herbs not going bananas

[BONSCOUSE]

is it just me or are herb packet instructions full of rubbish so you just have to go buy some more or am i just in the wrong game? between no growth at all, a quick death, too much variation in 'growing on' from each herb or just not having any titchmarsh in me at all i really dont know-
1 how much soil/compost/how big a pot to grow them in
2 how much water they need/how often
3 why they rarely appear when sown outside(ie in a veg plot)
4 how theyre meant to be handled as seedlings in order to 'grow on' in bigger plants
5 why most veg/herb literature is as vague and full of jargon as well rotted...
6 how green algae like substance can sometimes form on the surface of some compost giving the impression of over watering yet beneath the compost is dry?
7 why i get the impression someones gonna tell me to give up due to all the above?

[rootball]

Hi,

I’m not an experienced gardner in any way, what herbs are you trying to grow?

Yes all the info is rather vague, I had a link to a website which explained it all in English with pictures I will see if I can find it. The site will answer questions 1 to 4.

Not sure about the green algae but I think the fact the compost is dry underneath would suggest it not draining well. Is the surface of the compost hard? if yes maybe fork it over and add some organic matter to help with drainage. As I say I’m not experienced gardner so lets hope someone can help.

[FionaH]

Start by telling us what herbs you are trying to grow.

[Two_Sheds]

is it just me or are herb packet instructions full of rubbish

What kind of rubbish? Is it because you don't understand the terms/words ...? If so, tell us what words you don't understand

how much soil/compost/how big a pot to grow them in

A small pot (I like 3" pots), or modules/ cell trays

how much water they need/how often

have a look at my vid: YouTube - how to water seedlings

why they rarely appear when sown outside(ie in a veg plot)

Either it's too cold, or slugs eat them, or you weed them out by mistake

how theyre meant to be handled as seedlings in order to 'grow on' in bigger plants

Carefully, obviously. When the roots come out the bottom of the pot, move them on into a bigger one

why most veg/herb literature is as vague and full of jargon as well rotted...

Dunno what you mean, give us an example

how green algae like substance can sometimes form on the surface of some compost giving the impression of over watering yet beneath the compost is dry?

Algae likes shady, stale soil. You can prevent it by sowing when it's lighter (so, not too early in the year), and by watering from below (see my vid again). You could also use some vermiculite on the surface - it helps prevent fungus gnats as well

[Shadylane]

In my first allotmenting year I sowed a load of herb seeds in outside with the intention of having a herb bed. Not one of those seeds came through, just lots of weeds. A lot of them need warmth to germinate. I start mine off in pots indoors - sometimes with clingfilm on top, then move them out to the placcie greenhouse once through. Coriander is different. The seeds you sow in the ground, water and peer at on a regular basis will not germinate. However the seeds that fall of the plant once ripened, scatter themsleves, get dug in and covered in muck, will happily germinate and grow nicely

Oh another thing, some herbs like coriander and basil like to be picked/pinched out regularly if you want them to bush out, otherwise they'll stay puny. I struggled with herbs initially, but I'm getting better. Except for thyme - I found that easy as, from the start.

[OverWyreGrower]

I find that its easier to start herbs off in small pots (3inch) and grow them on until they are large and hardy enough to be put in my herb bed.

I've always kept coriander and basil in pots on a sunny windowsill, as I find they are not compatible with my windy coastal weather.

Other herbs, you'll find, aren't perennial; so you will need to sow every year.

I had a surprise this year with my tarragon. I hadn't realised it was perennial; so was about to empty the dead stuff out; and realised it had shoots again! I've waited for them to come good and strong, and planted them out into my herb garden.

[buzzingtalk]

I love herbs, but found it easier to buy some, and to grow others from seed.

i bought an oregano and rosmary plant as the seeds take a very long time. i may also buy some parsley as the seeds are taking a long time and i won't have it in time.

but growing coriander and basil from seed is very easy, if you start them off indoors. see them as you see tomatos, quite frost tender and needing pinching out and regular eating to keep them growing.

[Alan G]

I sowed some herb seeds in a herb planter a few weeks back.

Parsley, Dill, Chives & Basil.

The planter has been outside since day one.

I thought why not, seeds are cheap, I'll lose a few rather than waste pots and compost and the faff of potting on.

As a back up I sowed some indoors as well, just in case.

But as it happens the ones outside are all germinating nicely and I now have young seedlings of all varieties.

And I live in SE Northumberland.

If they can be sown outdoors up here by a relative novice then any bugger else can do likewise or better I'm sure.

ps: I didn't even bother reading the instructions on the packets.

[timethatthetaleweretold]

lol bonscouse,

it took me over 24 hours to get the movie reference in the title to this thread.

Just for any other slow coaches:



My coriander went bannanas eventually, after being picked alot as grapes advise above.

[Two_Sheds]

I thought it was a reference to bananas being herbs (they are you know)