I think I am in trouble.

[HunkieDorie23]

Last year was my first attempt with herbs... didn't turn out great. So I did a lot of reading and am try again, anyway last year I was in a seed exchange and that's where I got my seeds. Almost nothing did well. This year I bought my seeds and started lemon basil. Grew great, started genovese (sp?) basil growing great.

Finally found some thyme, marjoram, and oregano seeds. Started them and POW I have a ton of them sprouted. I did sow them somewhat heavy because I didn't think they would grow well. What am I going to do with this amount of plants? I have several dozen basil plants, maybe 75 oregano sprouts and 2x's that in marjoram. My thyme I planted on Tuesday, it is already sprouting, no idea how many plants I will end up with. I have some purple coneflower to go into it, parsley, dill and cilantro to direct seed. I was going to put in a raised bed about 3x30 ft. Do these sprouts normally all survive? I could start my own herb market with this amount of herbs if I had the room which I don't. Isn't oregano invasive? I was trying to think of a clever way to plant it that kept it contained.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know why you are in trouble. I always sprout more seeds than I need. What extras I don't give away I give to the chickens or throw on the compost heap, depending on what it is.

Oregano can be invasive. The way I contain it is to take a shovel and cut of the ends of the oregano mass of roots and plants so it is back to a size I want. I also cut out a patch in the middle and fill it with compost to kind of thin it and feed it. Thinning does not last long but I think it helps.

You can take a bucket, cut the bottom out, and plant the oregano in there, leaving the rim of the bucket a few inches above the soil level. You can usually get buckets free at a deli or a grocery store that has a deli. I still think it will escape, but maybe this will slow it down.

I find that herbs are pretty strong. With proper care I have very few that don't survive transplanting unless something really strange happens.

Good luck!!!

 

[vfem]

Yep... I rather have too many and just give away the remainder. They make nice gifts... just think, Mother's day is coming!!! Save you a few bucks.

 

[digitS']

Nothing succeeds like success, HunkieDorie. We should all have these concerns . I'd be inclined to blame last year's problems on bad seed, given your performance this year.

I hope you didn't plant all your Genovese and Lemon Basil seed. You may want to start some more a couple of times. I start them indoors, even late. Basil won't have a terribly long life cycle unless you really stay on 'em, and not allow any flowering.

Take a cold, hard look at things :/. It helps for me to squint my eyes and do my best Dirty Harry imitation. You won't do any of your plants the slightest good by "cramming" them together. I've buried them at the bottom of the same planting hole where I've carefully placed a "Chosen One" above. I've tossed plenty of them in the compost bin. (Quick! Bury them under something heavy!)

Don't plant your dill and cilantro seed too thick and succession sow them in a couple of weeks. And that Sweet Marjoram . . . those will likely be tiny plants. Unless you really protect them, like carry indoors, they will only live as annuals. People just don't appreciate that herb enuf. Put them fairly close for companionship, don't think they are "sickly" because of how they will look - they are also called "Knot Marjoram" and you will see what that's all about. If you have too much trouble from that bully, Oregano, throw it out and plant Marjoram every year .

Steve

Doctor: Sure, Harry. We can save the leg.

(takes out scissors)

Harry Callahan: What are you going to do with those?
Doctor: Going to cut your pants off.
Harry Callahan: No. I'll take them off.
Doctor: It'll hurt.
Harry Callahan: $29.50, let it hurt.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Alright I went outside and work for a while in the garden and sweat out my flusterations. The Basil I am OK with. I have about 15-18 of each type and I do have extra seed. The oregano I was only going to plant 2-3. How long to they take to grow to a usable size? And I was trying to figure out a way just to bury a container with the plant so it doesn't get away. I get really lazy in the summer when I start harvesting and I know it will be on it's own.

If the marjoram stays small ... then it won't be too bad. I can find room for a couple dozen. If the chickens will eat them maybe I won't feel like I have to find pot and homes for 150 plants. Its not so hard getting rid of a couple dozen extra tomato plants but herbs are a different story.

vfem, Mother's day is a good idea except my mother and both grandmothers are gone. MIL is in the nursing home and wouldn't have use them anyway. I do have 12 aunts most with gardens.