Many gardeners are looking for ways to use space efficiently and get the most out of a given area, and at the same time create the best environment for their plants. Every garden should have herbs, but sometimes they can be tricky to grow. They want different kinds of soil, so putting them all in one bed doesn’t always work. Some are perennial and some annual or biennial. Some demand full sun and some can benefit from a bit of afternoon shade. Most want great drainage. And of course they take up space. What’s one solution? An herb spiral.
My herb spiral last fall, with pineapple sage, rosemary, lavender, and the trailing plant called Cuban oregano
Happy New Year! At the beginning of January we typically think through what we plan to do better in the coming twelve months in all aspects of our lives, whether that’s reading more books or committing to a fitness program or eating healthy. Of course we don’t always follow through, but it’s still worth considering what might make our lives better–including our gardening lives! Here’s just a snippet of what I’m focusing on in 2020. Continue reading →
Have you ever been tempted by an article or blog post, or maybe a seed collection, suggesting that you grow a salsa garden? Tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, and cilantro are the usual recommendations for growing and making your own salsa. But the timing for this type of garden can be tricky. Tomatoes and peppers mature in the summertime. Onions planted in the early spring are ready about the same time, or can be stored for use. Garlic should have been planted the previous fall, but if you got that done you’re all set. But cilantro—that’s where salsa gardeners get frustrated.
Cilantro is a cool-weather herb; in summer’s heat, it bolts and goes to flower, and then produces seeds (which we call coriander). By the time your tomatoes are ripe, cilantro planted in spring is done. You can get around this to some extent by choosing a slow-bolting variety of cilantro and planting it every few weeks, but those summer-planted succession crops have spotty germination and bolt really fast.
Or you could try another herb with a similar flavor that likes growing in heat. I suggest papalo.
