I've been sowing seeds and it reminds me of a herb tip I learnt. If my seedlings show any sign of fungal wilt I water them with cold chamomile tea-it's anti-fungal.
I also have used arnica or rescue remedy in the water I use when transplanting seedlings. It helps protect them from transplant shock.
Let us know what you are sowing and planting now and any herbal lore you'd like to share.
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hello Sealander, the next time that you're roasting a chicken, tuck a few sprigs of tarragon under the skin next to the breast, thighs and drumstick and/or into a chicken casserole. Hopefully, you're not vegetarian! Will keep a lookout for another plant and will take better care of it this time.
I think I planted the tarragon at least 10 years ago (it is a huge clump now) so can't remember where I got it, probably the Riccarton market since that is where most of my herbs come from. Up until now I've only used it in salads but I'm going to try making some herb vinegar with it this year.
Thanks for letting us know about your herbs-really enjoyed reading your post.
French Tarragon only grows from roots-not seed. It usually appears in garden centres a lot later than other herbs as it is so cold sensitive and doesn't shoot until the weather is warm enough. I had difficulty finding mine but eventually found some well into summer. You could try trademe too.
Megan said:
hello Hester, thanks for the chamomile tea tip, will definitely try it out but hopefully, won't need to - am using a mister on my seedling. Last spring lost two sowings of basil due to damping off. Only the rocket has emerged yet, sowed directly into my newspaper pots, found some great videos on you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms7hUdbl8Dshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1AzrqyzMOQ&feature=related and been busily folding ever since. I usually fold the flaps in so that the pots stack alongside each other more neatly, Can fit 20 or 36 to a seedling tray. I dislike pricking out and repotting and would rather use tweezers to drop one or two seeds into each pot. Also reduces stress on the seedling not having to be transplanted! Have also sowed basil, usually manage to get rosemary & sage to take from cuttings left in a jar of water on the kitchen windowsill, pot up when there are a few roots. I coddle them the first winter and let them stay inside and then it's out into the harsh cold Queenstown winter.
Coriander seeds sown in autumn survived the winter in a seed tray (never pricked them out) and have planted out the seedlings into the raised bed beside the house. Kept the lemon verbena indoors for winter, didn't want to risk losing it. Be careful not to drink too much lemon verbena tea, it can irritate the kidneys (refer Rosemary Hemphill's book of herbs).
Lucky you Sealander, would be good to keep French tarragon going over winter, had some in a pot and lost it to the cold, can only find Russian tarragon in the seed catalogues and local nursery/garden centres - any suggestions on where to source French tarragon plants or seeds?
Both common and garlic chives have re emerged, a good 3cm above ground, self sown flat leaf parsley has also done well all through winter as has mint - applemint; spearmint and others - don't know the types, will photograph and perhaps someone can identify the varieties for me. regards Megan
hello Hester, thanks for the chamomile tea tip, will definitely try it out but hopefully, won't need to - am using a mister on my seedling. Last spring lost two sowings of basil due to damping off.
Only the rocket has emerged yet, sowed directly into my newspaper pots, found some great videos on you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms7hUdbl8Dshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1AzrqyzMOQ&feature=related and been busily folding ever since. I usually fold the flaps in so that the pots stack alongside each other more neatly, Can fit 20 or 36 to a seedling tray.
I dislike pricking out and repotting and would rather use tweezers to drop one or two seeds into each pot. Also reduces stress on the seedling not having to be transplanted! Have also sowed basil, usually manage to get rosemary & sage to take from cuttings left in a jar of water on the kitchen windowsill, pot up when there are a few roots. I coddle them the first winter and let them stay inside and then it's out into the harsh cold Queenstown winter.
Coriander seeds sown in autumn survived the winter in a seed tray (never pricked them out) and have planted out the seedlings into the raised bed beside the house. Kept the lemon verbena indoors for winter, didn't want to risk losing it. Be careful not to drink too much lemon verbena tea, it can irritate the kidneys (refer Rosemary Hemphill's book of herbs).
Lucky you Sealander, would be good to keep French tarragon going over winter, had some in a pot and lost it to the cold, can only find Russian tarragon in the seed catalogues and local nursery/garden centres - any suggestions on where to source French tarragon plants or seeds?
Both common and garlic chives have re emerged, a good 3cm above ground, self sown flat leaf parsley has also done well all through winter as has mint - applemint; spearmint and others - don't know the types, will photograph and perhaps someone can identify the varieties for me. regards Megan
Thanks for the tips. I have lots & lots of parsely & rosemary for Africa -you could almost call them trees! Mint starting to pop up & got some rocket sown, as in my garden it much prefers early spring. Plus a fair bit of fennel has also popped up & will definitely be sowing more. Some new thyme & marjoram planted on the weekend along with some marigolds. Got to love this great spring weather! Hoping to sow more seeds this weekend.
In the garden: Lots of self sown seedlings of flat leaved and curly parsley, calendula, sorrel and salad burnet. Garlic is growing well. Bay laurel, rosemary, sage, thyme, marjoram and oregano have survived the winter. Not sure where my chives went but they might turn up eventually, the garlic chives are still visible. The lemon balm, bergamot, anise hyssop and French tarragon are just getting going. The mint is up (the mint sauce sort) but the peppermint is not yet. The lemon verbena won't be out for a while yet. The lovage has just been rediscovered and rescued from the undergrowth :) Inside on the windowsill I'm sowing hyssop, basil, nigella, and elecampagne.
In the garden: Lots of self sown seedlings of flat leaved and curly parsley, calendula, sorrel and salad burnet. Garlic is growing well. Bay laurel, rosemary, sage, thyme, marjoram and oregano have survived the winter. Not sure where my chives went but they might turn up eventually, the garlic chives are still visible. The lemon balm, bergamot, anise hyssop and French tarragon are just getting going. The mint is up (the mint sauce sort) but the peppermint is not yet. The lemon verbena won't be out for a while yet. The lovage has just been rediscovered and rescued from the undergrowth :)
Inside on the windowsill I'm sowing hyssop, basil, nigella, and elecampagne.
Replies
French Tarragon only grows from roots-not seed. It usually appears in garden centres a lot later than other herbs as it is so cold sensitive and doesn't shoot until the weather is warm enough. I had difficulty finding mine but eventually found some well into summer. You could try trademe too.
Megan said:
Only the rocket has emerged yet, sowed directly into my newspaper pots, found some great videos on you tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms7hUdbl8Ds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1AzrqyzMOQ&feature=related and been busily folding ever since. I usually fold the flaps in so that the pots stack alongside each other more neatly, Can fit 20 or 36 to a seedling tray.
I dislike pricking out and repotting and would rather use tweezers to drop one or two seeds into each pot. Also reduces stress on the seedling not having to be transplanted! Have also sowed basil, usually manage to get rosemary & sage to take from cuttings left in a jar of water on the kitchen windowsill, pot up when there are a few roots. I coddle them the first winter and let them stay inside and then it's out into the harsh cold Queenstown winter.
Coriander seeds sown in autumn survived the winter in a seed tray (never pricked them out) and have planted out the seedlings into the raised bed beside the house. Kept the lemon verbena indoors for winter, didn't want to risk losing it. Be careful not to drink too much lemon verbena tea, it can irritate the kidneys (refer Rosemary Hemphill's book of herbs).
Lucky you Sealander, would be good to keep French tarragon going over winter, had some in a pot and lost it to the cold, can only find Russian tarragon in the seed catalogues and local nursery/garden centres - any suggestions on where to source French tarragon plants or seeds?
Both common and garlic chives have re emerged, a good 3cm above ground, self sown flat leaf parsley has also done well all through winter as has mint - applemint; spearmint and others - don't know the types, will photograph and perhaps someone can identify the varieties for me. regards Megan
Sealander said:
Inside on the windowsill I'm sowing hyssop, basil, nigella, and elecampagne.