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Herbs 'N Spices: Spring Notes
Herbs seeds to start now and transplant out after
the last frost: chamomile, catnip, chives, horehound,
hyssop, lavender, lemon balm, lovage, pennyroyal,
sage, salad burnet, winter savory and wormwood.
The following need a little less time; about 6 weeks:
basil, borage, calendula, clary sage, coriander,
summer savory, rosemary, and marjoram. I do
start basil, borage and calendula outside once the
heavy frosts are gone too. You can also start a
few inside and direct seed the rest later.
Idea: if you don't have space or the time to start
an actual herb garden but you already plant
vegetables, simple plant herbs at the edges. You
can easily direct seed dill on one end, fennel on
the other, and use other herbs such as basil and
chives as dividers. They help the garden, keep
away some pests and add fragrance.
Pruning Lavender: Yes, I know it's hard because
you are afraid to ruin it, but it needs to be done.
Trim any leggy looking stems, and any woody,
rough looking or misshapen stems. Prune it this
spring and it will look wonderful this summer!
Herbs for shade: sweet woodruff, violets, evening
primrose, & wintergreen can take fairly heavy
shade. Lady's Mantle, angelica, sweet cicely &
monkshood can take partial shade. OFL~
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Herbs 'N Spices: Spring Notes
Many of you may have noticed that sage plants
can get rather woody and look quite scraggly.
First clear out any dead stems and laves, then
pile good soil in the center of the plant. Leave
this for a few months and you'll find the bear
stems that were there when you piled in the
dirt have now rooted. You can detach them and
replant or pot and give away what you don't
need. Gently remove the soil from a branch
and cut below the roots.
DIVIDING CHIVES
Chives are very easy to divide, and it should
be done every 2-3 years. Dig carefully around
the plant, loosening the dirt. Remove the plant
and shake gently (wait for a dry day when the
soil won't be wet.). All you have to do is pull
the clump apart where you want to divide it,
then either pot or replant the sections. I also
pull out any brown or dead stems as I do this.
If you don't need more clumps of chives, pot
them up in a pretty pot and give them as Easter
gifts!
MARY'S GARDEN
Many people are interested in Biblical themed
herb gardens, or herbs that monks may have
had in their gardens in times past. The following
are what herbalists call Mary's herbs, named for
various reasons, after the Virgin Mary.
Lady's Mantle: alchemilla mollis
Lady's Smock: Cardamine pratensis
Lady's Bedstraw: Galium verum
Our Lady's keys/cowslip: Primula veris
Costmary: Tanacetum balsamita
Pot Marigold: Calendula officinalis
Our Lady's Tears/Lily of the valley
Madonna lily: lilium candidum
Our Lady's Milk thistle: silybum marianum
Note that not all of these are edible, so it would be
a historical herb themed garden
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