by Briscoe White | Dec 14, 2009 | Basics, Gardening, Growing, Herbs |
I am sure all of you reading this are aware that herbs love sunshine, they do not grow in the shade. It only seems that we are growing our greenhouse herbs in shade due to the absence of sunlight these last few weeks. Beginning with a strong Nor’easter, we have been rained on, washed by flowing torrents, and flooded by tides that get higher as long as the wind blows. The rain gauge has overflowed so many times we lost an accurate count of total inches fallen; but I will hazard 6” the last few weeks. One night last week we did measure 3.5”; water, water everywhere. We keep our Twitter account active with frequent Tweets; one of our contacts in California has been Tweeting about their lack of rain. Too bad we cannot virtually send them some of our excess. Growing herbs during one of these long wet cycles can be very challenging, especially in winter. Most herbs prefer dry, well-drained soil, none like their roots wet for an extended time. Even in the greenhouse, it is hard to keep the herb plants dry enough after days of cloudy weather. It is best to only water herbs in danger is wilting, until the sun returns. Culinary herbs grow well inside if provided adequate sunlight, six hours minimum. During the winter months, herbs such as marjoram, oregano, thyme, and rosemary can be kept as potted plants in a kitchen window, ready for trimming as the cook demands seasoning. To keep your herbs healthy through this long rainy period, keep the soil on the dry side. Winter savory, parsley, and bay are all favorites in the cook’s winter garden, they make very nice potted plants and are ready to join dinner when the cook calls. As soon as the sunshines again, I will give my herbs a big drink of water, with a shot of fish fertilizer to celebrate the return of sunny days.
by Briscoe White | Dec 8, 2009 | Gardening, Growing, Herbs, Indoor Gardening |
You know the aroma. I looked it up on the Urban Dictionary.com; those living an alternate or bohemian lifestyle seem to favor patchouli. That must describe greenhouse workers, because patchouli is always present in ours. Whether wafting from a passing co-worker or from the source itself. Patchouli is one of our top five favorite herbs. You can hardly get through a day here without smelling it once.
Patchouli makes what I call a great pet plant, a plant which will live in a pot for years. Potting makes it a great houseplant in winter which loves to spend summer outside on a deck or patio. A native of tropical Asia, patchouli likes it hot and humid, it should be inside before night temperatures drop below fifty. The soil should be watered when moist to the touch; they need lots of water, maybe every day in summer. Fertilize once or twice a month, as too much will reduce the oil content.
Anyone looking for an herb to grow potted, patchouli is one worth considering. It’s large dark green leaves are shiny and beautiful, with pinching it will form a nice rounded shrub like plant. Flowers appear in fall but are inconsequential in appearance, heady in aroma. In its native habitat, patchouli is an under-story plant and should be protected from full sun. Though not for everyone, patchouli makes a great pet plant.
by Briscoe White | Dec 7, 2009 | Containers, Gardening, Growing, Herbs, Indoor Gardening, Miscellaneous |
We have been growing herbs as potted plants for about 25 years. Way back then herbs were not available even in the larger greenhouses; having a selection of herbs is what made our garden center stand out from the others. Herbs are now a mainstream crop, not the exotic niche market it was a few short years back.
Potted herbs are still our main crop, but after agreeing to grow a few custom orders for cut herbs we are growing and shipping more each year. I guess we are not exactly local since almost all these cut herbs go to NYC, but we are a lot closer than many growers selling in NY. Virginia to NY in less than 24 hours is the key to our success, the herbs are on a restaurant table in 48 hrs. A few years ago I would not believe this possible, but the internet has linked the farm to the world!
Attempting to grow cut herbs year round, we are experimenting with the towers pictured. Herbs are: Oregano, Marjoram, Zaatar, Parsley, and Basil. These herb towers will allow us to grow cuts in the greenhouse in winter. Catnip for the kitties and the rest for cooking. Fresh herbs make a difference!
by Briscoe White | Dec 1, 2009 | Exploring, Growing, Herbs, Inspiration, Miscellaneous |
I hope everyone enjoys Thanksgiving as much as I do. Our annual family gathering measures in the high thirties, maybe even forty by now. Since marrying into this family I have seen exponential growth, a clan sized population boom. With so much fun and family mixing for a few days, there always are those little incidents that do not remind one of a Hallmark moment. Details differ, but let’s just admit that some of the time these family gatherings also gather old angst. Sitting here in my office, I couldn’t help wondering if I was carrying any of that old angst when I spotted the white sage bundle near my desk.
Is there negative energy floating around my office? I don’t feel any, but why not let the sage tell me? My brother in Colorado keeps me with a steady supply of sage wands, as they are hard to come by in Virginia. What comes next is an honest experiment, and be aware I have something at risk doing this online. Once I light the sage wand, it cannot be extinguished, it must be allowed to smoke as needed to negate positive ions and other bad vibes. So if the wand produces a lot of smoke? Then I guess I was carrying some bad vibes, maybe?
The sage is lit and the room is smudging as a column of smoke rises from the sage wand; a thin light stream, a good sign. I am sitting here watching and honestly wondering how much smoke will be needed to clear my aura. My interest is keen, and as we wait, let’s admit that no one can get under your skin like those that know you best, especially if related. So instead of wondering, I asked the sage to reveal the negative vibes around me. And as I write these words, the fire is out! Only a small quarter of an inch burned, not even to the first wrapping. My office is cleared and there wasn’t much here, and that is good to know!
To be honest, it is about time that I did some redecorating in my office. I have had the same office furniture for a few years now so I might invest in a new office chair and a new desk. What do you think? A friend of mine has also suggested that I should get some storage boxes. There is so much clutter in my office at the moment, the entire room is in desperate need of decluttering! Feel free to share any office decluttering tips in the comments below as I would love to hear them.
That being said, herbs are such useful plants. They can be used for so many different things. Right here, I settled a question that had been nagging me for days, if my aura is clear then my intentions must be good also, and anything that may or may not have happened over the holiday certainly was not of my doing. I have never seen ” conscious cleaning” as a property listed for white sage, but I just proved it works for that too! So, if there is some unresolved dispute still lingering, no matter how small. Ask the sage to reveal the vibes around you; just do it in private in case you burn the whole sage wand! Herbs are amazing plants; I seem to find new uses all the time.
by Briscoe White | Oct 28, 2009 | Flowers, Gardening |
Without ever thinking much about it, we were mowing several acres of grass all summer, mainly because it was done that way before we inherited farm management. Being gardeners and growers of garden plants, we were more than happy to replace a grass lawn with anything, especially if we could plant more flowers.
The solution for most of these areas was as simple as moving some fences and let the cows and horses graze the same grass we had been mowing. But the area along the road to the house was not a place we wanted livestock roaming. So, that winter, I tilled the grass and let nature kill the unwanted grass. In early spring I used a seed drill to plant the area with a few pounds of cosmos seed. Cosmos was chosen for several reasons; the seed is inexpensive and gives a huge return for very little effort. It grows tall fast and forms a canopy, which inhibits weed growth. And best of all it blooms from spring until a killing frost ends it for the year. This patch of color can be seen for a long ways off; and the drive itself became a tunnel of color everyone enjoys. We get regular calls from neighbors searching for pink flowers for baby showers, weddings, etc. And because there is so much from so little seed, we can always say, help yourself to all you want.
Being familiar with cosmos, this was all well and good, but held few surprises. It wasn’t until the stand had been killed by frost that we discovered cosmos’s hidden treasure. The patch looked pretty bad, all dead and starting to blow down when I decided to mow it for winter. As I approached the stand on a tractor, a sudden burst of activity and color stopped me from cutting. If there was one, there were two hundred goldfinches fleeing what to them was a bountiful banquet. It turned out that they highly favor cosmos seed and there were several hundred pounds of it on the hoof.
It is true we love flowers for their own sake, but we have always felt birds are an important component of any garden. What we had here was the largest concentration of goldfinches any of us had ever seen. So now, after frost, those dead plants are not so unsightly. We adjust to the changing season and instead of looking for a wall of color, we look for a sudden burst of yellow as the finches dart to the safety of trees. The birds are every bit as exciting as the flowers; and we do enjoy sharing the farms bounty with the birds! While quietly contemplating this garden one realizes how given the chance, life will move in and find something of value, even if we did not see it without a little help from our friends, the goldfinches. I would never mow that patch until it is picked cleaned of seed, it just wouldn’t be neighborly. And we do love our little neighbors, the goldfinches.
by Briscoe White | Oct 23, 2009 | Flowers, Growing |
Of all the plants in one’s garden, there are always a few that become our favorite. Salvia Coral Nymph is one of those plants for me. As everyone knows, there are so many salvias, it hard not to have some in any garden. At the local herb fair The Growers Exchange attended for many years, there was a guy that sold only salvias. He packed everything in a station wagon and attended fairs like this one for no other reason than that he loved salvia, and thought everyone should be able to grow them. So the herb fair was also one’s only chance each year to buy rare salvias for the up coming summer. I was always sure to come home with several.
Coral Nymph is a little more common than some salvia, but one does not see it often. In my travels, I always scan yards and visit nurseries to see what treasures may turn up. It seems to me Coral Nymph is found in pockets, some grower will introduce it to the area, and it becomes a local stand by in local gardens.
For a hot, dry area with full sun, Coral Nymph can produce salmon and white flower stalks from early summer until a hard freeze. The one pictured endured frost two nights ago. Nothing likes to eat it because the foliage has a strong smell when bruised. They grow big, 24- 30 “ in height and the same around. If you are looking for salmon in a sunny place, Coral Nymph is worth trying. And if you like it, it reseeds readily the next year.
