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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-04-26, Page 43Tasty herb gardens very easy to grow By BOB HAMERSMA Horticultural Research Institute As food prices increase, the need to economize our meals and seasonings becomes more ap- parent. This need can be met partially by establishing a vegetable or herb garden in your backyard. Vegetable gardening has become tremendously popular in recent years, but herb gardening has lagged behind. This may be due to the misconception that these 'exotic' seasoning plants are more difficult to grow. This is unfortunate because growing herbs, as a rule, requires no more skill or special conditions than most vegetables. Generally speaking, herbs grow best in full sunlight, in a protected location, on well - drained, sandy -loam soil, away from competing plants. The plot need not be large - only a few plants are needed for most home requirements. High fertility is not necessary. In fact, most herbs produce more of the essential oils needed for flavor and fragrance, on less fertile soils. If you wish to fertilize, apply an organic compost, such as well -rotted manure, to the soil at planting time. Also add a superphosphate fertilizer, at a rate of 0.5 kg per 10 square meters, mixing it thoroughly into the top 15 cm of soil. Once the herb garden is growing, it requires only minimum care. The reason many herb gardens are not as suc- cessful as they might be, may be because they have been treated too well. Once planted, herbs require no fertilizer, very little water, no spraying, and only an occasional weeding. To over - winter hardy perennial herbs, mulch with straw to protect the roots. Some tender perennials, such as Rosemary, will not survive the winter outside. These plants should be dug up' in the fall, potted and grown inside in a sunny window for the winter. The leaves and seeds of most herbs contain the flavoring oils. Example of 'leaf' herbs include mint, parsley, savory, mar- joram, basil, thyme and rosemary. 'Seed' herbs include anise, dill, caraway, coriander, and fennel. Harvest leafy herbs just before, or as the flower buds open. Collect seed herbs when the seeds are just ripe. After harvesting, herbs should be properly dried, to concentrate and preserve the flavoring oils. Seeds can be dried in almost any warm, dry place. Dry the leaves by hanging hunches of the cut stalks, upside down, in a warm, dry, well -ventilated, preferably dark room. When leaves are dry and crisp, they can be finely ground through a wire mesh, packed in dark glass containers or air -tight tin cans, and stored in a dry place, away from direct light. Growing your own herbs is a very satisfying way of reducing food costs, and adding extra flavor to your meals. New "grow"film out Interest in all aspects of hor- ticulture is growing among all groups in Ontario. For 60,000 people in the province, this in- terest is expressed through membership in one of the 250 horticultural societies. If you've ever wondered what these societies do, or what kinds of people belong, you will find the answers to these questions in a new 16mm film "Growing Together," produced by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The film, which premiered last year at the Ontario Horticultural Association annual conference, is an informative and entertaining look at how the societies con- tribute to the quality of life in Ontario. Horticultural societies, with the support of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Foody have been beautifying Ontario for more than a century. The 20 -minute color motion picture explores the activities of the societies through the lives of four typical green thumbers: Daisy Child, Ernie Learner, Wally Gentleman and Rose Gardener, who come from dif- ferent walks of life but share a common interest - horticulture. Through the wide variety of society activities including community service, educational programs, competitions and activities for young people, each member is able to find something to satisfy his particular interest. "Growing Together" is available for loan from the Film Library, Information Branch, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Guelph. Ontario, NIG 2W1. The film, suitable for all ages, is ideal for use in the classroom or at club meetings. Purchase price for the film is $100, Page 13 Young adults can grow too Young adults today have greater freedom of choice, more expendable income and fewer cultural restraints than any previous generation. More than ever before, young adults are doing what they want to do with their time and money, enjoying life today rather than being preoccupied with tomorrow. To their credit, most young adults are not dissipating themselves in the pursuit of pleasure. On the contrary, they are enjoying while employing a great variety of recreational sports to stay in good physical condition. Gardening is the hobby most valued by young adults for a change of pace from the strenuous life. And it provides a community of interest between the go-go extroverts and the quieter young adults who avoid discos, ski slopes and singles bars. Young adults are particularly attracted to vegetable and flower gardening, not because their parents or grandparents gar- dened, but because gardening makes sense. Growing their own food makes them feel self- sufficient, less dependent on the intricate food delivery chain from commercial growers to 'supermarkets. Growing their own provides fresh food that is healthful, with no unknown ad- ditives; the surplus can easily be frozen or canned. Typically, young adults progress from growing houseplants to gardening in larger containers to a shared plot or community garden. Some move on to rented or purchased homes with backyard garden space. With most, the progression parallels the development of long-term relationships with others. One day, without being aware of a decision having been made, the young adult or couple realizes that gardening has transcended the status of a hobby and has become a lifestyle of itself. The freeing of men and women from stereotyped gender and age -level roles made it possible for more people to truly enjoy gardening. Victorian standards relegated flower gardening to women and assigned a rube or hayseed status to city vegetable growers. Sensible people ignored these stigmas and later put down the destructive "macho" role that made men feel guilty if they indulged in gentler hobbies. Young men and women now enjoy gardening fully, probably far more than some older gar- deners who can't drop their competitiveness or forget compulsions that were formed during hard times. They see gardening as the ultimate creative recreation. They bask in the vibrations that come from person -plant relationships and in the good feeling of providing food for oneself and friends. Gar- dening is a good life that demands little and returns much. GARDENERS "y BETTER L • VERS Let's talk about car loans If you're thinking of trading your car, we should talk. We've been in- volved in financing cars for a long time. We know that interest rates vary from lender to lender. So it is in your best Interest to investigate before you borrow. Come in and talk to us. We can put together a loan that'll suit you without getting you in over your head. We can even talk about one type of loan that gives y ou the full price of your car. Even if you're not a customer. We say this, because we know helping you is the best way to make you one. Come on in. And let's talk cars. 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