Over the year the box held parsley, sage, chives, oregano (Greek and Italian), marjoram, Mexican oregano, and thyme. In addition I added a couple of basil plants to guarantee that I would have some in case the seedings in Box 5 didn't germinate and grow.
I also had a plan to seed both cilantro and dill in successive seedings to always have some available. That worked for a couple of plantings but then the third seeding never took. Another victim to overcrowding I'm guessing.
I've found myself using the thyme, marjoram, chives, parsley, sage, basil, and dill the most. Here are the plants as of this morning:
This thyme in the corner did very well all year until the past couple of weeks when it suddenly started losing entire branches. I haven't figured out the cause but it may be from overcrowding, age, watering (too much or too little). If a severe pruning doesn't ameliorate the situation I may just replant this winter.
The marjoram started out ok but then started dying back until I added some hand-watering this summer. It has since rebounded but has been crowded out by the neighboring basil and Mexican oregano 'trees' that have taken over the middle of the box.
The second thyme plant that has survived but never had the room or light to thrive. It also has died back suddenly at the same time as the other one.
The chives did very well but has overgrown somewhat over the past month. It was suddenly besieged by some tiny critters causing the plant to wilt significantly. I severely cut it back this week and sprayed it with oil to see if it can be salvaged. Another plant that may have to be replaced this winter.
The Mexican oregano took over the middle of the bed and has grown into a small tree. It has thrived but since I haven't used it at all I'll replace with one in a container to have around when I resume my Mexican culinary adventures.
Both basil plants, especially the outside one, exploded this summer after a slow start in the cold Spring. Like the M Oregano, it's become something of a tree. With the healthy plants from seeding in Box 5 and the fact that the flowering has taken it over, I may just remove this before it gets hit by the winter weather.
The Italian oregano was moved from the container it grew in over 2014. It survived but never really thrived probably due to overcrowding. It had some trouble in the early part of the year until I started hand-watering it.
This is the Greek oregano I had kept in the wine barrel container for several years until moving it into this box in January. Like the Italian oregano, it has survived but needed to be rescued with hand-watering at the start of summer. It too may have been hampered by overcrowding of the basil and M oregano.
The sage has done remarkably well. Once I remove the basil tree neighbor I'll trim it and see how it does over the winter.
The two parsleys I planted last winter did extremely well but died back in April. I added these to have some for the kitchen but they haven't thrived nearly as well. These also had to be rescued with hand-watering this summer.
The takeaway for me is to re-evaluate what herbs I've relied on in the kitchen and to replant the box accordingly. Since nothing here is irreplaceable I may have to completely replant with perhaps saving a couple of them while I do. I also will be concerned about overcrowding which I seem to have been guilty over the year.
Since all of these can easily be replaced, I may schedule to replant each winter and see how that goes. This will keep the soil healthier, guarantee the nutrients, and give me a chance to reconsider what to grow each year.
No comments:
Post a Comment