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weblog | events | features | gallery | noticeboard | links | zine | shop | supporters | about | contact Culinary Herb Pot by Toni Salter [www.theveggielady.com] Nothing compares to the flavour of fresh herbs. Curry just isn't curry until it's topped with lashings of fresh coriander, tabbouleh cannot survive without parsley and pesto simply isn't worth eating out of a jar - only fresh basil will cut it for my palette. And herbs are so simple to grow at home. With the weather being a bit milder now but not too chilly, it's a great opportunity to put your hand to the plough (or at least the garden glove to the potting mix) and whip up a culinary herb pot. The beauty about having fresh herbs handy is that you can pick them whenever you need them and as much as you need. Invariably, we buy a bunch of herbs from the supermarket and only use about two sprigs, then the rest is forgotten about and pushed to the back of the fridge until it's wilted and mouldy. Sound familiar? The Pot Your herb pot can be as big and extravagant as you like or you can keep it toally simple and just have a few favourite herbs sitting on the kitchen windowsill. Large, round terracotta or concrete pots with a diameter up to 1 metre can make an appealing feature actually positioned in the garden or in a courtyard nestled around some other potted plants. Or if you want the raw, recycled permaculture version then an old concrete laundry tub will work a treat. Strawberry pots can also look great when filled with different herbs in each hole. Long plastic troughs can fit nicely along the windowsill either inside or outside of the house. Just remember smaller pots will need more frequent watering and feeding than larger ones. Cover the drainage hole in the bottom with gauze or pebbles only if you think that your soil will spill out of the hole if you don't. It'll all depend on the size. The Dirt Herbs won't thrive very well in most common backyard garden "dirt". So it pays to go down to the local nursery and get some good soil or potting mix. I always look for certified organic garden compost as a first choice. Yes, there are some around. Johnson's is one brand committed to eco-friendly garden material - on ya!! If you can't find that, then go for a good quality compost or planting mix. It will have slow release fertilizer and wetting agents added to keep the plants healthy and moist. If you go for the 'el cheapo' version you'll only have to add fertilizer and peat anyway. The Plants Which herbs are you going to grow? Simple! Whatever you like to eat, or those that you use often when cooking. But before you go and plant them all together, consider the conditions that they prefer. Some like it hot and dry, others like it cool and moist. So group your plants according to what they need and try to simulate those conditions in the position you choose. For example, plants that like moist and cool conditions will do well potted together then placed under dappled shade of a tree out in the garden or a shady spot in the courtyard. Or you could place them on a windowsill that faces south-east. And don't forget to water them often. A saucer or plate placed under the pot can collect water and keep them moist between watering. A "squat" pot (i.e. a pot that is wider than it is high) is great for these plants because roots can get to moisture more easily. Suitable plants for moist and cool conditions: Coriander, mint, parsley, chives, basil, dill. Alternatively, some plants like it hot and dry. Group these plants together in a sunnier position in the garden or courtyard. A north facing windowsill is ideal for these ones. Also stick with taller pots that allow free drainage of water. These plants loathe having their roots kept wet and will develop rot very quickly if they do. Suitable plants for hot and dry conditions: Sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram. Veggie Lady's Tips Many herbs are temperamental about extreme conditions and are best grown during Autumn and Spring. So don't be alarmed if your basil keels over at the first sign of winter, or your coriander goes to seed during prolonged hot weather. Simply collect the seed and sow another lot again when the conditions are better. For faster harvesting, plant seedlings rather than seed, especially if you're a novice. Sowing seed can sometimes need a little bit of practice for good results. Give your plants a liquid feed of fish emulsion and seaweed solution every 2 or 3 weeks to keep them thriving. Don't over-fertilize your herbs or they'll have plenty of leaves but no flavour. Next Month An orchard in a pot I'll show you how you can have many fruit trees all in one pot with the technique of multi-grafting. If you'd like to learn more, you can attend one of Veggie Lady's workshops. Go to The Veggie Lady's website [http://www.theveggielady.com] or to the Chaos Generation events page [http://www.chaosgeneration.com/events.htm] for workshop dates.

About CG | Editor: Kirsten Lowe | PO Box 559, Broadway 2007, Sydney, Australia Ph: 0410 310 238 | Fax: + 61 2 9816 3320 | Email: info (at) chaosgeneration (dot) com