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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-04-16, Page 391 PAGE 13 Growing here has benefits for you and your garden dressings, meat seasonings and scrambled Sage — used to flavor stuffing, season eggs — is a good herb to try. meats and add zip to herbal teas — may be It can be started indoors eight weeks started indoors about eight weeks before before the last spring frost. Plant in a sunny, transplanting. It will overwinter in warmer well -drained area of your garden where the pants of Ontario and grows to about 60 cm soil is rich and .light. Sweet basil requires high. moisture throughout the growing season Sweet marjoram is often used in potpouri. and is not frost hardy. It is also added to marinades and flavors At maturity, sweet basil is 30 cm to 60 cm stews and meats. in height and 30 cm wide. It can be sown indoors about eight to 10 Dill, being hardier than basil, may be weeks before the last spring frost. It grows planted outdoors in the early spring. It best in full sun in well -drained soil. gEows best in a sunny, well -drained area of Thyme may be started indoors eight to 10 the garden and grows to a height of 60 cm to and weeks awefore mid-spring.dd riIt prefers full sun 91 cm. L Use the dill leaves either fresh or dried, or Ontario. Thyme is a perennial in warmer parts of harvest the seeds. Dill flavors potato dishes, pickles, fish, Use this herb to flavor tea or add zest to salads and omelets. fish, stews, eggs, and stuffings. Growing your ovin herbs has benefits for you and your garden. _ Fresh herbs add zest to salads, main dishes, vegetables and so on. You can even make herb -filled potpourri to add a fresh scent to closets and drawers. In the garden, herbs attract beneficial in- sects and repel many garden pests. Most herbs should be given an early, start indoors because of Ontario's relatively short growing season, says Master Gardener Joe Muething of RR 2, Englehart, Ont. The Master Gardener program initiated by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in 1985, provides formal training for gardening enthusiasts who are then available to answer gardening questions from the public. Choose containers that are at least six centimetres deep, with holes in the bottom for drainage. Allow for at least five cm. of growing room between plants. Initially, you can plant the seeds close together, but you will have to transplant the seedlings at a young stage, or they will become weak and spindly. To prevent soil -borne diseases while the plants are young, start your herbs in sterilized potting soil or sterile seed starting mix. Moisten the soil (damp but not soggy) then sprinkle out the seeds and press them into the medium. Cover the seeds with a light sprinkling of the medium and label the container. end; ` and put the container in a warm, lighted area. Watch for the first signs of sprouting, then remove the plastic bag andplace the con- tainer in a sunny, airy location. Keep the medium moist, but not wet. Water young seedlings from the bottom; place the container in a pan of water and allow the water to wick up from below. Remove the pan as soon as the soil sur- face appears damp. Once the plants put out their second leaves, feed the plants a diluted 15-3045 fer- tilizer solution weekly ( dilute to half the recommended strength). Again, place the container in a pan filled with fertilizer solution and allow the fer- tilizer to be wicked up from below. Before transplanting, the plants must be hardened off so that they can withstand the outdoor climate. "Over a two week period, gradually ex- pose the plants to more and more of the out- door environment," Muething says. , Begin with a few hours of morning sun, gradually working up to a full day. Withhold fertilizer at this time to slow the plant's growth. Transplant on an overcast day to further prevent shock. Water again with the dilute fertilizer solution to encourage renewed growth. Most herbs will be ready for harvesting after eight to 10 weeks. They will continue to provide you with cuttings for the remainder of the growing season. By drying your herbs, you can enjoy them year-round. Cut herbs on a sunny morning, just after the dew has dried; this is the time when the essential oils are at their peak. Hang small bunches of herbs in an airy, dry place, out of direct sunlight. When the leaves are dry, remove them from the branches and store in tight jars in a cool, dry, dark place. Sweet basil — used in tomato sauce, salad •Children enjoy growing their own garden plants Plants are living things you can grow to love - especially if those plants can be used to create funny creatures. "Children will enjoy growing their own "bug meany" sproutman or a "green - haired potato -man". And by sprouting alfalfa, corn, peas or beans - all by themselves - the children gain a sense of ac- complishment," says Ontario Horticultural Association District Director Pat Christian of Georgetown, Ont. To sprout beans, corn 'or peas, you will need a straight -sided clear glass jar, paper towel or blotting paper, some absorbent cot- ton balls (to keep the paper against the glass) seeds, and some water, Roll up the paper towel and place it inside the jar. Put the cotton balls inside the towel so that the towel is wedged against the side of the jar. Place three or four seeds between the towel and jar (when you look through the jar you'll be able to see the seeds). Add just enough water to wet the towel. Do not cover the jar; plants need air. Set the jar in a window sill that receives lots of sunlight. Keep the towel damp at all times. Watch your seeds grow and when the plants have good roots, transplant the seedl- ings carefully into a pot filled with soil. You can also create your own "hugs meany" sproutman. You need a large glass jar, water and about 15 millilitres of alfalfa seeds. Put the seeds in the jar and add about 15 ml of water. Place the jar in a warm, dark cupboard overnight. In the morning, empty the water careful- ly, keeping the seeds in the jar. Add fresh water and replace the jar in the cupboard. Repeat until the seeds have sprouted. Once the seeds have sprouted, bring them into the sunlight to green. Decorate the jar to make a "bugs meany" face. Cut out eyes, nose and mouth from felt or construction paper. If you decide to eat your sprouts, rinse them first, drain and then use them to top your favorite sandwich. You can also make a "green -haired" potato -man. You need a very large, clean potato, absorbent cotton balls, a small dish, water, grass seed and some cloves and cin- namon sticks (to give your potato a face). First, decide which end is the top of the potato -man's head and which end . is the bottom. Slice off a small amount from the bottom end of the potato to make it sit flat. Then slice a bit off the top and scoop out the inside of the potato. Now,line the hollow with the cotton balls and stand the potato in a dish. Add water to the cotton balls and then sprinkle with grass seed. Make sure your potato -man always' has just enough water. "Hairy" should grow "hair" in a few days. You can give him a funny face by decorating the potato with cloves, cinnamon sticks and so on. If 'you want to grow a potato -man with dif- ferent textured hair, you can also use mustard seed or garden cress seed. If you would like more ideas on "teaching little fingers to garden" contact your local horticultural society. smile. It's easier in clothes from • Be sure to see our beautiful feminine looks for spring at the fashion show at the Goderich Home & Garden Show Show Times: Friday, April 25 Saturday, April 26 Saturday, April 26 8:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 32 Shopper's Square, Goderich 524-9431