Easy-to-grow herbs add much to gardens and cooking - Marin Independent Journal

The COVID-19 pandemic has given us more time at home and in the garden, and a chance to understand what things are most important there.

I am so grateful for the fragrance of the vine someone planted on the other side of my fence. It’s full of small yellow rose blooms that flood my back garden with sweetness. Beauty is also found in foods.

Mints and other simple herbs flourish in urns just beyond the door. Potted calamond in trees grow in the house for their fragrant blooms and lemon trees grow outside for the goodness of their fruit.

This year, I want more fragrance, more beauty and more easy-to-grow immune-boosting plants. I want to plant more citrus trees and blueberries bushes, add some ginger root and garlic bulbs, and maybe I’ll even find space for a papaya tree and kiwi vine.

Two Marin experts share their tips for finding pleasure and sustenance in our home gardens.

Grow what you love

Emily Murphy, a garden consultant, blogger (passthepistil.com) and author of “Grow What You Love: 12 Food Plant Families To Change Your Life” (Firefly, 2018), says the garden can offer comfort as well as food.

“Life in the time of the coronavirus, with stay-at-home confinement and anxiety-laden trips to the grocery store, have us all wondering what we can do to grow some — even just a little — of our own food at home,” she says.

She wrote her book to address the questions of what you should grow and how to make the most of your time, space and resources.

“The short answer is start small and grow what you love,” she says.

“What are the foods you find yourself reaching for everyday?” she asks. “These are the foods that change your life and your cooking for the better.”

In her experience, “herbs are the most rewarding place to start and after that, at least for me, leafy greens,” she says.

Photo by the Living Seed Company

Radishes, such as “French Breakfast,” are easy to grow.

Top 10 herbs to grow indoors and out

•    Basil

•    Parsley

•    Chives

•    Cilantro

•    Thyme

•    Chervil

•    Rosemary

•    Dill

•    Mint

•    Oregano

• “It’s possible to grow all of the above herbs from seed. However, tender herbs such as basil, cilantro, chervil, dill and parsley are the quickest.”

• “When growing seeds or divisions in containers, plant in an organic potting soil that’s rich in organic matter,” she says, for good drainage.

• “All of the above herbs grow well indoors and out, but you’ll get more from them if you can plant outside or take them in and out and plant in the largest containers possible.”

• “Parsley, cilantro, chervil and even thyme take some shade with parsley, cilantro and chervil benefiting from afternoon shade.”

• “Give all of them full sun if you have it. Full sun is a minimum of six to eight hours of direct light a day and part shade is three to six hours of direct light a day.”

• “Grow mint in a container or it will take over your yard. Oregano is known to do this too, but it’s easier to control.”

• Water according to the weather, wind and container size. The bigger the container, the less frequently the herbs will need to be watered, she says.

“In general, the tender herbs mentioned above need more frequent watering than the rest. Water them about three times a week with an inch of water or so. The rest can thrive with watering once or twice a week or less.

“Water deeply so water reaches the entire root zone and check on plants more often if it’s especially hot or windy.

“Once you begin planting, picking and eating you’ll soon find that your garden is your best, most comforting distraction and lifeline during these times and well into the future,” she says.

Sow easy seeds

Growing seeds can be tricky for inexperienced gardeners, and because no one needs extra stress at this time, N. Astrid Hoffman offers suggestions and growing tips especially for novices.

Hoffman and her husband, Matthew, founders of the Living Seed Co. based in Point Reyes Station, celebrate their company’s eighth anniversary this month and are continuing to fulfill mail orders of their seeds.

The top three seeds for first-time seed sowers are radishes, kale and arugula, she says.

Although no one can guarantee a harvest, her cultivation tips below will give you the best chance at one.

• Either direct sow the seeds into the garden or in deep pots.

• Plant the seeds 1/16-inch deep and lightly cover them with soil.

• Add a few seeds per hole.

• If all the seeds germinate, gently cull the weakest-looking ones.

• Leave the most vibrant-look seedling.

“Always keep the soil moist while the seeds are germinating and carefully read and follow instructions on packet,” she says.

Within 25 days, you should be able to harvest radishes, baby kale greens in 30 days or so and baby arugula greens in about 40 days or more.

Living Seed Co. sells a wide range of organic, non-GMO and heirloom vegetables, herbs and flowers. Individual seed packets are $3 to $4, and seed collections from $15 to $60, available online at LivingSeedCompany.com.

PJ Bremier writes on home, garden, design and entertaining topics every Saturday and also on her blog at DesignSwirl.co. She may be contacted at P.O. Box 412, Kentfield 94914, or at pj@pjbremier.com.

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Easy-to-grow herbs add much to gardens and cooking - Marin Independent Journal
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