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11:38 am
January 22, 2010
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MrsC
| | California | |
| Big Chicken | posts 24 | |
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Calling all herb professionals!
I live in sunny California – let me stress sunny. Our summers reached 105 last season! I had herb failures abound!
Would you recommend I container plant my herbs this year? Or, do you think I have better chances putting them in my garden? A lot of the seed directions say "full sun" but do you think that includes 105 degree sun?
Also, last year, I tried to dry my herbs (the very few that survived) the ol' fashioned way (hang dry). Sure did look pretty – those hanging bundles of herbs – that is, until they turned crusty brown. Eww – they even lost their beautiful aromas. What did I do wrong?
Oh, the woes of a tragic gardener!
Happy farming!
Kelly
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2:43 pm
January 22, 2010
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Pete
| | WV | |
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Herbs generally do quite well in containers. In containers they need more water than in the ground though. Because of the excess drainage, plastic containers are usually better than clay because they don't dry out as fast.
The advantage of the containers is that they can be moved during the growing season to get them out of the scorching sun. Yes, they need a lot of sun, but you don't want them to burn up either.
So, it all depends on how much protection your garden plots afford vs the flexibility you might have by being able to move pots around to protect the plants. And you can use 5 gallon buckets with holes cut in the bottom as well as real pots. Those carrying bales come in handy for moving them.
I, too, have had limited success with air drying herbs in bundles. We probably left them hanging too long to retain their essential oils. I now use the dehydrator mostly because I can get them dried in less than 24 hours (usually considerably less!) and get them into storage containers quickly. Also, they need to be dried in a fairly dark spot, in my experience. I just don't have a dark place that is dry and protected from flying vermin! But, they sure do look nice hanging on the wood drying rack in the kitchen, so I do continue to do that if there is a bountiful enough harvest.
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Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!
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4:38 pm
January 22, 2010
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rileysmom
| | Rural Montana | |
| Super Chicken | posts 711 | |
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I received one of those Aero-Gardens for Christmas this year. It's 2 weeks into "growing" hydroponically. I have dill, basil, chives, mint, oregano and thyme sprouting! I'm excited to have fresh herbs growing as it snow like mad today. I'm sure harvesting is a couple of weeks away yet…
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10:04 am
February 9, 2010
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MrsFuzz
| | Colorado | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 261 | |
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So, first post! Yippee!! I'm just starting on my (hopefully) long career as a gardener. I live in Denver, CO. While we probably don't have the extended high heat that Cali does, our summers average high 90's for 6-8 wks at a time. Due to my location, I have to grow my garden completely in containers. Last year was my first year, and I only attempted to grow 2 types of toms, 1 of cukes, basil, bell peppers & jalapenos. I can say from my own experience that my basil did VERY well. I was growing everything in 5-gal Home Depot buckets filled with potting mix (not soil, very important). During the really hot times, I was often watering twice a day, but everything seemed to do well. They were all in full sun. They would look very wilty by nighttime, but would bounce back by morning as long as I watered.
I am expanding my garden this year, and doing some more research. I found this awesome website on how to make very cheap SWC's (Self Watering Containers) from Home Depot buckets, and maybe this is an option for you. http://www.globalbuckets.org/
The other thing I would advise is that if you are considering doing any container gardening, go to the GardenWeb Forums, and check out the Container Gardening forum. It's been a huge help to me.
Anyway, hope this helps! Sorry to get so long winded. First post excitement!
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Wearing cowboy boots does not make one an agriculturist….Having at least 3 varieties of poop on them does.
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5:15 pm
February 10, 2010
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KateS
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| Super Chicken | posts 599 | |
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What a great topic! I've never successfully herb gardened – I get a couple containter plants every year. but my folks had a Big bed that they added to every year. I want that. Plus my containers. 
One of my tricks for the containers is during the really hot nasty weeks is to move them to the north side of the house. Seems to help.
Looking forward to seeing what all everyone is doing – too much snow here and am enjoying browsing my garden catalogs.
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10:01 am
February 11, 2010
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CindyP
| | Hart, MI | |
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Thanks for that link, MrsFuzz! I have an idea forming! Oh no!! 
I have a patch of cement that would accomodate some buckets that is right next to the house and driveway that faces south……. a very unusable space ordinarily. I've tried container gardening there before, but they just wilt up and die…….I like the watering system that is described and I think it could work very well along with the plastic covering.
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“Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won’t have time to make them all yourself.” ― Alfred Sheinwold
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11:40 am
February 11, 2010
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JeannieB
| | Columbia, South Carolina | |
| Superstar | posts 1453 | |
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A lot of herbs need to be in containers, otherwise they will take over!!
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Don't cry because it's over—smile because it happened!
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11:50 am
February 11, 2010
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BuckeyeGirl
| | N.E. Ohio | |
| Admin
| posts 3992 | |
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Hey MrsFuzz! I lived in Aurora for 7 years, thanks to Uncle Sam I was stationed at Buckley AFB. I lived in an apartment but gardened at a community garden (at the old Lowry site). Because of the heat and the fact that it was a drive to get there to take care of things, I followed the advice of a few other community gardeners there. This takes up a lot of gardening room, but it's worth it in hot arid climates like Denver/Aurora.
I took some of those same buckets, but made sure I had lids for them. Then I drilled several holes into the sides, facing opposite sides (very near the bottom but on the side, not on the base itself). Then I buried the buckets with the holes facing the two sides where I planted my tomatoes. There were some sections where I had the plants staggered, so there were tomatoes on three sides, THATs where I put holes in the buckets.
Now, when you water the plants, you water the soil around the plants, but then also fill the buckets with water, making sure to put the cover on afterwards to prevent evaporation, but also to keep things from drowning in it. (things which might drown in there will vary depending on your location!)
If the water level doesn't go down fast enough to need refilling each day, (or two based on your needs), drill another hole or more! You can fill them at night, and in places that have watering restrictions due to drought, this helps a lot. My tomatoes and green peppers thrived with this method, in a hot arid climate like that, you can fill with manure tea if desired as well, though I didn't do this.
Also, many herbs actually like 'poor' soils. This would let you water deeply without drowning the surface roots, conserves water by preventing evaporation and lets you water on your own time scedule.
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If tomatoes are a fruit, then isn’t ketchup technically a
smoothie?
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9:59 am
February 12, 2010
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MrsFuzz
| | Colorado | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 261 | |
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That sounds like a really keen idea, BuckeyeGirl. I may try that with a few of my buckets.
I just finished drawing up my garden plan yesterday, and it looks like I'm going to end up with 3 whiskey barrels, 10 5-gal buckets, and 5 45″ wide x 8″ deep plastic kiddie wading pools. By my calculations, this will fill my 10' x 30' ex-dog run & leave enough space for me to get to everything. I'll try to replicate my grow list from memory here, in brief (so that those wanting to container garden can benefit from my (mis)trials):
Herbs (will be grown in two of the wading pools, 7 in one, 8 in the other-the chives will be in whiskey barrels with the carrots):
Basil-Genovese, Siam Queen, Red Rubin
German Chamomile
Chervil-Vertissimo
Chives-Common & Chinese (aka Garlic)
Cilantro-Calypso
Dill-Fernleaf
Marjoram
Cumin
Mint-Apple, Chocolate, Spearmint, Peppermint (these get one of the whiskey barrels to keep them from taking over)
Oregano-Greek
Rosemary-Arp
Sage-Pineapple & tricolor
French Tarragon
Thyme-Bushy, Lemon
I'm also growing lettuce, carrots, cukes, tomatoes, & strawberries. I have no illusions that all of it will do well, but even if I get a 50% success rate, that's 50% more than I would have if I didn't plan anything!
This year's garden is mostly a trial and error session, so that when my husband and I get our real, "forever" house and I can have my in ground garden, I'll have a better idea of how things grow & act in our climate. I'm planning on taking some pics and whatnot to post over on the Gardenweb forums, so if any of you are interested, I can try to keep you updated. 
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Wearing cowboy boots does not make one an agriculturist….Having at least 3 varieties of poop on them does.
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11:44 am
February 12, 2010
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MrsC
| | California | |
| Big Chicken | posts 24 | |
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WOW – I'm blown over! Everyone's ideas are so impressive and helpful! MrsFuzz – I must say, you are my herb grower hero! I loved the bucket ideas and wading pool… best ever idea I've read!
I think what I have the most trouble with is the soil. Thanks to a previous post – I now know to buy potting mix and not just soil. I can't use what I have around here (and believe me, I have A LOT of dirt) as it can be sandy… Potting mix, eh? Okay, got it. But, do ya'all use a special brand?
Can't thank you guys enough for all these fabulous posts. You inspire me!
Happy farming (and herb growing),
Kelly
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12:03 pm
February 12, 2010
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MrsFuzz
| | Colorado | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 261 | |
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The best mix (or so I've heard, it works well for me) for a container garden is a mix that doesn't retain a lot of water. See this thread for a complete explanation of how it works, and a good mix that you can make at home without too much trouble: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0214164227031.html?27 The Reader's Digest version is this: 5 parts partially composted pine bark fines (most often sold as a soil amendment), 1 part sphagnum (important!) peat, 1 part perlite.
With that said, you should be able to find an approximation of that formula at your local nursery. Last year, I used an organic mix that I really liked. I can't remember the name of it…When I get home from work tonight I'll find out what it is and post it. Pretty much any nursery should have it's own special potting mix formula for their own use, it's usually pretty close to the above, and they should sell it (although sometimes they have a minimum purchase, like by the cubic yard. A cubic yard is a LOT of dirt. LOL)
Hope that helps!
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Wearing cowboy boots does not make one an agriculturist….Having at least 3 varieties of poop on them does.
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3:04 pm
February 12, 2010
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ChrisUK
| | Netley Hampshire UK | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 333 | |
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I do not have a garden/yard at all,but I do have a flat roof 10 x 10. for this year Ive bought two earthern ware strawberry tubs,with six side pockets.So I can plant three in the top and six on the sides. Ive also got six planter boxes 4ft x 9 inches by 9inches deep,which I will plant with carrots,spring onions,radishes,basil.rosemary and lettuce. Three gro-bags for tomatoes and cucumber and bell pepper. That will keep me supplied.My only pest is not from slugs and snails,even blackfly and carrot flies seem not to appear 100ft. up, but the ruddy seagulls do!! So ive invested in some green netting.Ive also run some micro bore piping to drip feed. If the British weather will co-operate I shall be a happy bunny.
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Im a lonely little Petunia in a Cabbage patch
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7:11 am
February 13, 2010
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KateS
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| Super Chicken | posts 599 | |
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Curious – what is a gro bag? Is that the upside down planter things? Have you used them before?
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8:32 pm
February 13, 2010
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MrsFuzz
| | Colorado | |
| Mighty Chicken | posts 261 | |
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I finally had a chance to look at what potting mix I used last year, and it was EKO Organic Potting mix. :) Dunno if you can find it wherever you are, but that gives you a starting place.
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Wearing cowboy boots does not make one an agriculturist….Having at least 3 varieties of poop on them does.
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12:19 am
February 27, 2010
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Ladybug
| | Rural Arizona | |
| Big Chicken | posts 13 | |
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I started last spring with growing Herbs in hanging pots.. things did well, but the cold weather killed them all, so I'm now starting all over again.. However the Spearmint and Mint handled the winter months pretty good.. transplanted them each three times now.. We built a small Green House and growing everything in large containers due the type of ground, and Wild Life Critters like rabbits, snakes Yuk?!!! and birds.. the Green House is built from all re-purpose matierials and item we found in the "junk" trash — treasurer hunting.. the thing people throw out.. we found a huge rubbermaid tub just perfect !!! for growing veggies
all of your posts are interesting with info… and very inspiring thanks for sharing
Happy Gardening Ladybug 
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7:09 pm
March 25, 2010
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summersun
| | California | |
| Banty | posts 4 | |
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Yay I just got my Aerogarden a couple of days ago. I bought it because of the hot weather that we get. I tried growing plants before but it was too hot and they quickly withered away. With my fun new toy hopefully I can actaully get herbs to grow and to use in the kitchen! :)
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8:49 pm
March 25, 2010
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rileysmom
| | Rural Montana | |
| Super Chicken | posts 711 | |
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summersun, I have one, too! I'm really liking it. The dill and basil grow tall! Keep an eye on the water level. I've added 2 cups of water, without the low water light alerting you.
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