For questions about herbs - plants typically used for flavor.
8
votes
1answer
377 views
What light cycle should I use to grow herbs indoors?
I would like to have a small container herb garden indoors this winter, but I want to make sure my herbs do not try to flower. Currently, it's a couple of different basil plants and some rosemary, ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Discolouration on Bay laurus leaves
I have recently purchased a Standard Kitchen Bay Laurus nobilis, once I got home I noticed some discolouration (black spots) on the leaves. Is this a disease? do I need to remove the affected leaves ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
Is it a problem that the stems of my mint cuttings are curling?
As a minor gardening project in my apartment I've been growing mint, for its robustness and pairing with alcohol. In my attempt to clone the plant I have and fill another pot, all four of the ...
2
votes
2answers
51 views
How do I grow cilantro in USDA Zone 6?
I live in Ridgefield, Connecticut (USDA hardiness zone 6a), and would like to grow cilantro. The local grocery stores sells it in larges bunches for $4, but I only need a little at a time. I'm happy ...
2
votes
2answers
43 views
Should I worry about cross-pollination from the sterile comfrey cultivar, “Bocking 14”?
I am looking at growing some comfrey, Bocking 14 maybe, but I see that this is a sterile hybrid to prevent the weed from growing out of control.
My concern is: I save most seeds from what I grow, ...
1
vote
2answers
77 views
How often to water vegetables / herbs with garden hose?
My vegetables and herbs are all in pots outside in full sun. I don't have a drip system. I just water my plants by hand with the hose on the mist setting. How do I get the 1" per week amount of ...
17
votes
2answers
9k views
How do I get rid of white flies on my basil?
I've recently noticed that my basil and other herb plants are infested by tiny white flies. They spread out like snow-flakes when I spray the plants with water, and there are scary looking number of ...
3
votes
0answers
54 views
What nutrient solution is best for hydroponic basil?
What hydroponic nutrient solution is best for growing basil?
I'd prefer to know what characteristics to look for rather than a particular brand or product.
2
votes
2answers
63 views
Would a forsythia at edge of kitchen garden cause problems?
We have a rather small garden and would like to start growing some vegetables and herbs. We already reserved a part of our garden for this, but at the edge of this part there currently is a forsythia ...
3
votes
1answer
176 views
Can anyone give advice related to growing an Ayurvedic Herb Garden?
I'm currently growing a few herbs and spices in pots on my terrace using Natural/Organic gardening techniques. Turmeric, Basil (Tulsi), Lemon-Grass, Omum are few herbs.
I'd like to transition to ...
2
votes
3answers
113 views
Is it better to pick herbs from the top or bottom of the plant?
I have a basil plant in my garden that has plenty of leaves. Should I pick the leaves/stems from the bottom of the tree or the top?
Does this apply to most herbs like cilantro or parsley?
2
votes
1answer
27 views
My aloysia has some kind of rash
I have some herbs growing in a couple of pots on my balcony. Today I noticed that the aloysia leaves are all covered in this stuff, it looks as if somebody emptied an ashtray on it. It mostly on the ...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
Which kinds of herbs can be grown in flower pots?
I don't have a terrace garden, so I was wondering which kind of herbs
can be grown in "flower pots"?
My balcony gets abundant sunlight in summers and zero sunlight in winters.
The herbs I wish to ...
12
votes
5answers
6k views
How to get rid of insects on basil while leaving the leaves safe to eat?
With reference to this question: Insect infestation on my pepper plant, what do I do?
I have these insects in my indoor "kitchen window sill" basil and they do seem to be chewing it fast enough to ...
8
votes
2answers
183 views
How can I stop my herbs growing too tall?
I have been growing some herbs in my kitchen in individual pots and they have been growing quite successfully. However, certain herbs, like coriander, have grown to be quite tall, but not strong ...
1
vote
2answers
366 views
Herbs in glass bottle
I read this page Mason Jar Wall Planter and many people complain about the bottles not having drain holes, but many others said that simply adding some rocks at the bottom will fix it.
What do you ...
4
votes
2answers
70 views
End of the Season Mint
Well I have two parent mint plants and both of them lost all of their leaves and sprouted up about 50 new sprouts that are growing great, but the original parent plants still don't have leaves. Should ...
38
votes
6answers
2k views
What are the best conditions for basil?
What are the best conditions for basil to grow? I live in the UK and it never seems to last that long. Recently I've been putting the plants in the shade and drenching them in water, which seems to be ...
1
vote
1answer
166 views
Which herbs can be planted closely without having a negative effect on each other
I want to grow some herbs for regular use on my kitchen window sill. As herbs influence other plants growing next to them, I want to make sure they'll go well together before planting/sowing them.
...
3
votes
2answers
85 views
How to have constant supply of dill throughout summer?
I really like dill, so I would like to have a constant supply of it in my garden.
However, every time I sow dill, it grows and has some leaves, eventually flowers and I am left without any of it.
...
8
votes
2answers
184 views
How should I harvest Basil leaves as to be least harmful to the plant?
I have a small basil plant similar to this one:
Mine's actually a bit smaller, but well.
I cut leafs off it for cooking but I try to keep the plant healthy by not using up more than can grow back. ...
2
votes
1answer
35 views
Are plants cloned from a hardened donor effectively pre-hardened?
I got a clone of a nice oregano from someone recently and this oregano had apparently managed to survive through a frosty winter outdoors in the south of Ireland. I was very impressed as I've always ...
7
votes
1answer
116 views
I have mislabelled a herb (thought it was chives), can anyone recognize what this is?
Reddit thinks it might be a tomato. I thought it was chives, obviously it's not, but I still think I picked it from the herb shelf, not from a vegetable shelf.
5
votes
1answer
641 views
What herbaceous plants like acid soil, blueberries and white pine mulch?
Looking for herbs to fill out a blueberry bed. The soil is somewhat sandy and acidic, lots of coffee grounds mixed in, and its topped with white pine chips and needles. What herbs would be happy ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Has anybody had any success using 5 gallon buckets as planters?
I've recently became interested in starting some outdoor planters this coming spring. After searching around, I found an interesting idea off of Popular Mechanics using 5 gallon drywall buckets as ...
3
votes
3answers
151 views
Is this parsley plant too advanced to be salvaged for use with cooking
Have a parsley plant (in its second year), and I think it has 'bolted'?, so it not really producing lush green stalks that I can use for cooking.
Can I salvage it? Or is it too far gone?
11
votes
5answers
3k views
What type of potting soil is most suitable for indoor herbs?
I've tried a few times to grow potted herbs in my apartment with varying success, and I suspect it is related to the potting soil. I have basil and rosemary that are thriving in pots filled with ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Does Arugula/rocket flowering mean the plant's crop season is over?
I sowed arugula/rocket in an outside pot 2 months ago. As it was my first sowing of rocket, it turned out to be too dense so I have thinned it out.
It was growing nicely, but all of a sudden it ...
4
votes
1answer
117 views
Letting basil loose. Will it die?
I let my basil grow from seed, and I very seldom trimmed it. My aim is to understand the plant life cycle, so I did it on purpose.
The plants are so arranged: Three vases sitting in a larger, long ...
2
votes
1answer
147 views
Can I use an NPK compund fertilizer on herbs?
I have some "Low nutrient NPK compound fertilizer" which is sold as Citrus Food left over from a Calamondin tree which has sadly passed away.
Can I use this fertilizer on my herbs? They are basil, ...
3
votes
1answer
212 views
What is this disease on my Basil?
I've planted Basil (from a pot) outside and it's been very wet in the last few weeks. The plant has now got these grey spots on it. What is wrong with it?
10
votes
2answers
114 views
Will scallions grow after using them?
We buy scallions from the market and consume everything but the bottom parts of the plant (I guess it's like white bulb part?).
Is there a chance that it will still grow even after refrigeration? ...
3
votes
1answer
53 views
What's a suitable depth for a planter for sage and tarragon?
I have just planted a tray each of tarragon and sage seeds, and intend, once the seedlings are suitably developed, to transfer them to planters on the verandah, rather than to the main plot. What ...
4
votes
3answers
247 views
Stevia Plant, aka. Sweetleaf, Sugarleaf, Sweet Herb - where to get seeds?
Stevia Plants, to be precise their leaves are being used as a natural sugar substitute in some countries like Japan, India and over South American for decades or centuries now.
Especially in the ...
4
votes
1answer
101 views
Should I just trim the leaves when I harvest my herbs?
In the past, I grew some herbs which I harvest them when I see them grow out of space. Then I just cut the whole stem, then the plant will split in 2 ways growing in a Y shape. The next time it grew ...
10
votes
1answer
764 views
How often should I harvest herbs?
I have a few herbs growing hydroponically (basil, chives, cilantro) that are about 4 weeks old. Right now they are about 4-5" tall and have a health glow and smell to them. The herbs are being held ...
7
votes
1answer
391 views
What are the optimal growing conditions for chives?
I have a few questions about starting chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and keeping them happy. I understand chives can survive and grow in many conditions, but what are the best conditions? A few ...
8
votes
2answers
145 views
What are the proper conditions and watering habits for rosemary?
I have tried twice now to start Rosemary from seed and failed both times. Last year I planted them in a self watering window box with a number of other herbs. It never really came up well and never ...
5
votes
2answers
318 views
How can I grow herbs in my kitchen?
I am attempting to grow some herbs in my kitchen and I was wondering how frequently I should water them? Also my kitchen isn't the warmest so I am attempting to keep them near the radiator, is there ...
18
votes
10answers
4k views
What is the best way to prevent animals from eating my garden without a fence?
We have a raised bed garden that does well for the most part. For aesthetic purposes, my wife will not let me put a fence around the garden. Most of the veggies and herbs do well and do not get ...
12
votes
2answers
547 views
What are good shade-loving consumable plants for a high-rise windowsill?
At our office, we have a wonderful recreation area that gets a few hours of morning sun. The rest of the day the space is engulfed in generic flourescent light. I'm curious which herbs, vegetables ...
6
votes
1answer
144 views
Is my woody old sage plant finished?
I have an old woody sage plant (I think it's sage) in my herb garden. It's probably several years old and no longer looks in great shape. Also, I have allowed the grass and weeds to smother its base.
...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Why does my cilantro have thin leaves? Why is my parsley not growing? When will they be ready for harvest?
My cilantro (planted outside, full sun from about 11am to 6pm) doesn't have the broad leaves that I see when I buy it in the store. I planted it in May. When should I expect it ready for harvesting?
...
9
votes
1answer
5k views
How long will my basil plants live inside?
I have 2 basil plants that are in 8 inch diam. pots. They were outside but were doing poorly so around the middle of the summer I moved them inside. They are now thriving! I generally harvest a few ...
10
votes
1answer
2k views
Saving basil plant after it has been sitting in trash?
So I foolishly tried to help my basil plant grow by composting in the pot it was growing in. Needless to say this made the plant sick and yellowish and the leaves that have turned yellow have a bad ...
8
votes
2answers
430 views
What herbs/vegetables/greens can be grown in a balcony garden with limited sunlight?
Growing up in a house with a yard, we had a pretty decent sized garden with fruits, vegetables, and herbs galore. Since moving to "the city", I haven't had a yard, and I miss being able to grow things
...
11
votes
2answers
211 views
What are some good companion veggies/flowers/herbs to scare off beetles?
I've had the biggest problems with Asian Stink Bugs (an invasive species that is terrorizing the Midatlantic USA region) and Asparagus Beetles. Oddly enough the asparagus beetles (right pic) are ...
9
votes
2answers
836 views
Which herbs can be grown as perennials?
What are some herbs that are perennials, i.e. they return and grow the next season? I'd like to keep a garden of herbs around for cooking.
12
votes
1answer
2k views
Why has my mint plant gone all woody/sparse/stringy?
I grew my mint plant in a pot to contain the roots, and that has worked well for 3-4 months. However, the plant is not really producing fresh leaves now. Is there anything I can do?
12
votes
3answers
2k views
What are some herbs and spices that are easy to grow indoors?
I currently grow Rosemary on my windowsill. What are some other herbs and spices that are easy to grow (and useful)? I live in South Carolina, USA. Plants are indoors = 65-75F all year.
