When your plants arrive! |
Watering |
When
your herbs arrive, if the soil seems very dry, you should water them
as soon as possible. Usually, herbs prefer a regular watering
schedule and they prefer slightly dry soil as opposed to wet soil.
You should be conservative with the water, but check the soil
regularly. You do not want the herbs to get too dry. Wilting is
usually a sign that the plant need water. If you are keeping your
herbs indoors, please read "Caring
for herbs indoors below. |
Planting |
Depending
on your climate, you should plant your herbs outdoors when there is
no danger of frost. You can check our
map of
climate zones and compare your location with the recommended
zone of the herbs you have purchased. You should have your planting
spot ready (whether indoors or out) and plant your herbs as soon as
possible after arrival. Any sunny site where rain water is absorbed
quickly will do just fine. Add sand to your soil if you find that
the soil stays muddy after watering or rainfall. |
Sun/Shade |
Your
herbs prefer a sunny location, but some herbs will survive in
moderate shade. |
Mulch |
If
you live in a cold climate (Zones 5 or less), you may wish to cover
the ground around your herbs with leaf material, especially if you
live where the snow cover is not consistent throughout the winter.
See our zone
map to find out where you are. |
Caring for herbs indoors: |
Sunlight |
Most
herbs require 4-5 hours of direct sunlight every day.
A south-facing window is ideal, but west or east will work as well.
If you find that your plants are getting long and thin, it means
they are not getting enough light. If you cannot provide more light,
then cut the stems back to encourage bushier growth. Also try
rotating the plant so that it will not grow in one direction only. |
Heat
& Humidity |
Herbs
are usually happy as houseplants. However, problems can occur when
the air is too hot or dry, for example, in colder climates, where
plants are near a cold window where there is also a heat source like
a radiator or air vent. To provide your plants with the humidity
they need, you might try placing your herbs on a bed o fpebbles in a
tray filled with water. They plants should not actually sit in the
water, but on the pebbles just above the water line. When you water
the plants, the excess water will drain into the pebbles. If a plant
should dry out completely, try immersing it, container and all, in
water for an hour. Then see if there are any signs of life! |
Watering |
IMPORTANT!
You should check the soil around the herbs frequently by pressing a
finger a half inch below the surface of the soil. If it feels dry,
gently pour water into the pot. Try not to pour water directly onto
the stems since you might expose the roots this way. The soil should
NEVER be soggy. |
Fertilizing |
Since
the soil nutrients in the pot can be used up quickly, it is
important to fertilize with a WEAK infusion of an organic
fertilizer. Apply a fertilizer when the plants are in a growing
season, like in the spring or summer. NEVER use a fertilizer
undiluted! Put about 1/2 a teaspoon of fertilizer in a litre of
water. |
About pests: |
Pests |
Although
insects are rarely a problem for outdoor herbs, they can become a
problem indoors. If you intend to use your herbs in cooking, we
strongly recommend that you do not use pesticides or chemical
insecticides on your herbs. There are three kind of insects that are
common invaders of houseplants and herbs are no exception. These are
white fly, spider mites, aphids, mealy bugs and gnats. After all,
the bugs like the same herbs we do!
Pest |
Where
they attack |
What
to do |
White
Fly |
These
small white flying insects lodge themselves under the leaves of
fragrant plants, like basil. |
Mix
2 tablespoons of vinegar with 1/2 teaspoon of dish washing
liquid or liquid soap into a litre of water. Spray the under
side of leaves once a week. |
Spider
Mites |
Not
readily visible except for fine webs close to stems and faint
white spots on leaves. They cluster on the undersides of leaves.
Plants susceptible to spider mites are: all members of the mint
family (includes sage, lemon balm and catnip) and lemon verbena. |
Insecticidal
soap (Safer's or the above concoction) sprayed on the undersides
of the helps to discourage them. Dipping the plant upside down
in a bucket of soap solution also works. Try to use soft water,
if possible. Hard water diminishes effectiveness. |
Aphids |
Aphids
are slow-moving, soft-bodied insects that cling to the tips of
plants. Aphids attack basil, coriander, lemon verbena, madder
and parsley. |
Diatomaceous
earth (Fossil Flower) or rotenone will control them. Apply
weekly to the soil. |
Mealy
Bugs |
Small,
soft-bodied insect covered with a downy fluff. They are
attracted to the stems of "woody" plants (like
rosemary). |
You
can wipe mealy bugs off the stems with a piece of paper towel or
Q-tip soaked in alcohol. Larvae can be controlled with an
application of inceticidal soap. |
Gnats |
The
fungus gnat resembles a brown fruit fly. They cluster at the
base of the plant in the soil surface. The young feed off the
organic matter in the soil and on roots. |
Like
fruitflies, this gnat is more unsightly than harmful. Spray with
an insecticidal soap helps, but there is not organic way to
control the larvae. |
|
|