Lavender blooms can beautify our gardens. Dreaming of Provence and romantic, fragrant lavender fields washed in violet-blue?
You can find sweet dreams much closer to home. Texas has a surprising number of lavender farms that offer such an experience. And you can bathe your own garden with spikes of lavender blooms and sharp-scented foliage. Let's face it. The Houston area is not a natural home for lavender, says herbalist Ann Wheeler of the Log House Herb Farm in Magnolia. But we can make our gardens more hospitable to the fragrant herb.
The lavender season begins in spring and runs well into summer. The good news is that lavender likes alkaline soil — a given in most Houston gardens. Arugula: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Arugula. Lettuce: From Seed to Harvest. Lettuce is one of our most common cool season vegetables.
A close relative of artichoke, chicory, endive and sunflowers, lettuce is a sprinter from planting to harvest but can be a challenge. We'll take a look at some of the basic types of lettuce and discuss cultural techniques for success. But first a few words about the history of this leafy green. HistoryLettuce is actually a member of the sunflower family. How to Grow Thyme. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a low-growing, woody perennial.
It is a highly aromatic Mediterranean herb that performs especially well in somewhat dry, sunny conditions. It holds its flavor in cooking and blends well with other flavors of its native region, such as garlic, olive oil, and tomatoes. Thyme is considered to have antiseptic and preservative properties and has long been used medicinally as well as to preserve meats. You’ll even find thyme in perfume. The tiny pink, lavender, or white tubular flowers of thyme plants show up in the spring and summer and are well-liked by bees.
Growing Thyme. How to Grow and Care for Lemongrass. For gardeners looking to get the most bang out of their real estate buck, edible landscaping fills two desires: increasing curb appeal, while also getting tasty fresh veggies, fruits, and herbs for the kitchen.
Some plants billed as ornamental edibles are questionable in either their beauty or their deliciousness (how many of those ornamental peppers can you eat in a week?) , but few plants marry looks and tastiness the way lemongrass does. A fast-growing ornamental grass, lemongrass is as handsome waving in the summer breeze as it is appetizing in your soups, stir-fries, and teas. How to Grow Lemongrass Lemongrass grows with abundance in areas where conditions mimic the tropical habitat of their origin. Light In its native habitat, lemongrass grows in full sun, even in hot climates. Soil Lemongrass plants prefer rich, loamy soil. Reading and Understanding Garden Fertilizer Labels. You want to make sure your plants are getting the nutrition they need to do you proud, but there are so many choices when it comes to selecting a fertilizer.
How do you know what is really in the bag? There are certain rules that all fertilizer makers must follow when they label their products and understanding these rules can make comparing fertilizers much easier. Here are the things you need to know about garden fertilizers and how they are labeled. Major Ingredients Most commercial fertilizers are prominently labeled with a three-part number on the front of the package. For example, if you purchase a 10-pound bag fertilizer labeled 5-10-5, it contains 5 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphorus, and 5 percent potassium by weight. Nitrogen: the First Number The first number gives the percentage of nitrogen in the product.
Rosemary Plants: Care and Growing Guide. You don't need an herb garden to grow rosemary.
A single plant in a pot will provide you with enough rosemary to flavor your cooking and scent the kitchen. However, if you live in an area where rosemary thrives, you could have entire hedges of the plant. Rosemary is one of those wonderful herbs that makes a beautiful ornamental plant as well as a versatile culinary seasoning. Its Latin name, Rosmarinus officinalis, means "dew of the sea," and rosemary is most closely associated with the cooking of the Mediterranean region. How to Grow and Care for Mint. The species and varieties of mint (Mentha spp.) are some of the easiest and most popular herbs to grow.
Plants in the mint family are very hardy perennials with vigorous growth habits. Growing Leeks in the Vegetable Garden. Leeks are relatives of onions, with a milder, more herbal flavor that sweetens as they cook.
Native to Europe and Africa and best planted in the cool early spring or fall months, leeks are characterized by tough, flat, bluish-green leaves that encircle each other, forming a cylindrical base at one end and a fan of folded leaves at the other. The leaves grow opposite each other, and the plant takes on an almost flat appearance until the leaves become long and floppy. Although often considered a root vegetable, easy-to-grow leeks do not usually form a bulb. Instead, the edible part is the bottom 6 inches or so of the cylindrical stalk that is white instead of vibrant green. The Serrano Pepper Planting Guide: A To Zing - PepperScale. Delicious in salsas, sauces, and salads… Interested in growing a chili with a comparable flavor to a jalapeño, but with a little more kick?
Meet the serrano pepper. It has a similar bright, grassy flavor as the jalapeño, but with a little extra spicy punch. It’s perfect for fresh salsas, homemade hot sauces, and spicy salads. Grow Ginger Root Indoors and Use it Many Ways. Ginger is a popular ingredient in stir-fry cooking, Asian cuisines, and for many homemade herbal remedies.
It is easy to find at most grocery stores but can be very expensive to purchase. If you like to use this tasty root very often, you may find that growing it yourself will save you money, ensure that your ginger has not been treated with any unwanted chemicals, and allow you to always have some on hand for cooking. If you grow any plants indoors, then you will be able to successfully grown ginger root. How to Grow Parsely - An Under Appreciated Herb. For years, our only encounter with parsley was that curly, bitter sprig on the side of our plate in restaurants. Although parsley is a very attractive plant, it is generally grown as a culinary herb and often wasted as a garnish or plate decoration. It is is a leafy herb that adds more freshness than flavor to dishes. Garden Planner Free Trial and Subscription Information. Try the Garden Planner for free with our 7 day Free Trial Start a Free Trial > Subscribe to the Garden Planner > How Much Does It Cost?
Subscribe What's Included? ' A subscription to the online Garden Planner for PC or Mac gives you the following benefits: Chives (Garlic) Grow Guide. Crop Rotation Group Allium (Onion family) ● Soil Any average, well drained soil. Position Full sun to partial afternoon shade. Frost tolerant Garlic chives are hardy perennials that survive winter even in very cold climates. Feeding Not generally needed. How to Grow and Care for Basil. Basil plants are one of the most popular herbs to grow and also one of the easiest. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a member of the mint family. It is closely identified with Italian cooking, although it is originally from India. The extremely aromatic leaves also have a delightful variety of flavors, from the slightly lemony-mint of sweet basil to cinnamon, and licorice.
Leaf colors span from rich green to deep purple, with smooth or crinkled leaves. The flowers are insignificant but very popular with bees. How to Grow Scallions. Scallions bring the flavor of onions without the long wait in the garden or the peeling in the kitchen. Although we use the terms scallions, green onions, and spring onions interchangeably to mean any onion harvested before the bulb forms, they are actually distinguished from one another as follows: Green onions: Regular onions harvested before they form a bulbSpring onions: Regular onions harvested when the bulb is smaller than a quarterScallions: Varieties that never form a bulb It's a fine point and an unscientific one. There is a specific allium species, Allium fistulosum, that is a clump-forming perennial that never grows into a bulb. These generally have the best flavor, but growing them as perennials can require a bit more care. Volume 90% Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Play/PauseSPACE Increase Volume↑ Decrease Volume↓
How to Grow Culinary Sage. How to Grow and Care for Oregano. Oregano, a plant from the mint family, is a signature flavor of many Italian, Mexican, and Spanish dishes. Calotropis Gigantea- Large Milkweed Leaves for Caterpillars. Growing Marigolds – Planting & Caring for Marigold Flowers. Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co. How to Regrow Potatoes: 11 Steps (with Pictures) Zinnias: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Zinnia Flowers. Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow, as they grow quickly and bloom heavily. 12 groups of companion plants to make your vegetable garden thrive.
Some plants help each other enormously, while others hinder their neighbors – use this cheat sheet to ensure harmony in the vegetable plot. There can be real discordance in the vegetable garden. Companion planting chart. Homegardening. How to Make a Bug Out Bag. Vintage Vinyl:Steal This Book. Library of Congress number 72-157115 (stolen from Library of Congress) copyright ©1971 PIRATE EDITIONS Restaurants Food Programs. Find That Place.