Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
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Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:61264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 11 3/7/15 5:09 pm
(Text)INTRODUCTION- 11 –
so it’s helpful to learn what the growing season entails in each plant’s native region;
these are the conditions it needs to thrive. Pay close attention to your plant’s needs
and arrange for similar conditions at home. Tarragon, for example, is native to tem-
perate climates in Europe and Asia, and it isn’t particularly tolerant of frost or extreme
heat. When growing your own tarragon, make sure to protect the plant from frosts
and super-hot temperatures. To do this, you can add mulch to the soil in winter to
protect it from the cold; you can then provide shade for the plant on summer after-
noons, when the sun is at its peak strength.
Timing is also crucial. Plant your herbs at the right time of year, and they’ll offer
up delicious flavor all season long. Herbs that love summer weather—such as basil,
dill, and cilantro—should generally be planted in spring, after the last frost of the
season. In hot climates, however, these herbs can be planted in fall to yield harvests
throughout the winter.
Luckily, growing plants in containers makes gardening a little more flexible. Plants
can live outdoors during their preferred seasons and then be moved indoors when
the weather changes. This can lengthen a plant’s life and lead to additional harvests
well past its usual expiration date. The only hiccup: container gardening requires more
attention on the part of the gardener.Containers
Most herbs will grow in a variety of containers, including pots, barrels, window boxes,
hanging baskets, and even repurposed household staples like colanders or tin cans.
Containers not only allow you to grow plants indoors, but they also make it easy
to give your plants the best hours of sunlight—a necessity for many herbs. If your
scallions need six to eight hours of sunlight per day, you can move their pot from the
kitchen windowsill to the patio to the driveway so they’re in the sun all day.
The key factors to consider when choosing a container are size, material, and
drainage.
Size: Know the expected full-grown size of each plant, along with the growing
habit of its roots, and choose the appropriate container size. A too-small container
might stifle large or sprawling roots, limiting the amount of moisture, nutrients, and
air circulation needed for the plant to thrive. A too-large container calls for more
soil, which will retain water for longer and possibly drown the roots, causing them
to rot.
Material: Unglazed terra-cotta pots are the top choice for most herbs. Their
porous walls encourage air circulation and allow moisture to evaporate freely, which
is absolutely crucial for plants that need quick-draining soil or dry conditions.Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:
Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:61264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 11 3/7/15 5:12 pm