It is that time again!!!!!!!!

[Cheyanne]

We are getting garden catalogs in the mail!!!

Spring is one of my most favorite seasons only because I can play in the dirt.. :D and we can plant flowers, hostas, trees... and start the veggie garden!

This year we have decided to start plants indoors. We did that about 4 years ago and had excellent results. The past 3 years we didn't really plan well and ended up purchasing plants at the garden center and the results were so-so...

I always like to try something different, and since we are starting from seed, I can acclimate the veggie plants that normally wouldn't grow in our region due to longer growth to harvest times.

So I am looking for some suggestions...

I am also really wanting to start an herb garden..but really have no idea where to start. Anyone know of some good books out there to buy? I would like herbs for cooking and also for teas so any suggestions would be appreciated.

[cowgirltease]

Good to see someone else knows how to use a HOE.....:D

[Lilith]

I have several herb gardens. They are one of my most favorite things. I have not had much luck starting herbs from seed aside from basil and dill. I purchase new herb plants from a local nursery twice a year. When I first started I checked out a few herb books at the library mainly for usage and cooking ideas. Right now all I have still visible in the gardens is rosemary, bergamot, marjoram, feverfew, pineapple sage, chocolate mint and St. John's Wort. Hopefully the perennials will be showing back up in a month or so. If you have any questions about herbs feel free to ask. If I don't know, I will probably know someone who does.

[LixyChick]

The one thing I've heard about herbs is......if you don't want them taking up a lot of space....plant them in pots! Most are spreaders and can just go and go! Mint, for example, is voracious...and in time will take up most of your bed! I spose you could do raised beds and curtail them to just that space.....but for the most part they can be hardy and really take off if you aren't careful!

I can't remember (from the spring/summer thread) exactly what you usually plant......and so I'll lay off the suggestions till I know what you and Cobalt are up for!

Oh goodie! I love getting my spring/summer catalogs on days when I know snow is coming and the months drag on and it's colder than a brass commode on the shady side of an iceberg!!! It makes me warm all over to look at them!

*Goes to the mailbox and reaches far into the back in case the catalogs got scrunched in*

[Mae]

Thanks for the thread! You remind me I've a massive bed of mint to get rid of. When we bought the house, it had taken over a third of the backyard. Some of it froze back. But, you know mint... Lilith...have you ever done an herb garden from 300 to 600 years ago. Some of the ancient herbs? It sounds like you are well versed in herbs and I'm curious. :)

[Lilith]

Actually I planted penny royal in my back yard, it's related to pyrethrin and is a natural flea/tick repellent. Has made a huge difference in the health of my outdoor dogs.

I once checked out a book on herb gardens in the past. Most of it dealt with planting patterns and I think I spent about a zillion dollars on herbs that year but had poor results where I planted them. I have seriously clay soil and have had much better luck in raised or small well doctored beds. I have grown or tried to grow almost everything available in my local area. I have tried without success for years to grow some form of lavender. sage and thyme burn up here too eventually. This year I am gonna try to grow them in the shadows of some taller rosemary bushes.

What kinds of ancient herbs are you interested? I need something new to play with, and hunting rare herbs sounds like fun.

[Mae]

Lilith - I'll take a look at my books. I'm still digging them out. I think it would be neat to try a small bed of them. I'll post 'em when I find the darn books!

[sillyme]

Would love to help Cheyanne but I have a seriously black thumb :(

[skipthisone]

I will be gardenless this year for the 1st time in 8 years...my poor lonely tillers.

[Cheyanne]

Will head to the library to see what is on the shelves. :D

Parsly & Chives are pretty much the norm (easy) for herbs that I do... we have garlic chives and lemon chives come up every year. I also plant nosturmas (flower) which is edible - blooms and leaves.. kinda a light spicy/lemony flavor and bachelor buttons which are edible too. We have dill growing wild all over the place so I don't plant that. I would like to try the basil, rosemary, and itallian herbs. Really haven't gone past that yet. Would love to have a nice bed of lavender (for sachets).

Our veggie garden usually consists of 3-4 types of tomatoes, swiss chard, spinich, carrots, 2-3 types of squash, probably beets this year, brocolli, cabbage (green & red), lettuce mixture, 4-5 types of peppers and jalapeno peppers (usually about 6-8 plants), kolhrabi, green & yellow beans, sugar snap peas, cucumbers and radishes.

The other plot is full of sunflowers, pumpkin and corn.

The third plot if full of onions with a divider because the straberries are on the other side because the soil there is pretty sandy.

Then we have about a 35 ft double row of asparagus that we planted 4 years ago that should really produce well this year + 2 other areas of it growing wild in the yard.

We also have 2 large patches of red raspberries and a patch of black raspberries. 5 red current bushes and 6 gooseberry bushes which should produce really well this year too. Then beside that we have a "giant" patch of rhubarb.

3 apple trees and 2 plum trees. 2 of the apple trees produce the other trees probably have another 3 years before we can harvest anything from them. Cobalt's dad has a big mullberry tree that he doesn't do anything with and if we can get to them before the birds (good luck) we have those too.

We also work on the landscape with additional trees, plants & shrubs. The summer before last we made a "rock" garden near our deck with sand cherries, hostas, and other various plants... should look pretty nice this year because we don't have as many outside dogs.. grrrrrrrr (if you know what I mean).

We love living in the country!!!!!! :D

[PantyFanatic]

We also have 2 large patches of red raspberries and a patch of black raspberries
LMAO;)

Your place sounds like a lot of work but heaven.:)

You sure have a lot of bushes going there.:rolleyes: Have you been talking to that northern foreigner?:confused:

Anybody know how to grow a cow?

[Lilith]

Mulberries are my absolute fave, brings back great childhood memories. Mr. Lil goes and hunts me some every year.

Chey~ your garden sounds wonderful. Wild dill, I'd be in heaven.

[lakritze]

My herbs always die.boo hoo.I cannot get them to grow anywhere.I like plantig bulbs though.By march or April I shold have some nice tulips,daffodils and narcissis.