Hardy Herbs

Rosemary, oregano, thyme and sage seem to be holding up well in the icy weather. Rosemary and Thyme are evergreens, so I am not too surprised at them. The oregano and sage are holding up just as well. The broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, cauliflower and cabbage are not. The normal staples of winter, turnips and mustard are totally wilted. They will probably come back as will the other crucifers.

The rain on Sunday seemed to be reviving things. It was followed by two nights (and more to come) of low temperatures in the teens. The whole garden is a pretty sad looking affair. This weekend is to be dedicated to cleaning out the dead beds from summer and reworking them and mulching them so they can sleep through the winter.

If time remains after that, the soil will be tested and the garden plan for next spring will be made. This is necessary before the greenhouse can be planted.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Which Herbs to Plant?

This has got to be one of the toughest decisions of the gardening year. There are so many and so many that I really love. When making a list of favorites, the ease of growing needs to be taken into consideration. Also, is the plant a good companion plant? Will the plant crossbreed with other plants and possibly cause undesirable offspring. How much space is available?

The list of favorites include things like black peppercorn, cumin and curry. Research shows that black pepper comes from the piper tree. These trees are used as street plantings in Santiago, Chile. I brought seeds back on my last trip; but they did not germinate. Curry is actually a blend of herbs. That will require some study. Cumin which is one of the ingredients of curry is widely not considered possible to grow in Charlotte. It is seeded in May and harvested in September. Why can’t I grow it here?

That will be one of my candidates for the herb garden this year. Herb garden should be clarified. We no longer have a herb garden. The herbs are planted in flower beds and as companion plants in the raised beds with other crops.




David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/