Last May Blog. 28-5–18
Hérb plants
(Picture of last years tubs)
Rosemary,
Mint.
Basil,
Greek Basil,
Chives,
Lemon Thyme,
Thyme, regular,
Borage.
My herb tubs are not doing too badly. Last years mint has gone woody and the tub is overrun with its roots. Autumn or next year, it has to come out. It seems easy to buy a pot of mint each spring in the supermarkets to re-plant in the tub. I did buy a new pot of mint but have planted it in its own container a little way away from the main tub.
My Rosemary from last year, is still alive, though it is tending to be a bit spindly. Still, the aroma when you run your fingers through the leaves, is wonderful.
I split my Sage pot ( the ones I planted last year from cut stems I bought in a packet, (two of which survived to become small sage plants) into the two separate plants that survived being cut then planted, then go through winter. I put one in my big tub and replaced the other sage plant back into its smaller pot. Seems to be ok so far.
The pot of chives I planted earlier in the big tub are not looking so good. May have to replace them and I think the mint roots are choking them.
Earlier this spring I also bought some Basil. Seems ok though not especially abundant. I also bought some more Lemon Thyme to plant in the smaller tub with the regular Thyme from last year. That also appears to be surviving, so far.
A couple of weeks ago I bought a beautiful Greek Basil, growing in a kind of ball-shape in its packaging. It is also competing with the mint roots in the large tub but appears to be holding its own. Think I bought it at Sainsburys as a herb plant, hanging out near the vegetable section ( not in the plants and flowers section). It has delicate small leaves. The scent is not quite as strong as the ordinary Basil, but lovely to touch and have the scent on my hand.
So, all in all, not so bad. There is little space for any more smelly plants, and basically I just grow them to inhale their aromas.
I almost forgot the Borage, given to me quite a few years ago and now pop up like weeks. But their little blue flowers are pretty and I let them grow a bit wild until the spring is past or they outgrow their space. The bees need their early flowers and they are around when the bluebells open their buds, they make a pretty sight, lots of blue with a touch of pink on the reverse side of the petals.
I sat outside to get some sunshine. Was hot. I have quite a few dwarf raspberries ( the bees have pollinated well) a few gooseberries but not as many redcurrants as I thought there would be. I have a few blueberries too, again, not as many as I had hoped and still no flowers on the pink blueberry bush. Such is Nature.
The birds were singing for a while, it was as quiet as it can be ( traffic a few gardens away) and somewhat peaceful but oh, so hot. So only a short time in case I damage my skin.
Keep safe out there.
Evelyn.