[Marzoli]

Odd note--the science/ecology teacher at my school told me to put the cilantro seeds in the freezer for a few days before planting. I don't know what that was supposed to do, but the plants grew! Naturally, with my luck, the bugs took over once things were growing. But it was odd.

[KYHeirloomer]

Some seeds need a cold dormancy before planting, to promote germination. It's possible cilantro is one of them. Although I've always just planted it.

[Rene]

We use a green house for all my herbs.. we start them all from seeds, and some of those we transplant into our garden... some we don't

We grow queen basil, bush, licorise, lemon basil.. these were hybrid seeds and they all grew wonderfully! we also grow cilantro, chives, and various types of mixed greens for salad... but living in Canada and with our winters the green house only helps the growing process last only a little longer.... btw- my hubby just takes the seeds dries them and then puts them in a dark place for the winter... don't think he has ever put any of them in a freezer

[CastIronCook]

Once you grow your own do you need to dry them as well? And how long do they last if you do?

If you have to buy your own, what do you buy for best quality?

[AndyG]

I don't think cilantro seeds (coriander) need a cold dormancy to grow; where I grew up it never got below about 40 degrees and cilantro grew really well.

[KYHeirloomer]

Depends how and where you grow them, CastIronCook.

If you grow them in pots there's no reason not to just bring them indoors and let them continue growing.

Otherwise, yeah, once cut you have to either dry or freeze them. Otherwise they don't last much past a couple of days.

[CastIronCook]

Originally Posted by KYHeirloomer

Depends how and where you grow them, CastIronCook.

If you grow them in pots there's no reason not to just bring them indoors and let them continue growing.

Otherwise, yeah, once cut you have to either dry or freeze them. Otherwise they don't last much past a couple of days.

Thanks brother...what brand of spices do you buy? do you order them online for the best stuff or is any brand OK as long as you cook it right?

[the_seraphim]

the builders left a set of wooden steps at work... chef has decided he wants to use it to grow our own herbs... "adds to the 'fresh factor'" he says

personally i dont think any sun gets to the little space hes thinking of... but do you really need that much sunlight to grow herbs?

mostly gonna be some kind of basil, mint, chef wants flat leaf, but ill put in round leaf parsley "oops... is that round leaf then?" thyme, sage, rosemary, i think thats it... its all gonna have to be pot grown... like i said, its gonna be on a set of steps (four or five 1' X 4' wooden steps)

[girdhar]

I do grow my own herb in the kitchen garden this facilitate me to grow as per my requirement and also keeps me away from the tension of not getting on time .
It is very easy to maintain .

[realistic cook]

Hi seraphim,
I have sage, tyme, basil and rosemary in my gardens. Only the rosemary is in the sunny part of the yard. The others are in the back yard planted by the house and they don't get much sun. They are all 9 or so years old. If you use pots and it gets frosty out, wrap the pots in old towels or blankets until it warms up again. They should be ok unless you live where it get below freezing for months at a time.
Hope they grow well for you. Fresh herbs are so wonderful.
Happy kitchen,
realistic cook

[Gnome]

Originally Posted by realistic cook

Hi, I love my herb garden. In the Nortwest we have a very short growing season so I grow whatever I can.
I have had great luck with sage, thyme, basil, parsley and my monster rosemary bush! I can harvest nearly all year with most of these except the parsley. I harvest and dry a lot of what I grow.
Does any one have a good way to dry parsley so that it keeps it's beautiful green color and great flavor? That one has stumped me.
Please come and visit my cooking website at therealisticcook.com.
Thanks

I have the same problem with a short growing season.
What I like to do is rince real good and remove large stems.
Then ball up fresh herbs wile wet and freese in good ziploc bag.
If you do a few bags like this during the summer you will make
it till spring easely.It lasts a long time when frozen nice and wet.
All I do is pull what ever type I want to use out and shave a
little off with a knife then back into the bag and into the freezer.
Just make sure you use the bags you can right on since they can
all look alike when frozen.Presantation is not the same but flavor
is almost as good as fresh.This is very easy and can last all winter.
Much easer and taste better then dring IMO.My freezer has shelves
on the doors this is the perfict spot and keeps them seperate.

[elizabethbryce@]

I have sage and dill growing in the soil in the garden outside and I didn't have to cover them up when it snows. It doesn't seem to bother them. On pots I have rosemary, oregano, rosemary, thyme, the necessities. I know it is not a herb but I also have pots and pots of aloe vera.

My question is -- I live here in Missouri where we have frost up to middle of May, can I plant rosemary, oregano and thyme on the ground and winterize them, too...?? (My parsley died during the winter outside and so my basil...) I will want to put in some mint too this year after the frost is over and am ready for gardening again...

[Gnome]

Originally Posted by elizabethbryce@

I have sage and dill growing in the soil in the garden outside and I didn't have to cover them up when it snows. It doesn't seem to bother them. On pots I have rosemary, oregano, rosemary, thyme, the necessities. I know it is not a herb but I also have pots and pots of aloe vera.

My question is -- I live here in Missouri where we have frost up to middle of May, can I plant rosemary, oregano and thyme on the ground and winterize them, too...?? (My parsley died during the winter outside and so my basil...) I will want to put in some mint too this year after the frost is over and am ready for gardening again...

I sujest you first figure out what zone your in.Then check the lable
on the plants to see if there safe out doors in your zone.If not I would
look into hybreeds that are harty in your area.There are varietys of
rosemary,oregano and I think thyme developed to survive cold winters.
Parsley is not a woody plant like the others not sure about the aloe vera.
I have noticed some plants that are borderline ok for my zone will survive
sometimes if planted very close to our house and covered with mulch.

[elizabethbryce@]

Originally Posted by Gnome

I sujest you first figure out what zone your in.Then check the lable on the plants to see if there safe out doors in your zone.If not I would look into hybreeds that are harty in your area.There are varietys of rosemary,oregano and I think thyme developed to survive cold winters. Parsley is not a woody plant like the others not sure about the aloe vera. I have noticed some plants that are borderline ok for my zone will survive sometimes if planted very close to our house and covered with mulch.

Thanks for the advice...I will try again this year.

[Gnome]

Originally Posted by elizabethbryce@

Thanks for the advice...I will try again this year.

Your welcome
Any time and good luck