anyone grow fresh herbs like basil or such? I have thought about it, but don't know where to start. Should I just grow inside? outside? just buy one of the herb gardens from like home depot?
Pam said:I was thinking about growing some Stevia this year to play with ways to cook for diabetics, but I'm probably going to buy a couple of plants rather then grow them from seed.
imaguitargod said:Boy, you have got to watch your spacing. I read the title and was trying to figure out who's bs you were talking about. Then I realised you ment "herbs" not "her bs".
Although it's morning and I'm not quite up yet....
Txclosetgrower said:Definitely get them as plants, the stevioside content varies greatly from seed to seed. They are easy to clone as the cuttings root readily.
Also, pinch them back often. They have a tall skinny growth habit with few branches if left to their own devices.
I use powdered stevia as a secret ingredient in chicken dry rubs.....
I enjoyed eating the leaves fresh off the plant, its truly a unique experience.
POTAWIE said:the wild Italian version I have
AlabamaJack said:It may be a PIA but I am growing all mine from herbs from seed....
Pam said:Have you grown rosemary from seed before? It's really tough. I root mine off established plants by air layering or sticking a green stem in dirt.
I have grown oregano from seed, but it's ever so much easier to pull a stem with a bit of root and stick in a pot. I usually stick some around the base of peppers in containers in the spring. By fall I have a healthy, bushy oregano plant to put where ever I like.
Pam said:I was thinking about growing some Stevia this year to play with ways to cook for diabetics, but I'm probably going to buy a couple of plants rather then grow them from seed.
the highlighted above are absolutely essential along with parsley. try a greek oregano, lemon thyme, and as many basil types as you can find. Other good ones to add might be sage, though i found it troublesome in the past (could have been bad stock). Dill is a must both for green and seeds.Txclosetgrower said:Most herbs are really easy to grow. Just stick ones that have similar watering requirements in a pot together. I've grown basil, rosemary, lavender, thyme, stevia, catnip, oregano, spearmint, mint, lemon balm, and a few others. None were difficult to grow at all.
I buy them already started at local nurseries or lowes/home depot. I suggest you give it a shot, nothing beats having a crapload of fresh basil and making pesto!
You can grow inside and outside. They aren't hard to grow at all. Rosemary needs it's own container IMO.peter pepper said:anyone grow fresh herbs like basil or such? I have thought about it, but don't know where to start. Should I just grow inside? outside? just buy one of the herb gardens from like home depot?
I hate those caterpillars! they just destroy parsley!Pam said:Well, what do you like?
Personally, I think home grown basil is like home grown tomatoes, it can't be matched by anything store bought. I always grow some Italian large leaf types, and lemon basil has naturalized itself in my yard. I don't bother with the sweet basil, once you're gone Italian, you'll never go back.
I also grow some cilantro and dill in the spring as it doesn't like the summer heat so much. I have 6 or 7 rosemary bushes around the yard, several kinds of mint, Italian oregano, thyme, fennel, parsley, and I have some Mexican oregano that I over-winter in the house. Most of the fennel and parsley goes to the black swallowtails, but that's ok, I love finding those green stripey caterpillars on the plants!
I was thinking about growing some Stevia this year to play with ways to cook for diabetics, but I'm probably going to buy a couple of plants rather then grow them from seed.
Stevia is wonderful. Seed growth is a PITA, so find cuttings or seedlings. It's incredibly easy to grow. Pinch it back CONSTANTLY and it gets mad big. My plants at harvest were about 6ft tall. It dries fast, keeps well, and has so many uses in the kitchen. It's overkill as a dry rub, but boosts the sweet factor as a component of a rub. I use it in my cooking regularly. Especially as a sugar free sweetener in my ESB hot sauce.Txclosetgrower said:Definitely get them as plants, the stevioside content varies greatly from seed to seed. They are easy to clone as the cuttings root readily.
Also, pinch them back often. They have a tall skinny growth habit with few branches if left to their own devices.
I use powdered stevia as a secret ingredient in chicken dry rubs.....
I enjoyed eating the leaves fresh off the plant, its truly a unique experience.
This is the simplest method. It works with thyme as well as all creeping herbs.Pam said:Have you grown rosemary from seed before? It's really tough. I root mine off established plants by air layering or sticking a green stem in dirt.
I have grown oregano from seed, but it's ever so much easier to pull a stem with a bit of root and stick in a pot. I usually stick some around the base of peppers in containers in the spring. By fall I have a healthy, bushy oregano plant to put where ever I like.