[lovelynugget]

9lives, on Apr 30 2006, 06:46 PM, said:

I've never had much success with cilantro which is a shame because I really like to use it

Funny you should say that. Last week, I got some herbs at the farmers' market for a window box-sized planter. After re-potting, all the herbs (Italian parsley, garlic chives, mint, rosemary, dill) are thriving, except for the cilantro which pretty much fell dead.

[Cathy]

I didn't plant anything, but I finished installing cat-proof netting at the top of the fence, so Mack and Lucy are now allowed in the garden.

[GG Mora]

Cathy, on Apr 30 2006, 07:09 PM, said:

I didn't plant anything, but I finished installing cat-proof netting at the top of the fence, so Mack and Lucy are now allowed in the garden.

Cathy, is that a typo? I had to stretch bird netting across the boxes where I planted seeds, specifically to keep kitties out. Elsewise, they'd be really happy with their new giant litter boxes.

[Cathy]

It hadn't occurred to me that the cats might think the planters were giant litter boxes. I'll deal with that if/when it becomes a problem, but I think they're more likely to trot back inside to the kitty toilet they know and love.

Lucy is SO excited about being outdoors!

[Rail Paul]

lovelynugget, on Apr 30 2006, 06:57 PM, said:

Funny you should say that. Last week, I got some herbs at the farmers' market for a window box-sized planter. After re-potting, all the herbs (Italian parsley, garlic chives, mint, rosemary, dill) are thriving, except for the cilantro which pretty much fell dead.

I've found that cilantro needs a lot of care in transplanting from seedlings. I usually move them to a six to eight inch wide pot with the original soil ball intact. The contents of that new potl go into the ground whole.

Soil temp is important with cilantro (and basil). I usually transplant to a black hued pot to pick up a few degrees

[GG Mora]

Last year, I bought a small horseradish plant and sunk it in a large clay pot in the garden, hoping to secure a supply of the stuff without letting it run amok around the grounds (which it will in a heartbeat). Late in the season, I dumped the contents of the pot, expecting to find a nice fat bundle of horseradish root. Instead, I found a small tangle of skinny, mild roots too pliable to be of any use.

Today, I was out in the garden with a digging fork, loosening and pulling dandelions before they get established. I came across a little patch of something, the leaves of which were unfamiliar. I poked deep around it with my fork and loosened the dirt, then grabbed the throat of the plant and pulled. A few of the leaves stripped off, but the root remained firmly in place. I dug a bit until I could pull at the root, broke off a small piece and bent it in half so as to get a sniff at its nature. Mmm. Horseradish. That bastard sent a taproot down through the hole in the pot last season. We shall forever more have horseradish in the garden.

[Steven Dilley]

Okay, this is a very amateurish question, but whatever. I recently purchased a thyme plant, which has taken off like a rocket. I'm growing it indoors with limited space and would prefer not to repot it, even though it would obviously benefit from a larger pot. What's the likely outcome--a healthy plant that will maintain its current size or a dead bunch of thyme?

Also, any suggestions on growing tarragon indoors?

[Abbylovi]

If it parts of it start to die or wilt, I would reconsider but I think it should be fine. I suspect that it'll "bush out" and just become quite big. That's what happens to my thyme in the summer. Then you can look forward to making lots of jokes like: "I've got all the thyme in the world!" or "Thyme is on my side." (preferably said when sitting next to the plant)

[Steven Dilley]

It's definitely bushing out. I figure even if it doesn't make it, this is how I'm getting thyme from now on. Rather than spend $1.75 for a tiny bunch at the market once a week, spend $5 for a decent sized plant that'll at least last a few months, hopefully longer.

[Behemoth]

Keep in mind that it makes beautiful ground cover.

[Abbylovi]

Steven Dilley, on May 6 2006, 08:20 PM, said:

It's definitely bushing out. I figure even if it doesn't make it, this is how I'm getting thyme from now on. Rather than spend $1.75 for a tiny bunch at the market once a week, spend $5 for a decent sized plant that'll at least last a few months, hopefully longer.

That's my reasoning too. The plant should be fine when it gets cold. Maybe it'll thin out a little but it'll be a good little provider.

Update on my "garden."

Most of my herbs are planted: basil, sage, more thyme, parsley and cilantro. I think I"m going to bet a big-assed rosemary plant from Ted Blew. They're 8 bucks so why the hell not?
Arugula went in yesterday. I might do more greens but I swear no tomatoes or tomatillos this year.
Flowers are next.

[Cathy]

I browsed the herbs at my local greenmarket today and decided to wait for Ted's - I'm thinking big rosemary plant too, Abby. Maybe some thyme and marjoram. Basil doesn't get enough light, even in the sunniest corner.

Garden guy came yesterday to put in a lot of perennials (I lost what I had when the fence was replaced) and replant the Japanese maple. It looked a little droopy after, but a night of rest and plenty of water perked it back up by morning.

The viburnum is flowering.

[yumyum]

Abbylovi, on May 5 2006, 02:11 PM, said:

I swear no tomatoes or tomatillos this year.

Why no tom's? Last year was a shit year for them but this year already feels different. No?

[Abbylovi]

yumyum, on May 8 2006, 09:10 AM, said:

Why no tom's? Last year was a shit year for them but this year already feels different. No?

It was pretty hot last summer and I thought that should have been good for the tomatoes but mine just did not comply. I've tried for the last 4 or 5 years and for some reason, they won't produce fruit for moi.

[yumyum]

Abbylovi, on May 6 2006, 11:42 AM, said:

It was pretty hot last summer and I thought that should have been good for the tomatoes but mine just did not comply. I've tried for the last 4 or 5 years and for some reason, they won't produce fruit for moi.

Don't take it personally. Mine produced but because of the weird heat and my own casual watering schedule they were really tough-skinned and just not good. I'm going to try again and put a couple of bricks in the bottom of the pots so they don't tip over as easily. I'm behind with my herbs but I'm going to get on it.

"Thyme is on my side" -- har har har.