Herb gardening

[BarbCA]

Like Deborah said a couple of days ago, I love fresh herbs. For various reasons my herb garden went to pot over the last few years, All I had left was an overgrown Rosemary plant, a pot of Chives, a clump of Lemon Thyme, and one of Oregano.
To this we have added Dill, English Thyme, Sage, Thai Basil, and Italian Parsley. Yesterday I got Tarragon, Spearmint, and garlic chives. Will plant some Cilantro seeds, too. We have Italian Basil started but that will go into the one of the garden beds.
You can tell I'm all excited about this.

Funny thing about herbs is they cost about the same for one little pot as they do for a bunch in the produce market and the plants keeps giving and giving.

[Louise]

Nice assortment Barb. Did have some herbs growing in small pots a few years back but haven;t bothered since. don't do that much cooking or baking these days so don't bother to plant them anymore.

Hope you have success with yours

[Deborah]

Mine are going really well, Barb. Glad you got yours in. The basil that I planted in one of those upside down planters has recovered from being replanted, and already has new leaves, in just four days. The sun is still really weak here, and we need less rain.

[Pat B]

I bought a basil plant and a rosemary bush. That's it. I don't have time to tend anything else.

[BarbCA]

When Dick and I first got together he built a special bed with 1-foot squares for my herbs which he wasn't very familiar with. He did a good job and the bed is still in good shape. Will post a photo if I ever get my picture program sorted out.
Just as easy to look after all of them as one or two the way it is set up.

[Nalani]

I used to have a bank of rosemary until Buddy decided to take over the gardening. He thought they were weeds and sprayed them all. It used to smell so lovely.

Like Louise I don't do much gardening anymore except for watering.

[JoGee]

I do a little gardening. I remember my grandmother out every day I their full-lot garden, hoeing and watering it by hand. I am not quite that ambitious. My garden plot is a raised bed, and takes very little hard work. E will be building a shade cover for over the top, about 5-6 ft high, to block the scorching sun. I generally just clip newspaper sheets around the plants, replacing them after rains.

The raised bed plot and the greenhouse (raised beds, too) pretty much take care of themselves.

Don't have much luck with herbs. Maybe because the neighborhood stray cat "nests" in it at night. Might do some herbs in separate pots this year and see how it works out.

My plot has tomatoes (a few different kinds), lettuce, onion, bell peppers, pickling peppers, snow peas, dukes, zukes, wax beans and purple beans. Climbing plants have plant cages or a trellis.

[JoS]

You know, my mom never used many herbs in her cooking and she taught me to cook. I have grown herbs in the past because they smell good and many are pretty plants but I don't know how to use them.

Maybe one of you kitchen gurus could post a list of what herbs are good with what foods. I might give them a try again. Do they do best in bright sunlight or shade?

[Nalani]

Jo G, that is quiet a large group of veggies you have. Sounds wonderful.

Patty has a fantastic herb garden in Hana and she uses them all. I made her plant some mint for me which she said is doing great. However I have never been back since to use the mint in my ice tea. Tried to grow a plant here but too dry and hot.

Jo couldn't you grow small herbs on a window sill inside? I'm not sure that can be done.

[Pat B]

Here's a brief instruction page, Jo: Herbs 101

And here's a complete guide to growing & cooking with herbs: The Culinary Herb Guide.

[BarbCA]

I like the "Simon & Garfunkel" blend, parsley, sage, rosemary, amd thyme. Blend a couple of spoonfuls into butter to serve with hot rolls. Also good with chicken.
I like thyme and bay leaf in beef stew, rosemary and garlic with lamb or chicken. Joy puts dill in chicken matzo ball soup.
Almost any Mexican dish can use oregano
Pork goes well with rosemary, too.
Tarragon goes well with chicken, too, and is very good with blue cheese dressing.
Garlic chives in Garlic mashed potatoes.
Sweet Basil, shredded finely and sprinkled over vine ripened tomatoes woth a drizzle of olive oil. Actually goes well in any tomato dish.

My mom had sage, rosemary, and thyme growing. She was always telling me to dry rosemary when I pruned it back. For one thing I hate dry rosemary as, to me, it tastes like soap and why dry it since it stays green here all year? I do dry some basil and make pesto of some which I freeze in ice cube trays.
I almost always put some minced chives in scrambled eggs. The S & G Combo is good in omelettes.
I've been using herbs so long I have to stop to think where I use them but while I'm cooking it just comes to me that it needs a pinch of this or that.

[Schmitty]

Have tried planting herbs...worked well...but hate all the insects that get on them. Monica has planted some for me...in pots.... I wish I had a window box planter... love fresh herbs... always buy them at the grocery store.

[JoS]

Thank you, Pat. Think I might give it a try!

[BarbCA]

Even if you never cook anything with them they will smell good and look pretty.

[JoS]

Got a few and potted them. They are now on the deck being urged to grow.