Monday, March 18, 2013

Herb Planting Time


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  


3 comments:

  1. 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!
    J.H.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! Can't wait to get started. As soon as the weather cooperates.

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  2. My friend Judy Harch wrote this:

    Makes 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.


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