The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-23, Page 441
PAGE 13
for you and �our garden(�ro��.n �er�s has benefits
Sage — used to flavor stuffing, season
meats and add zip to herbal teas — may be
started indoors about eight weeks before
transplanting. It will overwinter in warmer
parts of Ontario and grows to about 60 cm
high.
Sweet marjoram is often used in potpouri.
It is also added to marinades and flavors
stews and meats.
It can be sown indoors about eight to 10
weeks before the last spring frost. It grows
best in full sun in well -drained soil.
Thyme may be started indoors eight to 10
weeks before mid -spring. It prefers full sun
and a well -drained soil.
Thyme is a perennial in warmer parts of
Ontario.
Use this herb to flavor tea or add zest to
fish, stews, eggs, and stuffings.
Growing your own 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
removo the p astir bag aiid place the. con-
tainer inya 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 15-30-15 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 iars in
a cool, dry, dark place.
Sweet basil — used in tomato sauce, salad
Children enjoy growing
their owngarden 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 "bugs
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
mi of wafer.
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 w garden cress seed.
If you would like more ideas on "teaching
little fingers to garden" contact your local
horticultural society.
dressings, meat seasonings and scrambled
eggs — is a good herb to try.
It can be started indoors eight weeks
before the last spring frost. Plant in a sunny,
well -drained area of your garden where the
soil is rich and light. Sweet basil requires
moisture throughout the growing season
and is not frost hardy.
At maturity, sweet basil is 30 cm to 60 cm
in height and 30 cm wide.
Dill, being hardier than basil, may be
planted outdoors in the early spring. It
grows best in a sunny, well -drained area of
the garden and grows to a height of 60 cm to
91 cm.
Use the dill leaves either fresh or dried, or
harvest the seeds.
Dill flavors potato dishes, pickles, fish,
salads and omelets.
smile.
It's easier in clothes
from
Be sure to see our beautiful feminine
looks for spring at the
fashion show
at the
Goderich He me & 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