Herb Planting Time
I have been buying basil in my favorite Whole Foods market
all winter. A package of the hydroponic herb can last several weeks, sometimes
longer. It is one of my favorite spices. So now that the weather is hinting at
Spring, I am beginning to think of planting some in my garden.
I already have mint back there. It comes back every year. At
first I had planted mint in the ground but it spread so fast and so far that it
threatened to be the only thing growing in that space. I dug up as much as I
could and replanted it in a large pot, which gives me more than enough leaves
for my needs. I still get outcrops of mint where I least expect it but it is
manageable.
This year I think I will make an attempt to grow my own
basil outside. My friend’s neighbor, who owns an Italian restaurant, has a
virtual nursery of basil plants in pots outside his townhouse. It doesn’t seem
that hard to do. I would be in basil heaven to have so much of that herb
growing in my garden.
I am also thinking of planting cilantro, which I absolutely
love. Cilantro, like basil, has many uses – in sauces, salads, sprinkled into
soups. And the simplest of all is to add some to any kind of sandwich for a
distinctive lift.
Yes, I will plant herbs this Spring. I don’t need a whole
lot, just a bit. They are subtle tastes but their presence always makes me take
notice. I think they will be a good reminder to pay attention, to be in the
present while eating, a very Yogic concept. Maybe that little bit of herbal
awareness will generalize and spice up the rest of my day.
The basics of basil and other herbs -
definition, planting, harvesting, drying,and more:
http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/herbs/ne208hrb.htm
Basil is easy to grow and smells so good in the garden. I plant mine in pots. The more you pinch it back, the more you get and the bigger the leaves. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteJ.H.
Thanks! Can't wait to get started. As soon as the weather cooperates.
DeleteMy friend Judy Harch wrote this:
ReplyDeleteMakes me hungry for growing season. In our heavily wooded yard, basil doesn't do well. We plant it in pots on the sunny deck. I love plucking a fat bunch for homemade marina sauce. The aroma of basil is divine!
Thanks, Judy. I totally agree about both the sauce and the aroma.