[galleygirl]

Okay, the plot had been dug, spaded, pitchforking, loosened up, leveled, and raked...I'm about to add the manure....But I started checking out the little plantlets and seedlings, and I didn't know what to do with them, or which to buy...

To wit; with lettuces, specifically arugula, there were pots full of tightly packed 2" high seedlings....Do I plant them in a clump, or do I seperate them ,and plant them in a row? How far apart? or do I plant them in little clusters? If I buy a mature plant, will it keep giving?

Which basil, besides sweet? Holy? There did seem to be a purple one, which sort of looked like the Thai basil I like, but they don't look like they do when they're grown, at the Asian market...Which thyme? Which oregano?

Which lavender? There were about 4 kinds!!!! HELP!!!!!!! :blink:

[helena]

I find different kinds of thyme sort of silly except for lemon one probably.
Get some lovage and thai basil. Greek oregano.

[galleygirl]

Th problem was, there wre about 4 versions of thyme that wre unflavored, just slightly different leaves....And there is not Thai basil, per se.....I think I went to a place with too many choices.... :(

[Rail Paul]

With arugula, I've planted them in the small clumps. In a hole about twice the size of the root ball. I usually wet the root ball, and gradually free up the roots which have sometimes wind around inside the planter. Lightly add handsful of soil until the plant is embedded and lightly water the whole thing to settle the soil.

With basil, I usually separate the plants if they're substantial, more than 6 inches high.

[Abbylovi]

galleygirl, on May 25 2004, 06:56 PM, said:

If I buy a mature plant, will it keep giving?

Yes! I cut the leaves at the base and the leaves keep regenerating. I've already had two harvests out of my mesclun.

[galleygirl]

Abbylovi, on May 26 2004, 01:28 PM, said:

galleygirl, on May 25 2004, 06:56 PM, said:

If I buy a mature plant, will it keep giving?

Yes! I cut the leaves at the base and the leaves keep regenerating. I've already had two harvests out of my mesclun.

How many plants did you need? Planted in clumps, a la Rail Paul, or in rows?

[galleygirl]

Rail Paul, on May 26 2004, 12:24 PM, said:

With arugula, I've planted them in the small clumps. In a hole about twice the size of the root ball. I usually wet the root ball, and gradually free up the roots which have sometimes wind around inside the planter. Lightly add handsful of soil until the plant is embedded and lightly water the whole thing to settle the soil.

How many plants do you feel you need this way?

[helena]

You might want to check The Arrows Cookbook : Cooking and Gardening from Maine's Most Beautiful Farmhouse Restaurant.
I got it just because of the gardening in north east part.

[Abbylovi]

galleygirl, on May 26 2004, 01:34 PM, said:

Abbylovi, on May 26 2004, 01:28 PM, said:

galleygirl, on May 25 2004, 06:56 PM, said:

If I buy a mature plant, will it keep giving?

Yes! I cut the leaves at the base and the leaves keep regenerating. I've already had two harvests out of my mesclun.

How many plants did you need? Planted in clumps, a la Rail Paul, or in rows?

I had to do it in clumps because I've got them in planters on the roof outside my kitchen. Hmmm. I had quite a few plants, maybe around five or so per container? But if I had space I'd do things quite a bit differently because they do get pretty big fairly quickly.

[MyKong]

Arugula isn't that fussy--you can crowd it in--just thin out the larger leaves for salad as you go.

[galleygirl]

Okay, what about lavender and rosemary? Better off buying a little bush, or will a plant grow so much, so quickly, and become a bush, that I don't have to worry? And do all varieties of these turn into bushes?

[helena]

Rosemary is not hardy in NE, ditto some types of lavender.

[galleygirl]

helena, on May 27 2004, 09:29 AM, said:

Rosemary is not hardy in NE, ditto some types of lavender.

Ahh, thanks, so I should not expect them to survive the winter, unless they're indoors in pots?

[Rail Paul]

nerissa, on May 26 2004, 10:34 PM, said:

Arugula isn't that fussy--you can crowd it in--just thin out the larger leaves for salad as you go.

Yes. Thinning is very important for arugula.


I've been fortunate to keep my sage and rosemary plants and my tarragon plant alive for several years, outside. I cut back in the early winter and dry the cuttings. I normally pack chopped leaves in a mound around each and put evergreen cuttings over the leaf pile.

Carefully unmound in the Spring, and they're usually started to show some shoots.

[helena]

Yes, rosemary should be taken indoors so it's better be potted.
I had a mixed success with lavender: hidcote variety is hardy, at least in jersey, but it's very slow growing and the flowers were less perry than on french lavender.
But you can glow all these guys in pots. I actually prefer it this way: the big advantage - they're never gritty :)