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I was recently asked at a Garden Walk “When I am told to pinch back an herb, exactly what does this mean? How many inches of stem should I take as I pinch? Do I pinch off all the tips, or just one or two?”

When you pinch back herbs, you are orchestrating two fundamental forces of plant life: the need to reproduce and the need to stay alive long enough to reproduce.

Herbs, like other plants, want nothing more than to reproduce. Most herbs want to make flowers and seeds, so they channel their energy toward stems that will grow fast and bloom quickly. With annual herbs such as basil and marjoram, bud production begins within weeks after plants are set out in the garden. Perennial herbs prepare to bloom in spring soon after days become long and warm.

Whether annual or perennial, herbs’ fast-growing tips send chemical signals down the stem telling secondary buds not to grow. In nature, sprinting to maturity is smart. What we see is a lean, upright plant with few lateral branches. It is totally intent on blooming.

This is not exactly what we had planned for the garden. ...

Tags: basil, harvesting herbs, pinching, scented geraniums, the backyard patch, thyme

This time of year I get asked numerous questions about what to do with herbs in the garden as the seasons move toward winter.  There are several ways to preserve your herbs which I will discuss in the next couple of days.  First I want to mention how to harvest.

1. Always pick herbs just before the plant flowers to insure the strongest flavor.
2. Cut herbs in the morning if possible just adter the dew has lifted.  The flavor will be the strongest.
3. Cut only healthy herbs.  I mean wilting, withering, etc.  Don’t worry about a few dead or damaged leaves; just pluck them off before the drying process.
4. You can cut quite a bit from the herb plant (more than you expect).  For perennials you can cut up to half their height in the fall, but as much as 2/3 to 3/4 during the main growing season.  For annuals you can cut as much as you want, they are going to die at the first front anyway.

When harvesting you want to cut with nice sharp, clean utensils.  Use scirrors (even regular scissors work fine) or a sharp...

Tags: gardening, harvesting herbs, herbs

An auto accident and a bicycle accident and suddenly my August is over!  Getting to work has been a challenge since the squishing accident that wrecked my Lumina.  Then I got hit riding my bicyle as well.  In both cases no damage to me, but the vehicles did not fare as well.  The car was totaled and the bicycle had to be repaired, but all is fixed now and I can get back on track. 

It is that time of year where I spend all the time I can harvesting herbs.  I have had great success with my Lemon Verbena this year.  It got wind/frost damage in late sping from freak storm.  All the leaves darkened and fell off and in their place grew new STEMS.  The plants are incredibly bushy.  Then I started taking off branches, not too many becasue Lemon Verbena wilts when you cut it.  At each cut, three stems emerged from the leaves.  I have decided to cut at least one stem everyday so I get a short but even more bushy plant to bring in next month.  It will be a great addition to my indoor winter garden.  I am also bringing in the Lemon...

Tags: crafts, geraniums, harvesting herbs, lemon verbena