Propagation of Herbs - starting from seed
By admin | April 17, 2006
I personally don’t have too much luck with starting herbs directly from seed. I suppose its the climate. I have to rely on the nursery. Here’s a look at the discussion on propagating herbs from seed:
PROPAGATION
SEEDS
Most herbs may be readily propagated by means of seeds. Some, however, such as tarragon, which does not produce seed, and several other perennial kinds, are propagated by division, layers, or cuttings. In general, propagation by means of seed is considered most satisfactory.
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Favorite Gardening Tools for my Culinary Herb Garden
By admin | April 16, 2006
Garden Tools: I know that you probably have your own favorite tools that you’ve used for years in your garden, but believe it or not, particular tools don’t matter much to me. To grow herbs takes only the basic garden tools and I don’t seem to have much need beyond a trowel and some clippers. I have a shed full of various gardening implements and, to tell you the truth, I don’t remember where most of them came from. Perhaps from yard sales or family, there are just too many shovels, spades, rakes and picks to choose from.
There are some gardening tools that I do rather like, but it seems that I never use them! My wife found at a thrift shop a rather nasty-looking turf cultivator thingy that looks quite dangerous. I think about it a lot, but have never used it! Of course, with my attention going to my culinary herb garden, I’ve neglected the lawn, but oh well!
Today’s reading from Culinary Herbs: Their Cultivation Harvesting Curing and Uses focuses on a look at some of the author’s herb planting tools. Let’s have a look at some old-time herb growing tools and techniques. Feel free to use these illustrations as you see fit:
Garden Hoes:
Adjustable Garden Row Marker:
Garden Spades:
Gardening Weeders:
Herb Cultivation Barrel:
Herb transplanting board and dibble:
Herb sun-shade made from lath boarding:
Spade fork:
Tags: Culinary Herb Garden, gardening tools, cooking with herbs
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Herb Cooking - Using Herbs for Garnishes
By admin | April 16, 2006
In our house, we dress the sides of plates with sprigs of rosemary. What a wonderful smell!
HERBS AS GARNISHES
As garnishes several of the culinary herbs are especially valuable. This is particularly true of parsley, which is probably more widely used than any other plant, its only close rivals being watercress and lettuce, which, however, are generally inferior to it in delicacy of tint and form of foliage, the two cardinal virtues of a garnish.
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Spring Cleanup in the Culinary Herb Garden
By admin | April 15, 2006
Culinary Herb Garden Enthusiasts: Spring has sprung and it’s time to rake the leaves out of the herb garden. I love that wonderful aroma that wafts up when raking out the herb bed. When last year’s twigs snap and crunch up, they release that powerful essense that reminds me of the magic and power of keeping herbs. Perhaps it’s mint, thyme or rosemary that is your favorite. Mine is sage. Whatever the herb, the aroma released during that first spring cleanup is a great way to start the season.
This year, we are going to blog along with our herb gardening. Hope you like the commentary and tips that we’ll provide. We’ll be quoting from a great classic book on culinary herbs and offerring a daily reading from it. The book is from 1912 or so really focuses on introducing people to the growing and culinary usage of herbs. Of course, we’ve all grown accustomed to growing and cooking with our own herbs, but it’s great to revisit this classic. Hope you gardeners and cooks really enjoy it. This culinary herb lover really does!
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