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Sue
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Posted -
31/03/2007
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17:34
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I have just spent the last 3 full days digging out a formal herb garden, laid out in a French style symmetry.( hence the bad wrist). Now I need to plant things quickly before all those weeds come back
I already have rosemary, thyme, chives, mint, lemon balm, marjoram, and lavender(multiple plants of each). Has any one any ideas about othe perenial herbs that can with stand long periods with very little attention. The soil is well drained and very fertile. I have 8 symmetrical patches in all. Two are already filled. This year I am putting potatoes in another two of them , but I need some ideas for a long term permanent herb plot. I did think I would do one patch with annuals and biennials like parsley and basil.
Sue
Sue
If you keep searching you'll find it
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skooch
Regular Member
102 Posts
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Posted - 10/06/2008 : 10:10
Sorry, Stanley, I should have put a smiley or something in the previous post - I don't know how to edit, though. On rereading, it makes me sound like I'm telling you off for even thinking about bedding plants!
Yes, we are later than a lot here in N Yorkshire, from a weather point of view. I also have to contend with a very open garden, not much shelter - I think the wind comes roaring over from Barlick with nothing to stop it across the Pennines and smacks straight into my house. Have, over the years, planted hedges to try to reduce the speed from the front, to the veg plot at the back, but have lost 2 standard gooseberries which snapped when they were full of fruit. A very knowledgeable local gardener once told me he didn't think I'd ever get fruit to set. The hedges definitely help, but my pruning skills leave a lot to be desired!
Skooch
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 17/06/2008 : 06:30
The mint cuttings have all rooted. I have a bag of potting compost and today I'll fill a trench with it and plant the cuttings in the garden. Mint in abundance next year I reckon.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
skooch
Regular Member
102 Posts
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Posted - 17/06/2008 : 09:15
Stanley -
Do be careful with it in the garden - it's very invasive. When we moved here there was the most enormous patch of it - real tough stuff. It was evident, when I chopped it back that someone had had a go at burning it out. We didn't get rid of it, by any method, until we redesigned the garden and a digger dug it all out to make a terrace.
Even now, I have a square of it in flags, and it's lifting the flags!
skooch
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Sue
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Posted - 17/06/2008 : 10:01
Skooch, sorry I didn't reply earlier but we have been in the Lakes for a week and have been internetless. Your herbs etc sound good. Some of these I have but others not so. At the moment I have planted some lemon grass seeds in the greenhouse. Unfortunately some did not survive our week away but others are doing well. Stanley, I have often separated out the bunches of growing herbs that you can buy at the supermarket. These are usually forced and very wet and seem to respond well to some tender loving care. we now have a good plant of basil growing in the kitchen, with chives, thyme, and sage all growing well in the gardencourtesy of Tesco
Sue
If you keep searching you'll find it |
Sue
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Posted - 17/06/2008 : 10:03
Oh yes Stanley, we plant our mint in a sunken bucket or large flowerpot Sue
If you keep searching you'll find it |
moh
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Posted - 17/06/2008 : 13:30
Definitely keep it in check Stanley or it will smother your other herbs.
Say only a little but say it well |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 17/06/2008 : 17:45
Who cares! I love mint and can't have too much. I can always Paraquat it if I want to retrict it. (Can't beat an engineer's solution!)
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Sue
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Posted - 17/06/2008 : 18:19
Stanley., how is you southern wood doing now, mine seems quite dead, after years of growth
Sue
If you keep searching you'll find it |
skooch
Regular Member
102 Posts
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Posted - 17/06/2008 : 19:42
Stanley -
I'm with you on mint, but it does grow at a rate of knots in the season and gets 'old' quite quickly - I mean tough. This year I have tried an experiment. I have prob about 6 ft by 1 ft rectangle of it. About 3 or 4 weeks ago, I sheared about a third of it nearly back to the ground, and that has now come up new and fresh. I've just done it again with the middle bit. So Ive got a third big and going over which I've been picking, a third nice and young to be picked, and a third back to the ground for picking in about a month's time.
So far so good....
Sue -
Haven't got any southern wood - what is it used for?
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Sue
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Posted - 17/06/2008 : 23:59
Aroma really, not used in food. It can be used in flower arrangements and gives a lovely aromatic aroma. Wikepedia has a lot to say about it. In the past it did have allsorts of unusual uses
Sue
If you keep searching you'll find it |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 18/06/2008 : 08:49
The Ladslove (Southerwood nowadays) is thriving now it has grabbed hold. I did worry about it durnung the winter and might consider minimal protection for it next winter. Ladslove was often found next to the door of a cottage and along with Penny Royal was considered by some to be an abortificant. Not sure whether this was well founded. At Hey farm we had a big one next to the front door, a very old plant and sheltered by being next to a sourth facing wall.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 18/06/2008 : 08:51
Found this on tinternetwebthingy:
Traditionally Southernwood was used as a stimulant and antiseptic. It was an old remedy for baldness.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Cathy
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Posted - 18/06/2008 : 10:32
I have mint growing in my back garden (not a yard, I live in a unit), I like the look and aroma of it, but it does grow prolifically - ? - and looks good, without any help, I just keep chopping it back ... back ... back. I like Sue's suggestion of cutting some to enjoy for it's aroma .... I'll try that.
All thru the fields and meadows gay .... Enjoy Take Care...Cathy |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 18/06/2008 : 17:11
Just cut bunches and hang them in the kitchen Cath and use when required. Best tip I ever heard was to freeze bunches of mint in a bag and then knock the bag about. All the leaves shatter and if you pull the stalks out you are left with the equivalent of finely chopped mint.
Here are the mint cuttings near the wall ready to take over the world!
Sue was asking after the Ladslove, here it is this afternoon looking very happy after a heavy shower.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Sue
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Posted - 18/06/2008 : 18:52
Now here is a question, or should I say a plea, Stanley. Can you do the same magical work on your southern wood as you did with mint and produce some viable cuttings. You are the only person I know who has some and I have been unable to find any in the garden centres. In other words Stanley could you possibly do me a cutting or two, which I would of course come and collect
Sue
If you keep searching you'll find it |