petunia
Highly Skillful
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 1600
PlantStew: 165 |
| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:19 am Post subject: |
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Biita: Thanks for the info on the dills. I'll make a note of that. I didn't get interested in herbs till I moved here from our downstate area. I moved my herb garden to a bigger area last year so I could plant more this year.
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Petunia
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just_a_penguin
Just Arrived
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Location: Tacoma, WA (Map)
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:11 am Post subject: |
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Hmm, I'm jealous. Apartment life stinks!
Hey, the stevia plant you mentioned...it that the edible sweet-tasting stevia? I'd never thought to grow my own (our government here in the states doesn't allow stevia as a food product...it would be competition for the artificial sweetener companies) what kind of care does it need?
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glendann
Official Garden Angel
Joined: 19 May 2006
Location: Texas (Map)
Posts: 7162
PlantStew: 219 |
| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:32 am Post subject: |
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I use my Life Water and Vitamin Water Bottles and plant about 2 seeds in the middle of the potting soil.I take and old knife with a long blade and fork on the end get it hot and melt the top of all the way around about middle ways of the bottles and get the fork part hot and put holes in the bottom.I do the same thing to all my butter bowls.I also use peat pots.Love the dirt playing.
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1834
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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Wow,, i think we need one big huge dirt pile to all play in,,,lol.
thats the great thing about planting,, anything goes an is good. no matter what the container is,, i also save mine till they just fall apart.
Sjoerd, Rød means Red in norwegian. the pepper plants are actually Piri Piri seeds, just kind of an experiment with them, i usually grow japanese red chili peppers, but i don't have the seeds yet. those will get ordered next month. these were from some pepper plants that a friend of mine grew an gave me a bunch of the peppers, then i dried them. well i still had 3 little chilis just sitting there so i cracked one open an put 5 seeds in the container,,,lol.. guess we'll see what happens soon.
Justa Penguin, that is the ediable stevia. an really sweet too. that also was a freak growing experience, i was given just a few seeds, an 2 plants took, last yr. i still have them both, harvested them in fall. then let them die down an put away in a dark place for the winter. now i have them on the heat, getting light, gave them a really good soaking first, now i will let it dry then only water from the top, not the bottom, the roots sit close to the top, when i fertalize i will do that from the bottom an let it soak up into the plant, so as not to kill it with to much at one time. also it could just not grow at all this yr, but i won't throw it out because sometimes they go dormant for a yr or two...
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Sjoerd
Enlightened One
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 2691
PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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Those piri-piri seeds sound good. I really like food seasoned with them. The Portugueese do alot with that pepper that is delicious.
Now I've got so much pepper hanging and drying, I will have enough for the coming two years. It'l;l be time to process them soon.
I thought it was RED. It's amazing how many words that are similiar to dutch.
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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Palm Tree
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Location: Cape Town (Map)
Posts: 922
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Congratulations on getting your hands dirty again. It sure is a lovely feeling. especially if one could not do so on account of the weather.
I like your selection of herbs that you grow - especially the chillies - we love them here and I also grow them. Great to have fresh herbs at hand for cooking purposes.
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1834
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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I agree Palm tree, thats why i planted some, i got tired of using dried, an craved something fresh. take a little while but at least i know its there soon.
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Silman45
Just Arrived
Joined: 31 Jan 2008
Location: Southeastern Tennessee
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:49 am Post subject: |
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I need help! I have Rosemary growing outside, it survives year round, but I have trouble growing any other herb...and I have no clue how to dry rosemary...so I only use it fresh! Help?
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Palm Tree
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Location: Cape Town (Map)
Posts: 922
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:52 am Post subject: |
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Hi Silman
I do not actually dry Rosemary, but I happen to have an established plant in my backyard that is quite a prolific provider.
However if you do want to dry them check this page http://www.landscape-and-garden.com/Herbs/growing-herbs.aspx
as it will give you a few different ways to dry herbs. I am still working on these pages so please excuse the messiness at present.
Hope you get something useful. 
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Sjoerd
Enlightened One
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 2691
PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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Like Palm Tree says on her website. It is simple. Just hang it up and let it dry. We do it pretty much as she has outlined. Then when it is ready, we chop it fine in a sort of blender. A step that probably isn't necessary, but I just like ut that way.
I used to come across the "needles" in my food that were still a little tough. I guess if one does Indian cooking they would soften like the cardamom pods do. But then it cooks for hours and hours.
We keep the dried and grounf needles in little glass containers until they are needed.
Good luck with yours.
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
Last edited by Sjoerd on Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:41 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1834
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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Thats what i do i hang mine up an just let it dry naturally. then i have a spice grinder that i use to make it ediable. i do love it fresh also. i keep mine in old peanut butter jars, labled. just take off the old lables, clean real good, put a new lable on,,, an your good to go.
nice site Palmtree, thanks for posting!
as far as growing rosemary outside, i keep mine inside, for a long time an it only goes out for about 2 months out of the yr.... i live in the Artic,,lol.
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kaseylib
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 28 Dec 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 636
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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I used to work in a greenhouse, and loved playing in the dirt at this time of year. We filled huge cattle troughs with bags of dirt and were up to our elbows in dirt filling containers and plating. I really miss that smell...dirt really does smell so fresh and clean! Many times by mid-February all of us workers had a good tan going from the sun shining through the plastic hoop houses. Has anything sprouted for you yet?
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1834
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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actually yes!!! i have watercress, basil, all 5 chili seeds sprouted, i also planted the next day some chickory, an now that is sprouted, an the lemon balm has started to get fat an ready to burst. the mint an parsley i'm still waiting on.
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blackrose
On The Way Up
Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Location: Galway
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:07 am Post subject: |
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Now playing in the dirt has a good meaning... 
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Just Kearneys
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1834
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| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:19 am Post subject: |
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yes it does Blackrose,,and to think no one can hollar at us,,lol.
Everything has sprouted an is doing great! i've already used the water cress in a salads or i just pick it an eat,,
since then yesterday i planted tarragon, marjorium and blade corriander, more lemon balm and parsley. (i use alot of lemon balm for fish an teas)
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