New to All Herbs- May have gone overboard

17 years ago

Okay, so Im 16 and I recently moved to La Vernia, Texas and am very excited to be able to garden after living in Las Vegas. My problem is that I may have gone overboard when I bought my seeds. The seeds that I bought are:

Common Chives

Sweet Basil

Lemon Balm

Oregano

Parsley- Extra Curled Dwarf

Rosemary

Sage

Common Thyme

German Chamomile

Lavendar

Peppermint

Tarragon

Now for my questions, here it goes :)

When should I start these seeds? Which should be started inside and which should be directly planted? What do I need to do to prepare the soil? Where should I plant my herb garden, in a sunny or shady spot?

Sorry this is so long. Any help would be greatly appreciated. When you respond, please keep in mind that Im 16, so simple terms are best, as my brain is pretty much fried from my AP classes.

Thanks So Much

Lauren :)

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Comments (2)

neil_allen
17 years ago
You can start the chives, lemon balm, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender and peppermint just about any time. I don't know what your frost situation is in Las Vegas, but I'd suspect that you could start these now indoors under lights and plant them outside when the dangers of a hard freeze were past. These are all fairly tough plants -- perennials or biennials that can take a little frost. Most would do better started indoors in small pots. The parsley, sage and lemon balm are the best candidates for direct outdoor sowing. Indoors or out, when you start the parsley, pour some boiling water over it -- it can take a while to germinate.

German chamomile can be sown outdoors but I'd wait until I was pretty sure I wouldn't get a lot of frost. It's a fairly hardy annual. Basil is an annual, too, but it's very frost-sensitive. I'd start it indoors.

If you have seeds for tarragon, you should know that it isn't the kind that cookbooks call for -- that tarragon does not set viable seed. I suspect you have Russian tarragon, which is tasteless, or Mexican tarragon, which has a tarragon-like taste but which is in a different plant family. If it's Mexican tarragon, try planting it outdoors when frost is unklikely. If it's Russian tarragon, don't bother -- chalk the price of the seeds up to experience. For real tarragon, buy a small plant. It can supply you with tarragon for years.

All of these herbs do fine in full-sun-all-day spots, although they will survive some shade. If you have a choice, choose sun.

I have no idea what you soil is like, but herbs do fine in most garden soils except in really wet spots (and the mint will do ok even there). The gardening column in your local paper will give you a better idea than I can of what kinds of things you might have to add to your soil. Just remember that herbs do not require the richest soils.

Good luck, enjoy your herbs, don't worry.
giniag
17 years ago
Welcome to Texas! Neil has lots of good advice. Get your parsley going right away, it will not last long into our hot summers. Mexican Mint Marigold (or Mexican Tarragon) is what we use to cook with, as it is all we can grow here. It's a beautiful native plant as well.

Get in contact with your county's horticultural agent and the Master Gardeners. We MG's are happy to see new gardening enthusiasts, and there is even a Junior Master Gardener program in some schools. If your county doesn't have an MG program, contact people in San Antonio and/or Austin. There are some wonderful people there. I know a particular lady in Austin who is terrific with herbs. I will see if I can get her to reply to you on this forum.

You will be happiest if you go ahead and start seeds in small peat pots, or plastic cell trays with a seed starting mixture. Put them outside in betweeen these cold fronts that are blasting through so they can get some good sunshine. Do not let them dry out, but don't let them sit in water either. Once established, most herbs take drought conditions pretty well - you live in a terrific spot for herb gardens. You will get a lifetime of pleasure and good eating. Herbs also make great companion plants in regular garden beds.

Also, check out Festival Hill in Round Top, Texas. They have a great Herbal Forum in March. The link is:

http://www.festivalhill.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=33&MMN_position=48:48

Two of the best Herb experts in the country, Madeleine Hill and Gwen Barclay (check out their book, Southern Herb Growing) are in residence there. Even if you can't make the festival, go as soon as you can. You could make it a day trip.

Don't worry, going overboard is something that a true gardener does.

Ginia
MG, Harris & Chambers Counties, Texas

Here is a link that might be useful: Festival Hill herbal Forum
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New to All Herbs- May have gone overboard

Comments (2)

neil_allen

giniag

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