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Herbal Wisdom:  Have you started your herbs from seed?  |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
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Ms.Lilly
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Lillian
Scotts Mills
OR
USA
826 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 08 2010 : 06:57:59 AM
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I start mine from seed. Some germinate really well and others are a bit more challenging. I will be starting my tomato and pepper plants next week and my herbs in mid-March.
Lillian |
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RaspberryBee
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
Karen
Montrose
Michigan
USA
291 Posts |
Posted - Feb 08 2010 : 11:03:30 AM
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I have had luck with french tarragon, rosemary, basil, marjoram, parsley, savory and thyme. No luck with comfrey but a friend gave me a root last year and it is doing fine. I am going to try lovage this year along with the others. I grow most of my 'annuals' from seed and I am amazed every year how a wonderful plant comes from such a tiny seed. :-)
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.
-Henry David Thoreau- |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Feb 08 2010 : 3:01:10 PM
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I will be trying to get some started from seed again this year. My problem is lighting, just not enough sunlight for them. They get all long and stringy looking. So I may need to get a grow light and see if that helps.
Raspberrybee, you made me laugh when you said "I am amazed every year how a wonderful plant comes from such a tiny seed. :-)" There are times when I look at those tiny tinny seeds and wonder how on earth they were able to even collect them let alone have them sprout and grow up into a wonderful plant Glad it's not my job to package those babie. . . a sneeze would wipe out a whole seasons worth of seeds!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
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Tanna
True Blue Farmgirl
195 Posts
Tanna
Fort Worth
TX
USA
195 Posts |
Posted - Feb 08 2010 : 3:32:31 PM
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I've done parsley, thyme, calendula, lemon balm, echinacea and basil from seed. I haven't had luck with borage or comfrey either ;(
My rosemary, lavender, feverfew, and sage were purchased as baby plants.
Tanna |
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RaspberryBee
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
Karen
Montrose
Michigan
USA
291 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2010 : 12:31:44 PM
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I must say I give thought to how the seeds in my packets are harvested, cleaned, counted/weighed and packaged. This last fall I received an envelope of poppy seeds....thousands of them. First I made the mistake of laying them on the counter. Second someone left the dish soap dispenser on the envelope with the spout that drips. Then I had to take said envelope of tiny seeds and put them into cheese cloth because my strainer was to big. Rinse and rinse and rinse. Then I put them into a large flat bowl to dry. Then for some reason someone thought the bowl was an indoor compost container. I started the process all over again. Needless to say I have respect for the process however it is done for large/small scale farmers. On a snowy day like today it is good to dream of planting seeds and waiting for the first green leaves to poke up :-)
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.
-Henry David Thoreau- |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2010 : 12:33:41 PM
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I seem to have done them all, but never have any luck whatsoever. They germinate nicely, they grow for a few days and I think, "oh! It's happening!" but then, they get all spindly and leggy, and yellow...OR my cats eat them.
So, I simply buy mine from OTHER MORE TALENTED growers :)
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3318 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3318 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2010 : 12:59:52 PM
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I went all out last year and had flats everywhere loaded with herbs and vegetables---every last one of them failed to "launch" when I introduced them to my raised beds--- 
I think I will stick with my favorite nursery here---their plants are awesome.
"The best mirror is an old friend."
- George Herbert
Melody
Farmgirl #525
www.melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com |
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RaspberryBee
True Blue Farmgirl
291 Posts
Karen
Montrose
Michigan
USA
291 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2010 : 2:51:07 PM
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I would be so very sad if what I grew from seed failed to produce. I planted (almost all heirlooms) about 300 cells last spring - annual flowers, herbs, veggies (100 give or take tomatoes) and perennials and I would say about 95% of the cells were a sucess. I had some rather old tomato seeds and I was not sure what would 'take' so I grew them all. I planted about 50 and gave some away to those I know can not buy too many things in the spring, friends and the local food bank. It was kind of neat to see peoples faces when they realize I grew them from seed. Funny thing is that May/June I work in a greenhouse (selling only) selling most of what I plant...just different. I have a four foot or so hot box on my back porch and it can grow just about anything as long as it is not too too cold. I am off to shovel more snow - y'all take care.
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.
-Henry David Thoreau- |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2010 : 10:33:09 AM
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Glad I am not the only one with challenges in my herb seeds. The long, leggy and yellow ones are what I get too. . . usually to much water and definitely not enough sunshine. If they make it past this stage, sometimes they do not transplant well. . . usually it is the soil being to cold ( takes forever for the soil to warm enough here) and if they do take Mama Deer shows up to take her pick of the tender goodies.
Such is the life in the north country. . . although this year I am going to do a greenhouse setup, warm the soil with the black fabric, use my high fencing to keep the deer out and . . . don't laugh cause this actually works. . . put up my orange snow fence around the garden to keep the moose out. ( they have very poor eyesight, so the orange they can see and walk around it rather than through it! )
So, now we wait for the first signs of spring to arrive. . around the end of April, beginning of May
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2010 : 09:49:11 AM
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Oh Jojo do you actually get "meese" in your garden?!?! Meese have been my favorite animal for quite a long time. I went to Banff once and saw a mama and a baby, and I almost cried!
I started all my plants last year in the greenhouse. I'll NEVER start ALL my plants in there again. I'll save my corn for a little later, along with my cucumbers. For some reason, my cucumbers didn't grow, AT ALL, beyond the leafy stage. They died in the tray. My corn was so big when I went to transplant it, that when the winds came, 80% of them blew over and broke.
Come to think of it, I didn't get any peppers either. I got a few tomato plants though. My squash, brussel sprouts, carrots, onions, shallots, herbs...all did really well.
This year I also did a fall planting of garlic. We'll see how it turns out later this summer!
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
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Laur
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Laurie
Boonville
MO
32 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 5:10:57 PM
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Some herb seeds require darkness to germinated and some require light, some are slow and some are fast...all can damp off easily if too wet and not enough air, sometimes i have used a slow fan pt of the day.
Grow light- I have used a simple cheap florescent shop fixture and cheap bulbs, once germinated needs to be very close to the plants. Many times seedlings die of transplant shock... they need some sun,gentle wind,a gradual hardening off before they are set out...I try to transplant on a cloudy day and water them in well with organic type transplant solution.
Johnny's Select seeds has good cultural info in their catalog. A good book is Seed Starter's Handbook. |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Feb 14 2010 : 04:50:55 AM
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Great info!! Forgot about the fan, I have a small one to keep a gentle breeze blowing over the seedlings. I agree with the type of grow lights you use, Keeping the light very close to the seedlings is extremely important.
Once they are past the six week mark I know I am all set. Usually they are transplanted when they have reached about 2-3 months old. We have a very short growing season here, so giving them a good head start indoors is the key to success.
Thank you for the information on the seed starting book, never heard of it before and will plan on acquiring one for my library.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2010 : 11:46:50 AM
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I usually start mine from seed (Except for Strawberries) my husbands family owns a seed company, so we have a greenhouse to use. I usually ask for a row or two to start my seeds in.
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
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Daisy7896
Farmgirl in Training
16 Posts
Sarah
Douglas
MA
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 06:32:19 AM
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I've tried mutiple times in the past to grow from seeds and tend to get some good herbs out of it, but never can figure out when to harvest and how to store them so I can have dried herbs all year long? If anyone has any advice on this please let me know?
I love my goats |
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cajungrammie
True Blue Farmgirl
124 Posts
tina
dry prong
la.
USA
124 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 06:42:54 AM
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I start my herbs from seed,except for rosemary,i usally buy plants,however i am trying rosematy from seed this year.so far my chives,thyme,garlic,and parsley are up and growing.i start mine in flats,then when they get their first true leaves,i hardened them off,by putting outside during the day and bring them in at night.i do this until all danger of frost has past,then plant them in my bed.the most important thing is not to let them dry out.
Sometimes I think I know Everything!!Then I wake Up!! |
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rharbert1
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Veronica
Pittsburg
KS
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2010 : 06:50:52 AM
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| Hey all! I've had such trouble with herbs too! Last year they would start up and then when a few leaves come they died or failed to launch (love that phrase!). I couldn't figure it out because about 14 years ago I planted herbs from seed and had absolutely no trouble. I think I've figured out what most of the problem for me was - water. I used the tap water with no water softner - can you say YUCK! This year I bought distilled water because my rain barrel is not set up just yet. Also I started them indoors with grow lights. I've used two lights for one flat and have them very, very close to the seeds. They are germinating! So now I am beginning to harden off. We have a bit of a protected spot that gets a nice breeze. We'll see how that goes. I will look into the book because my daughters and I really want to have a nice herb garden some day. Thanks for all the great advice.! |
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5 acre Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1007 Posts
~~~*Terri*~~~
WA.
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 04:27:50 AM
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Yep! Easy to do, mine are in the greenhouse, and are about 5 inches tall....
Farmgirl Sister #368
~~~**Terri**~~~
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 04:48:24 AM
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LOL. . . I am looking out at 6+ inches of snow!!! I really want to get my herbs started. . . however, until the weather begins to warm up, they would end up with the same problem I had before. . the soil being damp. Even with a fan blowing a gentle breeze may not be enough to keep the evaporation process going. It is a challenge to keep my house plants looking good when the weather outside is so fickle.
We are planning on our green house this year. . . although we won't have it until mid summer, we will have one! Then I can get our growing season to extend into fall for the first time and get a good harvest. So even if we are off to a late start, we will finish well.
Soooooo looking forward to canning and preserving our food in large quantities this year!!!!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCents
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
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sw80689
True Blue Farmgirl
207 Posts
Sharon
Papillion
Nebraska
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2010 : 12:58:00 PM
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This is the first year I have grown herbs from seeds. I am using a grow light and they all are nice seedlings now and doing well. We will see what happens when I transplant them. I have not a fan on them, I need to try that.
Sharon
Farmgirl Sister #1393
*We are all angels with one wing, the only way to fly, therefore is to embrace one another* |
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Lindsay C
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Lindsay
Rogersville
AL
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - May 13 2010 : 10:21:25 AM
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I've started mine from seed this year, so we'll see how they do. Last year I started them from the plants I got at the nursery and they did great. This year I put them in a raised bed, but now I'm getting nervous that they may not grow at all! haha
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452 |
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - May 13 2010 : 3:18:46 PM
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Lindsay, I know what you mean! I am eagerly awaiting the first signs that my herbs "wintered over". I am anxious to get my plants started, however, I may go with ones started at the local herb shop. She has wonderful organic herbs and she even barters with me for what I have that she does not! ( She is also my herbalist. . . boy is she smart!) They open up the road to her place this weekend. . .YiPPPEEE! So you know where I am headed saturday!!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CountryCents
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
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Herbal Wisdom: Have you started your herbs from seed? |
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Have you started your herbs from seed?
