I have lots of alpine strawberries that I just got from a friend that was thinning hers out. I am interested in thyme, rosemary and oregano plants. Stacie

Hello littleminnie, Im intersted in trading Anchusa Dropmore some me 2011 baptisia australis some me 2011 Chinese Wisteria 50 local 2012 Only need a handfull of wisteria and baptisia. Let me know if i have anything you need. Thanks, Billy http://members.gardenweb.com/members/exch/youngent

I don't have anything to share yet but I'm curious about what you're doing. Do you have a little park you're dressing up or are you just planting in front of your own building or are you planting for the elderly in your neighborhood as well? I live in a poorer section of town and have thought about planting herbs in the two 5x5 patches of grass(well dirt since the children tend to tread any grass down to nothing) in front of my apartment house to "dress it up" a little. I'm sure my landlord would let me (without a doubt) but I'm worried about the kids in the neighborhood not respecting the garden and running through it as they do now. A few years ago the landlord's mother put a little white plastic fence (8-10 inches tall) up around the edges of one side and tried to grow grass in it but the kids had the fence destroyed within days and the grass never really grew. I'm also trying to start an indoor porch garden on my back porch (2nd floor, enclosed not a balcony) and am looking for herbs and tomatoes to grow there. I figured if I had surpluses or was sent some flowers as bonuses I'd plant them out front... (as well as share with others who could use them on this site) but the children pose a problem. Any ideas or suggestions?

I am not sure if I missed the weather zone you are from, but I did not see it. You mention that your preference is for Basil, Oregano and Cilantro and it's already fall. Unless you are in California or Arizona/NM/Texas (warm states), I do not think that Basil and Cilantro would work outside. They are definitely summer herbs. You can still grow Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Marjorum and Parsley. They're wonderful plants and most likely perennials in most zones (sorry, they are definitely in California where I live but I do not know about other zones). I'd prefer to get pots rather than seeds, given the time of the year. Also, with herbs, there is so much genetic variation that you never know if what grows out of your seed would be a decent quality (I've tried growing Greek Oregano from seed and it had no flavor). If you must keep them in pots, choose large pots, at least 16" diameter (and correspondingly deep). I have mine in 12" pots; they are ok but the size is quite compact. Also, get at least a couple of herb pots per variety. You will be surprised how much you eat in one shot! Regarding Basil, when you do get it after frost is over next year, plant it in the ground. I've grown mine in a pot and have learnt that it grows much better in the ground. Regarding fertilizing, I've grown herbs successfully for past 6 years without fertilizing them (ever, and I mean ever). However, you can apply Fish Emulsion if you feel guilty about neglecting them. Good luck with growing herbs. Home grown herbs are great; and you will enjoy stepping out and pinching just what you need and use it fresh. It cannot be beat!