Club Gardening - Herbs
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I have just started growing some basil leaves in the pot.Sure hope it will grow.I dont have a green finger.The only plant that grow is probably my curry leaves and a palm tree and that is all.so sad right?
Lynn2 -
Lynn2:
So nice to hear that you are growing your own basil plant. It thrives better under strong sunlight. So, find a sunny spot in your home and leave the pot there. My basil leaves come in very handy whenever I make any pasta dishes. You can also try growing rosemary plant as well. It grows very well.I have just started growing some basil leaves in the pot.Sure hope it will grow.I dont have a green finger.The only plant that grow is probably my curry leaves and a palm tree and that is all.so sad right?
Lynn2 -
micollh:
i bought one pot of Basil from pasar malam.. this type can use for cooking right? my house cant get much sunlight outside, so i thnk it's not growing well.. like drying up.. so sad lor.. how to grow basil/mint properly ? it surely needs sunlight right? any method to grow like water or something
Yes, basil can be used for cooking. I am reproducing what I wrote earlier on how to take care of your herb garden. Hope it helps!!schweppes:
:celebrate:According to dh my plant doctor, this is his advice:
1. Find a sunny spot in your house, garden, corridor, balcony
2. Ensure that your herb plants grow under direct and strong sunlight - herb plants thrive better under sunny conditions
3. Water the plants daily but please don't drown them by over-watering them. To prevent drowning of your plant, get one of the pots with drainage so that the excess water will drain off. Remember to throw away any excess water collected, otherwise u'll invite mozzies to grow
4. For fertilisers, go to the nursery and ask for \"Slow Release Fertiliser\". The trade name is Osmocote.
To build confidence in growing your herb garden, start off with herbs like rosemary, basil, oregano, borage and even pandan. They are quite hardy and grow quite well independently. Of course, dont forget to water them daily.
Flowering plants, whilst nice to look at, can be a challenge to grow. Dh mentioned that sometimes, after planting the seeds, you will get the plant growing but not flowering. Sometimes, our climate or soil conditions may not be right for the flowers that we are attempting to grow. That's why flowering plants are tricky. When growing flowers from seeds, must also exercise patience and they can take some time to flower. Still, no harm trying. Part of the fun in the learning and discovery process for the family.
hope that helps :celebrate: -
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m560/cylsfun/5825dc07.jpg\">
There is something really satisfying about cooking with herbs from your own garden. These are my almost weekly harvest from my little herb planter that I started in May. The kids and I can spend like an hour in our little garden looking at the ecosystem going on there. They will ask me why I let some insects stay but get rid of others. DS even started his list of beneficial/harmful insects. -
Funz:
WHOA Funz!! Well done :salute:http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m560/cylsfun/5825dc07.jpg\">
There is something really satisfying about cooking with herbs from your own garden. These are my almost weekly harvest from my little herb planter that I started in May. The kids and I can spend like an hour in our little garden looking at the ecosystem going on there. They will ask me why I let some insects stay but get rid of others. DS even started his list of beneficial/harmful insects.
very lovely crop of harvest u have there! ISn't it gratifying to cook something from your own garden?
Currently, I have this pot of chill padi that is thriving well. For some reason, when I see my chilli plant i think of u as I know u love your chillis. haha!! -
schweppes:
:rotflmao: Chilli plant reminds you of me. Maybe should change my nick to chilli padi, which incidentally was one of my childhood nicks cos of my size but sharp tongue and quick temper.
WHOA Funz!! Well done :salute:Funz:
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m560/cylsfun/5825dc07.jpg\">
There is something really satisfying about cooking with herbs from your own garden. These are my almost weekly harvest from my little herb planter that I started in May. The kids and I can spend like an hour in our little garden looking at the ecosystem going on there. They will ask me why I let some insects stay but get rid of others. DS even started his list of beneficial/harmful insects.
very lovely crop of harvest u have there! ISn't it gratifying to cook something from your own garden?
Currently, I have this pot of chill padi that is thriving well. For some reason, when I see my chilli plant i think of u as I know u love your chillis. haha!! -
Funz:
aiyoh... hope u were not offended. :imsorry: That's not what i meant hor
:rotflmao: Chilli plant reminds you of me. Maybe should change my nick to chilli padi, which incidentally was one of my childhood nicks cos of my size but sharp tongue and quick temper. -
micollh:
i bought one pot of Basil from pasar malam.. this type can use for cooking right? my house cant get much sunlight outside, so i thnk it's not growing well.. like drying up.. so sad lor.. how to grow basil/mint properly ? it surely needs sunlight right? any method to grow like water or something
Mints (and laksa leaves) are water hungry full sun plants. They like soil that tends to be somewhat clayey... and direct sunlight for at least 4 hours a day. More is better.
Sweet basils (3 hours) prefer less direct sun than thai basils (6 hours), and they both need soil that drains but retains a lot of water. Basils tend to attract pests. If your basil is withering even though you water everyday, it may be due to
(1) root rot (because too much water and not enough sun). Once the roots rot, the plant can't absorb water
(2) soil mealies (these soft bodied insects live in the soil and attach themselves to your plant's roots and suck the life sap out of it)
I have lost many a pot of sweet basil to soil mealies. They are very hard to eradicate. The most effective solution so far is to immerse the whole pot into strong soap water (I use SPIN washing machine detergent) with a few drops of tea tree oil. These are edible plants so I did not want to use pesticides.
Washing detergent dissolves the furry protective layer on the coats of these pests and they dehydrate to death. Washing detergent also breaks down into components that plants need for growth... e.g., nitrogen...
Edible herbs tend to attract pests. Whatever humans like to eat, insects also find yummy. I watch my plants for early signs of infestation and then quickly act. If the pests are leaf mealies... or spider mites, the solution is simple. These pests live on plant leaves. Just bathe the plant everyday for 2 weeks using your fingers to gently rub each leaf and stem. After washing, leave in bright shade to prevent leaf burn. You can use dishwash. Make a foam with your hands and bathe the plant. Must repeat over 2 weeks to get at the eggs that hatch progressively over time.
The best way to counter pests is to fertilise well. Plants need a balanced diet. So I rotate plant fertiliser from week to week...
(1) calcium sulphate
(2) fish emulsion
(3) seaweed extract
(4) Phostrogen
(5) fermented milk
(6) High phosphorus chemical fert -
Funz:
OMG! These are very lovely herbs!! Congratulations!!http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m560/cylsfun/5825dc07.jpg\">
There is something really satisfying about cooking with herbs from your own garden. These are my almost weekly harvest from my little herb planter that I started in May. The kids and I can spend like an hour in our little garden looking at the ecosystem going on there. They will ask me why I let some insects stay but get rid of others. DS even started his list of beneficial/harmful insects. -
Chenonceau:
Thanks dear.. i have lots to learn.. let me absorb what you have shared.. thanks !!micollh:
i bought one pot of Basil from pasar malam.. this type can use for cooking right? my house cant get much sunlight outside, so i thnk it's not growing well.. like drying up.. so sad lor.. how to grow basil/mint properly ? it surely needs sunlight right? any method to grow like water or something
Mints (and laksa leaves) are water hungry full sun plants. They like soil that tends to be somewhat clayey... and direct sunlight for at least 4 hours a day. More is better.
Sweet basils (3 hours) prefer less direct sun than thai basils (6 hours), and they both need soil that drains but retains a lot of water. Basils tend to attract pests. If your basil is withering even though you water everyday, it may be due to
(1) root rot (because too much water and not enough sun). Once the roots rot, the plant can't absorb water
(2) soil mealies (these soft bodied insects live in the soil and attach themselves to your plant's roots and suck the life sap out of it)
I have lost many a pot of sweet basil to soil mealies. They are very hard to eradicate. The most effective solution so far is to immerse the whole pot into strong soap water (I use SPIN washing machine detergent) with a few drops of tea tree oil. These are edible plants so I did not want to use pesticides.
Washing detergent dissolves the furry protective layer on the coats of these pests and they dehydrate to death. Washing detergent also breaks down into components that plants need for growth... e.g., nitrogen...
Edible herbs tend to attract pests. Whatever humans like to eat, insects also find yummy. I watch my plants for early signs of infestation and then quickly act. If the pests are leaf mealies... or spider mites, the solution is simple. These pests live on plant leaves. Just bathe the plant everyday for 2 weeks using your fingers to gently rub each leaf and stem. After washing, leave in bright shade to prevent leaf burn. You can use dishwash. Make a foam with your hands and bathe the plant. Must repeat over 2 weeks to get at the eggs that hatch progressively over time.
The best way to counter pests is to fertilise well. Plants need a balanced diet. So I rotate plant fertiliser from week to week...
(1) calcium sulphate
(2) fish emulsion
(3) seaweed extract
(4) Phostrogen
(5) fermented milk
(6) High phosphorus chemical fert