This page is for the use of members of the club. Do you have any hints or tips you would like to share with other members. If so, submit them, via the Contact us page. If you have a problem, then look here or use the Contact us form to ask your question. To make finding information easier, all information about herbs will be placed under that heading in alphabetical order. 

Companion Planting  - a timely reminder from Gordon that planting different plants together can often be beneficial to one or both of them.
 
Basil – plant beside – Tomato - may help the flavour and keeps white fly away.
 
Beans – grow beside carrots, celery, potatoes, corn, beets, cucumbers and strawberries.
 
Carrots plant beside leeks, onions, sage and peppers.
 
Geraniums plant beside roses, tomatoes, peppers and cabbage.
 
Lavendar repels fleas and moths. Even putting cut stems down round plants is effective.
 
Nasturtiums plant beside tomatoes, cabbage (any brassicas) and near orchard fruits.
 
Nettles – soak leaves in a pail and drain off the liquid. Use as a liquid spray for black fly.
 
Oregano grow near brassicas, cucumbers and courgettes.
 
Parsnips grow near potatoes, radish, peas, peppers, leeks and onions.
 
Peas grow near climbing beans, carrots, parsley and potatoes.
 
Peppers grow near Parsley, Basil and carrots.
 
Strawberries grow onions in the same bed.
 
Marigolds grow near tomatoes keeps white fly away.
 
Mint in pots grow beside carrots. Keeps carrot fly away.
 
White fly deter with Marigolds and Basil
 
Put rhubarb leaves in a pail of water. Drain off the liquid, Use as a spray for peas and beans. Deters black fly.
 
Black fly deter with marigolds and nettle liquid leaf spray.
 
For more information contact Gordon through the contact us page.  

 
PROPAGATION Shop bought spray carnations need to be stripped of their foliage before arranging in a vase (to prevent the rotting vegetation smelling). Any sprigs removed can be placed in water where they will produce roots and can then be potted up and planted out after the danger of frost is passed. They will flower the same year.  

HERBS.  Many of us use herbs. If you grow your own successfully please share your experiences with other members.  

My herb garden in a raised bed 7' x 3'. It has sage, 2 kinds of thyme, lovage, Bronze fennel, sorrel and burnet. In addition I put parsley and basil in there in summer. It is a source of free colour and flavour and is packed full of vitamins. submitted by sunny 19.12.11   


Parsley  
Many people find it hard to germinate parsley seed successfully. My own tried and tested method is to pour boiling water on the soil outside or on the compost indoors and then sow the seeds in to that immediately.
I have also heard of gardeners putting their seeds in hot water and leaving them to soak overnight with good results.
Germination of the seeds takes approximately 3 weeks and planting to harvesting approx. 12 weeks.
If all else fails buy a small pot of parsley from the supermarket and transplant the seedlings in to the garden after the end of May.
Plant one seedling in a six inch pot, preferably a deep pot like a recycled clematis pot. They like to put down long roots. It can be kept outdoors all summer and overwintered on the kitchen windowsill. Parsley roots can also be used in cooking.
Cut the biggest stalks of parsley first. Use scissors and take the whole stalk or the plants vigour will be lost.
Flat leaved parsley is mostly used in cooking and bread making.
Curly leaved parsley is more often eaten raw or as a garnish.
It will grow in partial shade or full sun but likes alkaline, free draining but moist soil. Mulch if it tends to dry out. Keep weed free and feed once a month with tomato food.
Preserve leaves by freezing in a plastic bag. The frozen leaves are easily crushed for use. You can also dry them and store in an airtight jar.
submitted by sunny 19.12.11. 

Onion Seeds (sowing)
 
An old gardener told me you sow on the shortest day of the year and lift them on the longest day of the year.
Sow indoors in a tray. 
submitted by sunny 19.12.11.