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?”
Answer: 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. ...
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basil, harvesting herbs, pinching, scented geraniums, the backyard patch, thyme
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My husband Chas and I have been designing our perfect home for several years now. To get me in the mood for garden planning each winter I drag out the plans I have been working on for that house. It iwill have three different garden areas. My favorite is a scent garden that will be tucked in between our front entrance and our side entrance in a small u-shape alcove. Because the house will face west the area will have good sunlight. And since it will be walked through or past by all of our guests, I decided on a scent-strong herbs and flowers to populate the space. Roses, of course in the shelter of the house for winter protection and thyme on the pathways will be paired with among many others, scented geraniums in containers. My favorite place to get scented gernaiums (Pelargonium - not to be confused with regular geraniums) is Shady Acres in Elburn, IL. Those who know scented geraniums also know that in the midwest most of the quality stock originates from Shady Acres, so I just buy from the source. It is a beautiful drive in the country to their conservatory-like greenhouse out on Route 47. ...
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lemon, scented geraniums, thyme
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