Growing Herbs?

After Jake and Jasmine planted the basil seeds they decided that they could actually make a whole herb- garden but what should they grow?

The best person to help the out with answering the first question of course is Florence The Earthworm as she is so knowledgeable.

Which herbs to grow?

• Herbs flourish under the same conditions that as flowers or vegetables do.
  
• They need at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day, so it would be great if you have that in mind, as you are choosing where to place the pots
  
• Herbs do better in soils of low to medium fertility. Put just a little bit of compost to enrich the soil, or you will get plants, which produce lots of foliage that are low in flavour.
  
• While growing, pinch the plants back to keep them bushy and compact and remove any dead or diseased leaves to keep them healthy.

Here are some tips about how to grow and harvest them:

Basil

• Grow basil in full sun. Basil does not like cold weather.
• Once your basil plant begins to flower nip the flowers off as they reduce the basil's flavor. Pruning its flowers also encourages more basil growth
• Hey, check this out: In Romania, when a boy accepts a sprig of basil from a girl, he is engaged.

Dill

• Thin dill plants to about 9 inches apart. This is done about two weeks after planting, once the dill plants have emerged.
• Harvest the leaves about four to six weeks after planting. You can continue to allow the dill plant to grow after your first harvest.
• Look for the flower heads on the dill plant. Once the flower heads appear, there will be no more leaves produced by the plant
• Hey, dill is great for you. One tablespoon of dill seed contains more calcium than a cup of milk.
  

Summer Savory

• Plant the seeds about a 1/2 inch deep
• Cover with a loose top soil- layer
• Water the plant occasionally
• Prepare a  few stakes. You will need them if the stems begin to flop over.
• Harvest all leaves when the flowers of the plant bloom

Oregano

• Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep.
• Oregano plants prefer full sun and will grow in almost any well-drained soil.
• Harvest your oregano just before the flowers open.

Rosemary

• Use a clay pot that measures at least 12 inches deep and 12 inches across and has plenty of drainage holes.
• Keep the soil moist and spray the plants at least twice a week with luke
  warm water.
• Clip leaves or sprigs anytime you need them.

Thyme

• Thyme likes to be bathed in sunlight.
• Place twenty or so seeds in a small pot and cover with fertilized soil. Make sure the seeds are planted at least six inches deep.
• If where you live rains often ( as in Three Little Woods) , you may only need to water it once a week.
• Harvest both leaves and flowers of the Thyme.

If you want to know the answers of the other two questions that Jake and Jasmine have to find an answer to click here: