On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:55:34 -0400, Brooklyn1
> wrote:
>On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:02:54 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:
>
>>
> wrote in message
. ..
>>> Okay, I do not have a green thumb at all. But I'd like to try growing some
>>> simple herbs that I regularly use, like basil and parsley. I bought a
>>> couple of
>>> planters that hang over a deck railing that I thought would be a good
>>> place for
>>> them as I'm not going to try and dig up any of the back yard. So, anyone
>>> here
>>> have experience in these things? Can I just use potting dirt? Do I grow
>>> the
>>> stuff from seeds or do they come in little posts already growing? And is
>>> there
>>> much upkeep to them? Thanks.
>>
>>Those two are easy to grow. Can get seeds or plants but seeds are cheaper.
>>If you use seeds, you need a seed starting mix. That's more expensive than
>>regular potting soil. If you opt for plants, you'd need potting soil. If
>>it were me, I would probably do the basil from plants and the parsley from
>>seeds. I would also use Miracle Gro.
>
>Most everywhere packets of seeds cost close to $3 nowadays. A few
>plants cost less than seeds... packets of seeds ain't so inexpensive
>anymore, and saving herb seeds for next year is no guarantee they will
>sprout, will probably waste time, materials, and effort. I buy a
>six-pack of parsley and basil plants for like $2 each and they produce
>more than I can possibly use... in fact I swap half with a neighbor,
>three plants of each produces plenty... last year I planted only two
>parsley plants and couldn't use it all... I plant mine in the ground
>at the foot of my back steps for easy harvesting, they grow into giant
>shrubs (everything grows much better planted in the ground), I
>wouldn't plant herbs in pots unless one has no ground. I snip a
>handful most every day, they grow faster than I can pick. I like
>curly leaf parsley better than flat leaf parsley... this little patch
>was far more than I could use:
>http://i48.tinypic.com/scgguh.jpg
Basil and parsley seed will last for years and years. I have some
that I am using from 2001. The packets have to be treated right to
keep the seeds viable. I espec ially buy the large quantity from seed
catalogs so that I can take advantage of bulk pricing. I also buy
bean seeds that way. I am way more conservative with other seeds.
Janet US