhouse. That way, they can be harvested all season without worry that our crazy Nebraska weather will harm a leaf.

Lemongrass is great when used right from the freezer, so grow some if you can find the plants. Once fall hits, bring them in and freeze whole.

3. Lavender

Lavender is such a beloved herb, it is frustrating for many gardeners to struggle growing it from seed. Although not impossible, why bother when there are so many plants available?

Buying lavender as plants, also allows you to select the varieties that are proven to grow well in your location. I also recommend buying a LOT of plants. Lavender always looks better in groupings, and buying them at the same time will ensure your plants are the same size.

4. Beebalm

Bee balm and other ornamental herbs, are best purchased as plants. Why take a chance on growing the wrong variety, or something that won’t thrive in your location? Ornamental herbs are the quintessential reason for shopping at nurseries to begin with. Choose plants that your nursery owner recommends. They will guide you to the colors, and types of plants that will have the best chance of survival.

5. Medicinal Herbs

Medicinal herbs, which for this article refer to actual herbs that are grown for their healing property, should be grown from plant unless the gardener is familiar with herbal medicine. There are many wonderful places to buy medicinal herb plants. Start with a small garden of purchased plants, and as your skill grow (see how I did that?), you can then start identifying herbs that might be grown from seed or found in the wild.

I like to buy medicinal herbs that are possibly expensive for me to kill. This means I will take much better care of a purchased plant, than I would a few seeds in the soil.

Transplant Shock and How to avoid It

Transplant Shock and How to avoid It

Transplant Herbs Successfully

By , About.com

Throughout the growing season, transplanting herbs is a great way to keep the garden looking fresh and full. Transplanting can also save you money, if you propagate new plants and then add them to your garden landscape for free.

There are some guidelines that need to be followed, in order to avoid transplant shock, allow your herbs to thrive in the garden. There is more to it than just pushing a seedling into the dirt.

What Can Go Wrong?

All plants, from herb to flower, hate to be shocked. They need time to become acclimated to their new surroundings, no matter if they are coming into or out of the garden. A shocked plant will wilt, become sun burnt and die, no matter how rich the soil or optimal the growing conditions.

How To Avoid Transplant Shock

To avoid transplant shock, give your herbs the time they need to become used to the move. About a week before you are moving them from indoors to the garden, place them outside, but in a sheltered location. Take them back inside during the nighttime.

By the end of the week, you can safely leave them outside all night long, but be sure to water them at least once a day – more than likely you will be watering even more often if they are in small cell pots.

Now Can I Plant Them?

Finally, your plants are truly ready to be planted outside. Try to choose a day that is neither too hot or cold, avoid a scorching hot day, and never plant in the rain. The best sort of day is one that is calm and warm, later in the day so the soil is warm but the sun is not directly overhead.

Water the hole before you place the herb into it. Also, be sure your potted herb is moist and not rootbound. Make a hole the size of the root and insert the plant. Fill the rest of the hole with soil and press around the base to be sure the herb has made contact completely with the ground. Water again and then mulch.

 

 

Spring is Here, When To Start Herbs From Seeds

When To Start Herbs From Seed

Planting Date For Herb Seeds

By , About.com

Starting herbs from seed is probably the most frugal way to begin gardening. It is also a great way to try out many herbs that would be too costly to buy as plants. For the same price as one herb seedling, you can often purchase multiple seed packets.

The important thing to remember when starting herbs from seed is when you should actually germinate them. Here is a list of common herbs, and how many weeks before or after the last frost date you should be planting them.

Starting Herb Seeds Indoors

How Many Weeks Before Last Frost To Start Seeds
Basil 6 to 8 wks before last frost
Borage Direct seed after last frost
Chives 8 wks before last frost
Cilantro Direct seed after last frost
Dill Direct seed after last frost
Fennel 4 to 6 wks before last frost
Lemon Balm 6 to 10 wks before last frost
Oregano 6 to 10 wks before last frost
Rosemary 8 to 10 wks before last frost
Sage 6 to 10 wks before last frost
Thyme 6 to 10 wks before last frost