Growing Herbs from Seed (part 1)

Mary's Heirloom Seeds Newsletter Growing Herbs from Seed EARTH DAY CELEBRATION! Join us at the Yellow Green Farmer's Market BOOTH #281 this Saturday, April 19th 11am-1 for a FREE seed-planting event for the kids.   Have you seen our DIY Tincture Kits? *NEW* variety  Thai Holy Basil Tincture Kit We now offer   Pick-UP options   for seed orders. Call (954) 654-3501  or email mary@marysheirloomseeds.com  for more information or to place an order. ALL Seed orders placed Monday-Thursday are shipped within 24 hours, except for holidays.    Helpful Links: What is a Tincture? Feverfew Calendula 2014 Planting Guide Using Diatomaceous Earth Our Blogs: Back to the Basics Mary's Kitchen  How is your garden growing?  I know I've shared links for growing many varieties of veggies but herbs are some of my favorites (especially the easy ones).  Many varieties take up very little room and require minimal attention to flourish. Growing Anise Hyssop from Seed Anise hyssop can be started indoors 4-6 weeks prior to the last frost of the spring.   Transplant outdoors after the final frost of the season, once plants are approx. 3-4 inches tall and show their first true leaves.  Anise will grow in partial shade as well as full sun. The plant grows to 3 to 5 feet tall and 1 foot wide and reseeds freely.  Anise Hyssop is an excellent addition to your garden as it is bee-friendly and edible.  Attracts bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds Germination: 10-14 days Days to Harvest: 60 From  Grow Your Own Medicine: Anise Hyssop  Growing Basil from Seed Sow seeds outdoors when soil is warm and temperature does not drop below 65°F. Can also be started indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out. Make successive sowings for continuous summer supplies. Pinch back flower stalks as they appear to keep plants from bolting. Prefers rich well-drained soil. Basil has few pests, but occasionally pests such as aphids, flea beetles, and Japanese beetles will feast upon it. I use a spray bottle of water or water with neem oil to detach aphids. Grow in full sun (6 hours or more).   Germination: 5-7 days Days to Harvest: 45-75   From Grow Your Own Medicine: Basil  Growing Borage from Seed Companion plant for Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Strawberries and more     Sow seeds indoors on surface of soil. Can also be directly sown outdoors two weeks after the last spring frost. Prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil. Divide every 3-4 years. Growing Catnip from Seed Catnip grows as a loosely branching, low perennial. In a flowerbed, you can plant catnip in front of purple coneflower, which blooms about the same time. The plant bears tiny, white blooms that are not very showy. You can also grow it in containers.Set out transplants in the spring after the last frost. Keep plants full by pinching the growing stems and flower buds when they appear. Germination: 7-10 days Days to Harvest: 80  Growing  Dill from Seed Dill is a very easy herb to grow and can be grown indoors or outdoors.    Dill enjoys full sun, and flourishes in average to fertile soil with good drainage.Sun can damage dill if it has too much of it. However, you will want sun shining on it at least six hours a day. If you have some moisture in the air this is great. But if you struggle with moisture in the air you will want to mist your dill plant from time to time.    To plant dill, place seeds over loose soil and cover about a half inch deep. Keep soil moist but not water-logged. Growing  Lavender from Seed  Lavender can be grown from seed or from cuttings.  Lavender can be difficult growing from seed but not impossible. Make sure that you plant lavender in warm weather. It should be in the late spring or Early summer. Lavender needs lots of sunshine. Make sure that it will not be in a great deal of shade." Soil is very important.  Drainage is important and should include loose compost.   Lavender can be grown both in the ground as well as in containers.  The larger the container, the larger the plant may grow. Growing  Tarragon from Seed Sow four or five seeds per pot in moist potting soil.   Cover them with compost or soil to exclude light. Keep them indoors at room temperature.  Planting in Peat Pellets will make transplanting simple and ensure the roots are not disturbed. When the seedlings begin to show, move them outside, out of direct sunlight. Thin them to one seedling per pot. They are ready for planting in their final position outside when the seedlings are 4 inches high.  Tarragon can be grown in containers for two or three years with no special care.  They can also be over-wintered indoors if you have a sunny windowsill. Tarragon prefers well-drained soil which is not too high in nutrients. It will do equally well in full sun or partial shade.  When Transplanting: dig the soil well before planting and add a handful of bonemeal per square yard at the same time. If the soil is not well-drained dig in as much well-rotted organic material as possible to open up the soil - I use rotted leaves. Choose a position where they can remain undisturbed for two or three years. You may not think that Tarragon is not a very pretty plant (depending on who you ask), so consider this when choosing a position. Mulching with organic matter in October will help them over winter if your area has particularly harsh winter weather.    That's all for now but there is more to come!!! Do you have room for more herbs in the garden?   Happy Planting!                     Mary Mary's Heirloom Seeds  The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease. Thomas A. Edison   "The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway." Michael Pollan