HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-04-15, Page 70Page 42
Try growing herbs indoors this year
Basil, chervil, chives, dill, garden cress,
marjoram, oregano, parsley and summer
savory are some of the fragrant herb spices
you can grow easily indoors.
But begin -on a small scale to gain ex-
perience and try our various locations in the
house for best growth, says Horticulturist
Amby Zitnak of the University of Guelph's
horticultural science department.
Start basil, chervil, parsley, and savory
by planting three to five seeds in 10 cen-
timetre pots and allow only the sturdiest
seedling to reach maturity.
Turn plants growing on a windowsill
every two or three days to ensure more even
growth.
Harvest mature leaves from the bottom of
the stem up or from the crown, never using
more than one-third of the plant foliage;
harvest in early -to -mid morning.
To propagate basil, marjoram, mint and
oregano, use rooted cuttings; for quick plant
establishment, plant only one or two to a
pot.
"An outdoor herb garden can provide a
good supply of shoots, five cm to -eight cm in
length, for rooting in moist sand, peat or
vermiculite," Zitnak said.
To encourage bushy growth and prevent
flowering — especially of basil, marjoram,
and oregano — pinch off the tips of :plants
and side shoots.
Some plants can be removed from your
outdoor herb garden, potted and atadually
brought indoors for overwintering.
Basil, chives, marjoram, mint and
oregano are good examples of herbs that
can be used year-round.
"But take care to avoid bringing in diseas-
ed or pest -infected plant material,,, Zitnak
said.
Mint must be purchased from an herb
grower, garden centre or a propagator;
from one mother plant you can obtain new
plants from rooted cuttings.
"Some herbs such as chives, chervil, dill,
garden cress and summer savory, can be
seeded at two week intervals so that they
will reach maturity at staggered times, pro-
viding you with a constant supply of fresh
herbs," Zitnak said.
Fill pots or tray with sterile soil mix,
spray the planting mixture with a fungicide
such as no -damp and then broadcast the
seed about one cm apart over the planting
bed.
Repeat with a second planting of herbs 10
to 14 days later.
Thin out the seedlings and harvest when
the plants reach four cm to six cm in height.
Where entire plants are harvested, fer-
tilizing is- usm lly not necessary.
Trimmers
are popular
But where continuous harvesting is done,
apply a liquid garden fertilizer such as
10-10-10 at three to four week intervals.
"This is especially advisable for chives
grown from divisions from older plants —
especially if they are repeatedly harvested
at brief intervals," Zitnak said.
Herbs need at least five to six hours of
daylight ( ideally you should place them in a
-southwest window),- a well -drained,
somewhat sandy soil mix, and a modest
watering.
"Overwatering is a major problem; water
sparingly from the bottom and mist at least
twice a week," Zitnak said.
Partially embedding the pots in a large
Following a relatively few years of use by
home -owners, string trimmers have joined
power mowers and chain saws in the wel-
eq_uipped toolroom.
Just a few years ago, consumers joked,
"Why do I have to use a machine to cut my
string?" when confronted with the new
tools.
They learned that the idea wasn't to cut
string, but to use a fast -spinning length of
nylon line to trim lawns. The modern string
trimmer is just as effective and far more
versatile than the old steel -bladed edger.
When sprticing up their property in the
springtime, string trimmer -users must
pause to wonder how they accomplished the
job before introduction of the lanky
machines.
The concept behind string trimmer
development was to provide a tool that
would cut grass or weeds without cutting ad-
jacent objects such as trees, fences or
carelessly placed feet.
tray of sand — kept continually moist —
helps lessen the need for watering and
misting.
"But never use soft water and allow
chlorinated drinking water to stand in an
open container for 24 hours before use; rain
water or melted snow are best," Zitnak
said.
To supplement the amount of light your
plants receive — particularly during the
winter months — place plants under fluores-
cent grow -light tubes.
Pick up a copy of the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food's factsheet, "Ar-
tificial Lighting for Plants" (Agdex 290/776)
from your local ministry office for further
information.
AP.
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