Growing Herbs

[robynsgarden]

As a novice gardener I tend to just try and see if things work!

Last year I bought some Basil, parsley, mint, corriander and tarragon to put in my little herb garden. They flourished right up until the cold weather came.

Now I have some straggly mint and parsley and a patch of bare earth. Do I need to buy new ones each year or will they come back this spring? What can I do with the mint and parsley to make them look luscious again?  ???

Thankyou

[robynsgarden]

[manicscousers]

trim the mint back, don't worry, it's a bit of a thug and will come back on it's own, parsley we grow new every year although we have some overwintered in a pot inside..anyone else?

[Simon05]

as manicscousers said, trim back the mint I do this every winter, its just starting to grow again. with tarragon I do the same as with the mint, its not started growing yet, but it will do. With corriander I think its better to grow new plants every year, parsley should overwinter, better to start fresh plants with it.

[Blue Bird]

Agree with the mint cut right back and it will come bouncing back I always buy new herbs such as parsley, corrinader ect.. from Lidl only about 35p each and they do a season.

What mint have you got ? as I have lemon mint and peppermint if you want any ??? :) ???

[artichoke]

Flat leaf parsley overwinters best - I have been picking lots all winter, while the curly leaf is rather static. It needs to be sown every year because in its second year it flowers and dies.

Coriander is an annual, and needs to be sown several times a year as it goes to flower and seed quickly, I find, except in the autumn.

Basil certainly needs to be sown every year.

I am interested to hear that tarragon survives the winter, as mine never do. Is it French or Russian?

Try rosemary, thyme and bay, as they go on for ever (though some say you should sow thyme fresh every year - I have bushes that I cut back hard after flowering, and am perfectly happy with them - though I sometimes find self sown seedlings nearby, and encourage them).

[Hyacinth]

rosemary layers well....parsley goes to seed in the second year.....never need to buy seeds again then 8)

[cleo]

I am interested to hear that tarragon survives the winter, as mine never do. Is it French or Russian

Russian tarragon is coarse but grows from seed-so do weeds

French tarragon is subtle with a mushroom flavour-one needs to buy a plant though.

It will survive out doors in free draining soil but divide it and keep some indoors as well

[kt.]

Mint was already in our front garden when we moved here 3 yrs ago. It grows vigorously and persistantly. If you dont want it to take over then I would recommend planting it in a pot or container. Depending how much you use of course. We have enough to put in spuds each week of the summer! And some. :o

[Simon05]

Flat leaf parsley overwinters best - I have been picking lots all winter, while the curly leaf is rather static. It needs to be sown every year because in its second year it flowers and dies.

Coriander is an annual, and needs to be sown several times a year as it goes to flower and seed quickly, I find, except in the autumn.

Basil certainly needs to be sown every year.

I am interested to hear that tarragon survives the winter, as mine never do. Is it French or Russian?

Try rosemary, thyme and bay, as they go on for ever (though some say you should sow thyme fresh every year - I have bushes that I cut back hard after flowering, and am perfectly happy with them - though I sometimes find self sown seedlings nearby, and encourage them).

I cant remember which tarragon it is, I know longer have the packet, it grew to about 4ft after I cut it back the last time, last winter I moved it so I dont know if it will grow again this year.

[greyhound]

Definitely Russian if it came from a seed packet.  Very vigorous but tasteless.  French tarragon is the one to have.  Like cleo said, buy a plant.  It will disappear underground in the winter but come back again in the spring.

[robynsgarden]

Thankyou all for your replies, I shall chop the mint right down and buy new plants of the others

I always buy new herbs such as parsley, corrinader ect.. from Lidl only about 35p each and they do a season.

What mint have you got ? as I have lemon mint and peppermint if you want any ??? :) ???

Blue bird: If you buy the herbs from lidl do have to do anything special? I bought basil from Tesco but it died in days, my mum said it might be because it had been force grown.

I have Spearmint but lemon sounds good. How would I get a cutting from you?

Thankyou all for your help

x

[manicscousers]

blue bird, i do the same as you, but from asda, coriander and dill, saves fiddling about with tiny seeds and seedlings..cut 2/3rds of it to use and look after the final third on the windowsill in a saucer of water 'til it's safe to plant it out  :)