SC - Burpee's latest, for those who are interested...

[Philippa Alderton]

BURPEE GARDEN NEWS
=====================
November 1, 2000

The Burpee Garden News is presented by your friends
at Burpee and the National Gardening Association.
=====================

Growing Herbs Indoors

Even though cold temperatures are putting an end to
outdoor herb gardens in many regions, you don't have
to be without fresh herbs this winter. Some herbs are
suitable for indoor growing, if you can provide enough light.
As expatriates of the Mediterranean region, most flavorful
herbs need more than 4 hours of direct sunshine per day.
Here are some guidelines for growing healthy herbs indoors:

Planting:

* Basil, chives, cilantro, lemon verbena, marjoram, oregano,
parsley, savory, rosemary, and thyme are good choices for
indoor growing. Burpee's Culinary Herb Container Garden
comes with seeds, growing mix, and a container for starting
6 different herbs. (See the Herb Garden at:
http://www.burpee.com/detail.asp?from=3&catID=97&prodID=707

* Plant herb seeds in the same soilless mix you use for
other indoor plants, or in a mixture of 1/3 sand, 1/3 peat moss,
and 1/3 soil. Herbs require excellent drainage, especially
during the winter months, when their growth is slower. To
improve drainage, add sharp sand or perlite to the planting mix.
Most herb seeds are small and should be planted no more
than 1/4 inch deep in moist mix, or sprinkled on the top and
covered lightly with mix. Sow seeds in either trays or pots.

* Mist the soil and cover the containers with plastic wrap to
keep seeds moist until they germinate. Or use one of
Burpee's tabletop mini-greenhouses to provide the warm,
moist environment needed for good germination.
(See the Small Electric Greenhouse at:
http://www.burpee.com/detail.asp?from=4&catID=8&prodID=751
See the Windowsill Greenhouse at:
http://www.burpee.com/detail.asp?from=4&catID=8&prodID=711
See the Large Non-electric Greenhouse at:
http://www.burpee.com/detail.asp?from=4&catID=8&prodID=749)

* Some herbs are quicker to start from cuttings than from seeds.
To do this, make 3- to 4-inch cuttings from healthy stems of
outdoor herb plants. Remove leaves from the lower half of the
cutting, dip it into rooting hormone, and plant the cutting in a
soilless mix. Water gently and cover the container with a plastic
bag until new top growth appears.

Keeping Plants Healthy:

* To give herb plants room to grow to maturity, thin or transplant
the seedlings to one per 4-inch container.

* Fertilize plants once a week with a dilute liquid houseplant
fertilizer when they are actively growing.

* Once the plants are growing vigorously, start harvesting the
leaves and pinching back the stems regularly to keep the plants
from getting too leggy.

* Some herbs, such as basil, parsley, and cilantro, prefer
consistently moist soil. Others, such as thyme, oregano,
and rosemary, prefer the soil to dry out a bit more between
waterings. In general, water less often and more thoroughly,
and only when the soil is almost dry. When the soil is dry to
the touch, add water until it comes out of the bottom of the pot.
If the water doesn't come out, the pots have a drainage problem.
First, see if the holes are blocked. If not, you may have to repot
with soil that has better drainage.

* Ideally herbs need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.
If your indoor herbs receive less light, consider installing
supplementary lighting. The light coming through a window
may seem bright to your eyes, but its intensity in winter is often
less than one-tenth that of outdoor light during a summer day.
Herbs can be grown under grow lights for about 12-14 hours
a day, or you can supplement the sunlight with a few hours
under grow lights. Burpee's Window Sill Extender provides
a wider surface for windowsill growing. (See the Sill Extender at:
http://www.burpee.com/detail.asp?from=4&catID=8&prodID=805)

Question of the Week:
=================
Q. I'm starting a windowsill herb garden and wonder what
the best way is to plant tiny seeds and what will happen if
there are too many seeds in one pot?

A. You can mix seed with sand to help prevent sprinkling too
many seeds at one time; use tweezers to place the seeds;
or pour a small quantity onto a plate and brush the tiniest
possible amount across the soil. If too many seeds sprout
too close together, they will need thinning to allow for ample
light and air circulation. The best way to thin seedlings is to
cut them off at the soil line with tiny scissors. If seedlings are
too crowded, they can become leggy and weak. Crowding
also invites fungal and other diseases, which can wipe
out the entire batch.

=================
Browse Burpee's herb selections at: http://www.burpee.com/he_gateway.asp



Phlip

Nolo disputare, volo somniare et contendere, et iterum somniare.

phlip at morganco.net

Philippa Farrour
Caer Frig
Southeastern Ohio

"All things are poisons.  It is simply the dose that distinguishes between a
poison and a remedy." -Paracelsus

"Oats -- a grain which in England sustains the horses, and in
Scotland, the men." -- Johnson

"It was pleasant to me to find that 'oats,' the 'food of horses,' were
so much used as the food of the people in Johnson's own town." --
Boswell

"And where will you find such horses, and such men?" -- Anonymous