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.

> 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.

"Julie Bove" > wrote in
:

>
> > 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.
>
>

Buying plants vs. seeds is indeed a little more expensive, but for
me, I find the convenience worth the price. Going along with what
Julie said, I find herbs to be ridiculously easy to grow,
especially basil. I do mine in planters also, just water them a
couple of times a week, feed them every couple of weeks with a
good general purpose plant food, and stand back. My basil grows
so well I've seen it try to reach out and grab my cats when they
wander too close to the planters...

"Alan Holbrook" > wrote in message
. 3.30...
> "Julie Bove" > wrote in
> :
>
>>
>> > 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.
>>
>>
>
> Buying plants vs. seeds is indeed a little more expensive, but for
> me, I find the convenience worth the price. Going along with what
> Julie said, I find herbs to be ridiculously easy to grow,
> especially basil. I do mine in planters also, just water them a
> couple of times a week, feed them every couple of weeks with a
> good general purpose plant food, and stand back. My basil grows
> so well I've seen it try to reach out and grab my cats when they
> wander too close to the planters...

Cilantro and parsley were the ones that grew the best for me. I got those
10 cent seed packets from the drugstore. They kept reseeding. Got a lot of
mileage out of those!

"Julie Bove" wrote:
>
>I got those 10 cent seed packets from the drugstore.

Huh? The last time I saw 10¢ seed packets it was 1955... you weren't
even born yet. Show me your plants or I'd never believe you ever grew
anything, Julie is a lotta gum flapping... talk is cheap.
This is today's typical price:
http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Moss-Cu...=parsley+seeds
One can by an assortment of herb seeds for less, only a bargain if you
can use them all:
http://www.amazon.com/Assortment-Cul...=parsley+seeds

"Brooklyn1" > wrote in message
...
> "Julie Bove" wrote:
>>
>>I got those 10 cent seed packets from the drugstore.
>
> Huh? The last time I saw 10¢ seed packets it was 1955... you weren't
> even born yet. Show me your plants or I'd never believe you ever grew
> anything, Julie is a lotta gum flapping... talk is cheap.
> This is today's typical price:
> http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Moss-Cu...=parsley+seeds
> One can by an assortment of herb seeds for less, only a bargain if you
> can use them all:
> http://www.amazon.com/Assortment-Cul...=parsley+seeds

Nonsense Sheldon! The only plants I have right now in the house are a
Kalanchoe and a cactus garden that I grew from seed. Not gonna take a pic
of them. Oh and the wheatgrass for the cats. That gets replaced weekly.
The cats are one reason that I have no more indoor plants. They were eating
them. I only kept the Kalanchoe because I bought it when our old cat, Maui
died. I have it up high where they can't reach it, although Ballerina does
jump up and attack the leaves that hang down. So the plant is a tad
scraggly.

We sold seeds for 10 cents a packet when I worked at K Mart. They were not
our standard stock and when they sold out, that was the end of it. Some guy
from a charity usually bought most of the edible ones and then made a big
stink about how they should be tax free because they were edible.

I bought my 10 cent seeds at Rite Aid pharmacy but I think I read that
Dollar Tree also sells them. There are very few seeds in those packets.
The packet looks the same as a standard seed packet but you don't get much
in it. They are still selling them here. There was a recent post on Hot
Coupon World about them. You won't see a lot of variety in those seeds.
There might be 6-10 kinds of flower seeds and the same for vegetable seeds.
I just looked this up. Walmart and Walgreeens sell these too. They're
everywhere!

I gave up on trying to grow outdoor plants. For one thing, my husband would
either rip them out, deeming them to be weeds, or tell the gardener to do
it. Daughter and I replanted the strawberry patch twice because of him. He
finally took it totally down, including the rockery so that we couldn't
replant it. He ripped out about $200 worth of perennials that we had just
planted. We finished planting, went to the grocery store, came back and
found the newly planted plants ripped up and in the green bin! You had
better believe that I pitched a fit over that one! He freaked because the
neighbors might hear me. And I really didn't care *who* heard me. I was
that angry! He did replant them, most likely not in the order that I had
them but most of them died anyway. Not sure how long they sat in that bin
with the roots exposed.

I also gave up on trying to grow veggies. Just isn't a sure thing at all in
this climate. I did get a bumper crop the first full summer that we moved
back here. Tomatoes, peas, radishes, carrots,lettuce, cucumbers, peppers,
onions and herbs. So much so that I was able to share quite a bit of it
with friends and family.

But after that? Not much at all. Got a ton of tomatoes on the vine but
then we had so much rain that they just rotted. Tried growing Walla Walla
onions but hot weather early on caused them to bolt. Slugs kept eating my
cucumbers. Can't tell you how many times I replanted them and no slug bait
helped. The parsley and cilantro did drop seeds beneath the deck and they
were growing down there. I think the gardener finally put herbicide on them
to kill them and that was fine by me. It just isn't worthwhile for me to
grow herbs like that since I don't use the fresh ones on a regular basis or
in a large enough quantity to warrant it.

I have a very small yard. Mostly what I did grow was grown on my deck in
Earth Boxes. And even though the boxes themselves do last a long time (I
still have them), the covers need a yearly replacement and it is best to
replace all of the soil too. That presented a problem. I really have no
place to dump the old soil. I did make do by replacing just the top few
inches but that is not recommended.

I also discovered that the tomatoes that I grew were no better tasting than
those that I got at the grocery store. And that made me sad. I grew quite
a few varieties too.

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

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

"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in message
...

> 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.

How do you store your seeds?

--
--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:13:18 +0100, "Ophelia" ku>
wrote:

>
>
>"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in message
.. .
>
>> 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.
>
>How do you store your seeds?
>
>--
Each seed packet in a zip-top sandwich bag, in my file box of seeds,
in a cool, dark room. They need to be protected from temperature and
humidity extremes.
Janet US

On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:01:56 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>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

My experience has been that sometimes they sprout and sometimes not,
if not then a lot of growing time is wasted. I haven't saved seeds
for many years, I learned my lesson too many times... there's good
reason seed packets are dated.

Also, never feed agri seeds to wildlife, agri seeds are chemically
treated with mold inhibitors, etc.... yet another reason why there is
no such thing as organic food.

"Brooklyn1" > wrote in message
...
> My experience has been that sometimes they sprout and sometimes not,
> if not then a lot of growing time is wasted. I haven't saved seeds
> for many years, I learned my lesson too many times... there's good
> reason seed packets are dated.
>
> Also, never feed agri seeds to wildlife, agri seeds are chemically
> treated with mold inhibitors, etc.... yet another reason why there is
> no such thing as organic food.

I have not tried to save vegetable seeds but I certainly did with flower
seeds. I would harvest them from Poppies, Four O'Clocks and Nasturtiums.
These are all quite easy to harvest. I would also dig up the roots of the
Four O'Clocks and store them in my cellar until the following year. Worked
very well.

On Apr 17, 1:04*am, wrote:
> 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.

When growing basil, if they start to flower, pinch off the flowers.
This stimulates more leaf growth and allows you to keep the basil
longer in the pot. Otherwise the leaves will die at the expense of
the flowers.

http://www.richardfisher.com

On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 01:04:45 -0400, wrote:

>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.

they are both easy to grow. Since you are a beginner, I would buy
plants. It's really too late in the season to start parsley seed
anyway. It would take too long before you had parsley big enough that
you could use. This time of year, every supermarket, Home Depot,
Lowes, etc. has bags of Miracle Grow potting soil in green plastic
bags -- doesn't cost very much. I don't know how big your planters
are, so you are going to have to guess how much potting soil you need.
Basil is shallow rooted, so it is important that you don't let the
soil dry out. Parsley is more forgiving. Basil will be the taller
plant. Be sure to read the tags on the plants before you buy basil.
You want one of the basil plants that have large leaves, not the
little tiny ornamental ones. It isn't difficult to find the basil you
want -- easy -- just read the tag. Don't plant on a hot, sunny or
windy day. Let the plants sit outside for a day or two in a
semi-sheltered place. This is called hardening off. It keeps the
plants from dying when exposed to new outside conditions. Plant
either in the evening or early morning to let the plants get settled
in. Give everybody a good drink. You're done. Sit back and wait for
results. Good luck
Janet US

I grow my basil on my deck railings as well. It's always just 4 steps away from the door. Potting soil and seeds. Keep 'em moist til they germinate. Works very well for me for the last several years. Good luck.

On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 01:04:45 -0400, wrote:

> 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.

Buy the little plants, plant them in potting soil, throw some water on
them every now and then and they should be fine. Pretty soon either
you'll figure out how much attention you need to give them to keep
them alive or they'll die. I don't have enough heat here to be
successful with basil and cilantro bolted on me when I planted that...
but parsley can be pretty much neglected and it still flourishes.
Same with rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano and marjoram. YMMV

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

wrote:
> 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.

And remember, when you harvest some herbs, always cut off the top. Never
take leaves from the bottom or middle of the stem.


--

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