Return to the Organic Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
Posted by urbanminimalist Australia (My Page) on Sun, Dec 11, 11 at 16:44
| Just wondering. I am a two year novice. I rarely grow herbs, but I can pretty much get most vegetables thriving in my large garden. I am slowly learning of soil composition etc, but the times I have tried to do herbs from seed, they rarely sprout. Mostly I have tried basil and corriander (cilantro).....I always thought herbs would be simple. Can anyone tell me if there is a different method growing herbs from seed, then say........tomato, beats or corn or beans etc. I am a plant and pray kind of bloke who has had pretty good success thus far. But, as far as HERBS go...........I am getting nothing. I just use soil from my patches in punnets to start most veggies and have tried this same method with herbs from seed. But Nothing.Do they need a very light soil to start or something? HELP?????????
Johnny Australia |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| Huh, basil and cilantro are almost weeds for me, I get so many volunteers. Too wet or dry? Buried too deeply? Soil temps under 18 C? I'd try and help more, but the phrase "I just use soil from my patches in punnets" has me stumped. |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
- Posted by feijoas Temperate New Zealan (My Page) on
Mon, Dec 12, 11 at 3:25
Coriander is generally very easy to germinate, but I'd highly recommend direct-seeding or it's likely to bolt.
I struggle with basil, but it's mainly because I water too randomly. |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| In response to 'dicot': Yeah, your 'huh' is justified. what I am trying to say. Is that I have had a very good strike rate at germinating seeds for most things I grow, hence I never really considered how do do it properly. I continue to just dig excess soil from a part of my yard (That I have turned into a healthy mix), put them in punnets as a starting point for most things I don't plant directly in the ground. We have very erratic weather here in Southern Australia and I don't have any sort of greenhouse. I have never considered
soil temperatures. I am sure they get 'washed' out, too wet as you say. Being too wet and too dry is how it unfolds in Melbourne. (WE have a phrase: 4 seasons in a day) It can be 90 F degrees one day and, 50 the next and monsoon style rains. control is key is suppose |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| I sow both cilantro (self sows, actually) and basil directly in the garden. I'm surprised with your success rate using ordinary garden soil to sprout seeds. Usually it's too heavy and prone to disease (damping off especially). tj |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| Using soil in your pots is likely the problem because drainage will be poor to none. Do you have a source to obtain seed starting mix to be used in containers? If not, I suggest you try seeding directly in the garden. With basil, temperatures must be warmer than for most other things. |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| Thanks for the insight. When I say 'success': not everything germinates with the soil I am using to start off. I suppose I have worked out what 'sprouts' and what doesn't using this mix. At the end of the day it is limiting my choices. Surely it IS too heavy. I will try starting mix from now on. I thought there wasn't a huge difference, but this is still all new to me. Cheers. What i have been germinating from seed using my not-know-much method is corn, tomato, lettuce, beans...these are a guarantee. The rest go directly in the ground. And a lot I have given up on trying to germinate. Seeding mix it is!!!! Cheers. Johnny Australia Melbourne, Victoria |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| Thai basil seems so much hardier (almost woody main stems) than the regular sweet basil. I have had a Thai basil plant in a pot for a few years now and it produces way more than I can eat, I keep giving away some. I just stuck about 3 or 4 stalks in the pot, watered moderately, and one of them rooted and survived lo these several years now. As for cilantro, keep in mind that cilantro is a cool weather herb and will not germinate if it is too warm. |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| Growing herbs anyplace can be somewhat problematic, but as long as you meet the needs of the plants they should grow well. Find out as much as possible about the soil and climate conditions where they herbs originated from. Often herbs grown in soils too rich do not have the flavors they should have. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Growing herbs in Australia
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
I can grow a lot of great veggies but could not grow a herb to save my life. This I think is non organic but alas this is what I used. Jiffy peat pellets. I say that they might be non organic because I did find some info on the Jiffy site that listed mild fertilizers were added to the peat pellets. It did work out good. I have herbs for the first time anyway. This year I'm trying a 50/50 vermiculite and peat moss mix I made. I had extra seeds from last year so I'm giving that a trial run. I will let you know how that turns out.
I grew 80 of them and tryed different areas of the yard to see what herbs like what spots. Now I'm down to 9 big nice plants, LOL. |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| Ok heres the secret: Look at the herbs native soil for example;// Cilantro is medditerranean and asia, it requires fast draining soil water with warm water if its cold!!!! I have seen herb gardens grown in rocks then supplemented with fertilizer (which could be compost teas). They thrived like no other!!! This is why we have success in containers with herbs because the pots stay warmer and for the most part have more drainage. This year I am planting some started chives in ground and in pots and will compare the difference. I can only hope to ammend the area with pine bark and a little peat to try to aerate the clay soil. |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| Oh joy I found 40 river rocks for free on my CL this morning, YAY. I think we all know what I'm doing this weekend!!!!!!!!!! |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| I must say if you decide to amend a garden with primarily stone you must use a compost tea 2 times or so a month if you wish to use a fertilizer that is urea N. Or just use fertilizer with nitrate N. |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
| I plant my herb seeds in a mixture of composted cow manure (bagged), cheap potting soil & partially completed compost (wood chips/mostly small to tiny pieces). I've not had a problem with germination. I generally use the small paper cups for starting them as the whole thing can be planted...no disturbing the roots to plant. |
RE: Any herb specialists out there????
| | |
- Posted by jolj 7b/8a-S.C.USA (My Page) on
Sat, Jan 21, 12 at 0:54
Pick up one or two transplants to plant, at the end of your row. Then if the seeds are a no show, you will have some herbs.
So far rosemary, mint & garlic has been easy to grow. |
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Organic Gardening Forum
|
|
|
