Grow An Indoor Herb Garden This Winter!
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- Cottage_Garden
- Carol Wallace
- Cottage_Garden
- Cottage_Garden
- Carol Wallace
- Jojo
- Cottage_Garden
- Cottage_Garden
- Maryel
- Cottage_Garden
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» Cottage_Garden - Don't forget -- The site will be down on Nov. 1 and 2 while we m
Don't forget -- The site will be down on Nov. 1 and 2 while we move everything into the new look!Barbara Martin
The Cottage Garden Editor
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
» Carol Wallace - I used to dig up a small bay tree every year and bringit in for
I used to dig up a small bay tree every year and bringit in for winter - I usually dug it in late September and never had anyproblem with it. But last year it suddenly dropped all its leavs and gave up the ghost - we had early cold and I may have dug it too late.I brought some garlic chives in last year. They seemed to want to go dormant and then send up brand new shoots. They then did quite well until I forgot to water them. ;-(
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Carol
virtually gardening
Northeast Pennsylvania, zone 6.
-- posted by Carol Wallace
» Cottage_Garden - Bay Trees
Most people I know who have bay trees (including me) keep them in their pots rather than planting and digging them. That allows us to place them where ever in the garden and use them to provide a taller accent in the design -- often needed in herb gardens as so many herbs are short. It can be a lovely central focal point if it is large enough and in a nifty sort of pot or urn, too.They will take a surprising amount of cold if conditioned.
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
» Cottage_Garden - Dragging in the pots!
Last night we had a low of 24F predicted so I dragged umpteen pots of scented geraniums, the bay tree, a water hyacinth, and a few other treasures indoors from the screened porch to the living room. Now where to put them!?! Today was raw and cold -- one of my hoses burst in the morning when things fianlly began to thaw out.-- posted by Cottage_Garden
» Carol Wallace - bay trees
My bay tree was only about a foot tall at the end of the second year - when I got it it was barely a rooted cutting.But I am beginning to appreciate the beauty of leaving somethings undisturbed in pots. I have been known to bury the pot because I want the plant to look part of the actual gardenscape - but more and more, I leave the root systems undisturbed.
-- posted by Carol Wallace
» Jojo - Indoor Herb Gardening
Laurel's article on indoor herb gardening just came up...-- posted by Jojo
» Cottage_Garden - Thanks Jojo!
As a horticulturist (yeah I need to update my bio some day!) I might have some different starting instructions but hey all gardeners are just plain opinionated if nothing else. In other words, whatever works for you!One thing we do agree on though is the links: the NGA link she likes so much is the Richter article I raved about last week in this article and of course, The Whole Herb site is on my permanent links list. The NGA site is also on my list (but I am a bit biased as duly noted in the review as I am on "virtual" staff there.)BOTH should be on everyone's list! 
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
» Cottage_Garden - About repotting: the forever potbound
Carol, I have found that the bay trees I have kept in pots needed to be up-potted as they grew -- as much for soil replenishment as for growth.Once they reach the desired size, they still need to be repotted regularly.Every year is best but every other year will do. The potting soil just deteriorates and basically wears out and is no good anymore, so it is important for the plant's overall health. A little root pruning (and minimal fertilizer) allows you to stay at a given pot size.
Young plants can actually be pushed to grow fairly fast -- that 6 inch tall cutting could be quite large in two or three years!
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
» Cottage_Garden - Let's hope you have better luck now!
Be sure to read Conrad Richter's instructions -- theya re the best I've ever seen and of course they should be since he is part of the famous Richter's.To be honest I think most herbs would prefer to have more, much more, light and better humidity than we can provide under normal household conditions. The addition of some good fluorescent light (the bulb very close to the plants) would probably help, but there is no substitute for the summer grown stuff.
I keep special plants like the bay tree and scented geraniums from year to year, but leave the rest in the garden.
Home grown and dried or frozen herbs, to me, are preferable to the wimpy light-starved pitiful little plants we usually end up with on the windowsill.
Then and again, it never hurts to try!
(big grin)
-- posted by Cottage_Garden
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