Down to Earth: Herbs
All-important for the sustainable garden are herbs. They add diversity for beneficial insects, deter pests and diseases, add colour and fragrance, and also are essential for many yummy meals, as Fiona shows us.
Here is a chart of many of the herbs that do well in the Bay with their light and soil preferences, and how to propagate them. (Key: A= annual, B= biennial, P= perennial.)
Herb Form Light Soil Propagation
Angelica B shade rich seed
Anise hyssop A full sun dry seed
Basil A full sun rich seed
Bergamot P part shade moist division
Borage A part shade well-drained seed
Calendula A full sun any seed
Catnip P full sun dry cutting, seed
Chamomile A full sun well-drained division, seed
Chervil A part shade light seed
Chives P full sun most division, seed
Comfrey P part shade rich, moist division
Coriander A full sun dry seed
Dill A full sun light seed
Fennel B full sun well-drained seed
Garlic P full sun rich, drained corm division
Horseradish P sun moist, damp division
Lavender P full sun light, dry cutting
Lemon balm P sun well-drained division, seed
Lemon verbena P full sun well-drained cutting
Marjoram P full sun rich, light cutting, division
Mints P shade/sun moist, rich cutting, division
Nasturtium A sun/shade rich seed
Oregano P full sun dry, light cutting, division
Parsley B part shade rich seed
Rosemary P full sun dry, drained cutting
Sage P full sun lime, light cutting
Salad burnet P part shade any seed
Sorrel P sun damp loam division, seed
Summer savory A full sun rich seed
Tansy P full sun most seed, division
Tarragon,Russ P part shade any division, seed
Thyme P full sun well-drained seed, division
Winter savory P full sun well-drained seed, division
Wormwood P full sun any light cutting, division
Fruit care:
Prune citrus as you harvest.
Mulch strawberries and other berryfruits, and fruit trees.
Preventative sprays of seaweed on fruits (as general tonic) and copper spray on stone fruit vs leaf curl and pipfruit vs black spot.
Hang pheromone traps to prevent codlin and leafroller moth reproduction, which limits later caterpillar damage.
Divide and transplant comfrey around drip line of fruit trees to improve nutrient cycling and attract bees.
Herb Care:
Weed, divide, transplant and mulch.
Sow annual herbs.
Vegetable Care:
Avoid hay/straw mulches as these will attract slugs and snails. Mulch with grass clippings when plants are well established.
Stay observant of young seedlings: remove pests (eg snails) or spray with garlic and pyrethrum until established (eg vs aphids).
Spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis ‘kurstaki') every 2-3 days on brassicas.
Stake broad beans and tie up. Set up stakes for climbing crops like beans and cucumbers.
Dig in green manure crops.
Apply lime/dolomite to beds (except potatoes/tomatoes).
Prepare ground for main planting in Nov.
Cloche sensitive crops for frost protection and soil warming. Use halved plastic bottles as mini cloches.
Hothouse: plant with tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchinis. Sow seeds. Keep well ventilated and no mist watering. Hang yellow sticky cards vs whitefly and watch for aphids (spray garlic and pyrethrum).
Liquid fertilise: Use nitrogen-rich brews for initial growth and/or combine with seaweed and comfrey brews.
Sprout seed potatoes.
Weed by surface tilling with a "niwashi" or hoe to aid soil warming, kill soil pests (eg wire and cutworm, grass grubs) and improve crop growth as less competition.
Add flowers (and herbs) to the garden to attract beneficial insects, deter pests (eg chives) and for beauty.
Sow for transplanting: All seeds 11th November. Leafy greens (summer spinach, lettuce, endive, cabbages, Brussels sprouts, silverbeet/rainbow chard and celery) (best 31st Oct - 1st Nov). Florence fennel, leeks, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, melons and pumpkins. Herbs: basil, parsley etc. Flowers (eg calliopsis, cosmos).
Sow direct: All seeds 11th November. Spring onions, Florence fennel, radish, parsnip, carrots, beetroot, late peas, French and climbing beans, sweet corn, squash, pumpkin, cucumber, melons and zucchini.
Plant: Best 3rd - 10th November. Salad greens, spinach, cabbages, silverbeet/rainbow chard, onions, beetroot, Florence fennel, yams (oca), potatoes. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, zucchini, cucumbers, melons and squash require cover. Flowers for insects.
General Garden Care:
Make and turn composts.
Shred prunings.
Weed and mulch ornamental areas, mulch-mow lawns.
Sol Morgan, GroWise Consultancy. Ph 525 9110.
