Mimi wrote:
> <snip> The thing to remember about culinary herbs is that most are
>> Mediterranean plants, plants accustomed to growing on poor soil and with
>> little water. My herb garden is on a slight rise above the rest of the
>> property and in sandy soil. Rosemary grows like the weed it is as does
>> oregano. The only herbs I have problems with are sage and thyme, the
>> sage is finally growing well but the thyme struggles. I may have to
>> duplicate an area of the British isles or some part of France to have
>> thyme succeed. <snip>
>
> I have two different sage plants going this year. The common is
> doing better after re-locating it where it could spread out a bit--it
> is a running type. Got it at Central Market down in Houston last year
> and it managed to live through the winter. The other one, narrow,
> light green, kind of fuzzy leaves, started from seed and it is
> steadily growing.
>
> My soil is somewhat sandy. I have raised beds. I direct sow all my
> kitchen scraps (compost). I read about doing it that way in a book
> called "Let It Rot". It breaks down pretty quick when it's warm
> outside and I have lovely, fat earthworms slithering around. So, the
> soil isn't rich but, it ain't real poor either. I guess it is middle-
> class soil.
> : - )
We've done that form of composting for over forty years, works fine as
long as you don't have wild critters that will dig it up. We just call
it pot-holing. I think I read about it in Mother EArth News, one of the
first issues.
>
> I bought 4 different types of thyme. This is my first time with it.
> Everyone is doing okay so far. Of course, the blistering heat/
> humidity hasn't really hit yet.

I've found that thyme doesn't do well in our heat and humidity, might
get most of a year out of it but a little thyme goes a long way.
>
> I don't even bother to water the rosemary. I probably have it
> convinced I hate it and that is why it is still living. Secretly
> though, I really *love* the smell of it.
> : - )

You could just as well sniff a pine tree, they smell the same to me. We
had one that was about ten or more years old that I chopped out of the
ground and threw away. I had cut it back annually and it still got four
by four feet in one year. DW planted another one and that damned thing
is growing like the weed it is too. Once more, how much rosemary can one
family use?

>
> My unofficially adopted daughter bought me two bay trees back in March
> for my birthday. The lady she bought them from at the farmer's market
> (in Austin) said to plant them in 1-gallon containers and then ignore
> them--they thrive on neglect. They are doing okay. I'll probably be
> dead by the time they are big enough to transplant into the yard.

I've got one that lived in a gallon bucket so long the roots grew up
instead of down. Finally planted it and sliced the roots so they would
spread. The thing is still only about three feet tall and it is about
fifteen years old. I think I'll prune it to see if I can scare it into
growing more.
>
> Oregano and marjoram is spreading like crazy. I gave them some more
> room this year.

Lucky you, I've never got marjoram to grow, the oregano appears to be
doing well at the moment. Oregano lasts about ten years here and then
seems to go into decline. I then buy some seed and replant and hope it
lasts another ten years. Got plenty of the Greek variety but all my
Spanish oregano died out, the Spanish is the one you mostly find in jars
at the supermarket.

>
> I just planted some butternut squash. I hope it makes it. I love the
> stuff and would be so pleased to serve it at Thanksgiving knowing I
> grew it meself.

It should do well for you, South Texas used to be well known for it's
truck gardens. We have just harvested two small white acorn squash,
sprouted from some seed and pulp we potholed last winter, seems to be
growing well though.
>
> : - )