rockinrobyn29
Chillin' In The Garden
I'm new to gardening. Previously the things I've tried to grow all died (mostly my fault for having a brown thumb and letting them die) so now that I'm an adult, I'm trying again! I have a little herb garden that I've started with rosemary, sage, 2 basil plants (both sweet) and Italian flat leaf parsley all growing in the same 20 inch container.
However, I'm having some issues. On one of my basil plants, I've noticed some brown spot things on the stems. This is a relatively young plant so I don't think it's going to seed just yet (I've only had it for about a month and it was probably only a month or two old when I bought it from the nursery). The other plant (which isn't as tall or bushy) seems to be doing ok and I haven't noticed anything unusual growing on it. I haven't taken it to a garden center or the nursery where I bought it yet because I was curious to see if I could find the answer on the internet. It seems to be thriving quite nicely - after the shock of transplanting (took about 2 weeks), it's taken off like a rocket and it's just growing so big (both of them are, really). I don't think it's root rot or any kind of fungus, but I'm not an expert so I'm not sure.
I have another problem with my basil (quite frankly, with my sage as well): something is eating the leaves! Pix attached below. I'm not sure what it is but I know something is eating because I see all kinds of holes in the leaves, especially the lower ones next to the nice damp soil. I'm nearly positive that the Argentine ants aren't doing it since I haven't really noticed them eating the leaves but I could be wrong (I did notice that there is an ant colony in my container). I'm hesitant to use pesticide because I know that ants are aerating my soil and I don't want to take that away. Any suggestions? :/
My rosemary is slow to grow - is it just a slow growing plant? It SEEMS to be growing, but in the last 3 weeks since I harvested a couple pieces to cook with, I haven't seen much growth on it. Same thing with my sage. Are these herbs just slow growing?
The container sits in my backyard where it gets plenty of morning sun and lots of afternoon shade. Where I live, it's usually in the upper 90s to triple digits by the afternoon and down into the 70s (60s if we're lucky) at night. I'm very careful not to shower the leaves and stems and I try very hard to water the roots as directly as possible.
Finally, my last issue is with my parsley. I started it from seed in a tiny little 1" pot, then I moved it after 3 months (it became root bound) and once it got over the shock of transplanting, it grew roots and seemed to get healthy. In the past 3 weeks, it's hardly grown at all. Is this another slow growing herb and do I just need to be patient?
Thanks for tips and suggestions!!
This is what my herb garden looks like (taken on a cloudy day)
My rosemary (it's slightly shaded by the basil growing over it)
My parsley is also shaded by the basil
Something is on my basil - what is that thing? Is it an aphid??
The foliage being consumed by something I can't see
Something weird growing on the stem of my basil, take particular note of the brown spots on the left stem (not as easily noticeable as the other brown stuff). What is it??
Sorry the pictures are so enormous but hey, better details
Thanks again to anyone who is willing to help!
However, I'm having some issues. On one of my basil plants, I've noticed some brown spot things on the stems. This is a relatively young plant so I don't think it's going to seed just yet (I've only had it for about a month and it was probably only a month or two old when I bought it from the nursery). The other plant (which isn't as tall or bushy) seems to be doing ok and I haven't noticed anything unusual growing on it. I haven't taken it to a garden center or the nursery where I bought it yet because I was curious to see if I could find the answer on the internet. It seems to be thriving quite nicely - after the shock of transplanting (took about 2 weeks), it's taken off like a rocket and it's just growing so big (both of them are, really). I don't think it's root rot or any kind of fungus, but I'm not an expert so I'm not sure.
I have another problem with my basil (quite frankly, with my sage as well): something is eating the leaves! Pix attached below. I'm not sure what it is but I know something is eating because I see all kinds of holes in the leaves, especially the lower ones next to the nice damp soil. I'm nearly positive that the Argentine ants aren't doing it since I haven't really noticed them eating the leaves but I could be wrong (I did notice that there is an ant colony in my container). I'm hesitant to use pesticide because I know that ants are aerating my soil and I don't want to take that away. Any suggestions? :/
My rosemary is slow to grow - is it just a slow growing plant? It SEEMS to be growing, but in the last 3 weeks since I harvested a couple pieces to cook with, I haven't seen much growth on it. Same thing with my sage. Are these herbs just slow growing?
The container sits in my backyard where it gets plenty of morning sun and lots of afternoon shade. Where I live, it's usually in the upper 90s to triple digits by the afternoon and down into the 70s (60s if we're lucky) at night. I'm very careful not to shower the leaves and stems and I try very hard to water the roots as directly as possible.
Finally, my last issue is with my parsley. I started it from seed in a tiny little 1" pot, then I moved it after 3 months (it became root bound) and once it got over the shock of transplanting, it grew roots and seemed to get healthy. In the past 3 weeks, it's hardly grown at all. Is this another slow growing herb and do I just need to be patient?
Thanks for tips and suggestions!!
This is what my herb garden looks like (taken on a cloudy day)
My rosemary (it's slightly shaded by the basil growing over it)
My parsley is also shaded by the basil
Something is on my basil - what is that thing? Is it an aphid??
The foliage being consumed by something I can't see
Something weird growing on the stem of my basil, take particular note of the brown spots on the left stem (not as easily noticeable as the other brown stuff). What is it??
Sorry the pictures are so enormous but hey, better details
Thanks again to anyone who is willing to help!
!
