8Nov06 "Weyusue" from USA writes
Can Thai basil be substituted for Italian or 'sweet' basil in
Italian tomato or tomato sauce based recipes?
Ian writes....Of course the answer is whatever works for you…
But I wouldn't. I assume the basil you are referring to is bai horapa which is generally used in Thai stir fries, commonly with seafood, where the leaves are thrown in whole and fresh near the end. It really has a different fragrance to the sweet basil you would normally use for Italian tomato sauces or pestos.
Do you grow it? Unlike sweet basil you can let it flower and the young flowers are quite edible and tasty and add a splash of colour to a spicy salad or dip.
I'm happy I found your site. I'll be living in Niger for the next ten
months where there is a lack of fresh vegetables and herbs, and this
makes me really sad!!!! Fortunately I found at the market seeds of
parsley, basil, mint and coriander so I'm planning to start growing
them. The thing is, until now, i have always bought them at the
grocery store so I have no idea how to do it!!!!
When you say you should water herbs frequently how often do you mean?
Every day? Every week? Niger is pretty hot so I'm not sure how often I
should water them. How can I realise if I am watering them too much or
not enough?
Thank for any hint you can give me!!!
Emi
Ian writes ---Hi Emi,
Great to hear from somebody from Niger! Your country is hot like Australia except your coolest time of year – coming up – is our summer. November through to February should be great for growing herbs in your part of the world.
Regarding watering, your herbs are more likely to suffer from too much water than too little. I say that because if you don't have good drainage they just won't thrive. That's why I like the spiral arrangement – they just can't get waterlogged because the water drains to the bottom of the spiral. It doesn't need to be a spiral if you haven't got bricks or suitable rocks; a mound of good draining soil will be fine – form little terraces (flat areas) to plant the herbs in. Some shade for part of the day will be good – even in your “cool” season.
How much water? Of course that depends upon how much rain you're getting, but I find every third day is enough, particularly if you have a bit of mulch around them. If the herbs are in a good depth of good draining soil you'll soon know if they need a little more water. They just mustn't be wet all the time.
Another tip – don't let the basil and coriander get flowers that is “go to seed”. The best way to avoid that is to keep using them as they grow. If you are getting good lush growth they just love being cut back. They will grow even faster.
And keep your mint separate from the rest or it will take over your garden. I grow mine in a pot to avoid that.
It's great to hear from you Emi – good luck with your herbs. Let me know how you go
Ian
PS Anyone else from Africa growing herbs? Any tips?
1stNov06: Hi Ian!!!! thanks a lot for your answer!! Im getting really excited with my little project!!!
and I have some more questiones for you. I ve been talking to the local people to find out what kind of soil we have here, and i found out that what they do is a mixture of sand and compost. (Niger is pretty dessert, so sand is easy to find everywhere!!! Do you think that would be a well-drained soil or I have to add something else?... there not many more posibilities by the way..!
If I grow the plants in pots will they grow all the same? and the last..how long (more or less) do I have to wait till I see the first green little leaf? so as not to get anxious!!!!
Thanks a lot again for all your help; i ll promise I ll send a picture of my plants... if they grow some day!!!!
Emi
3rdNov 06 Hi again Emilia!
I'm so pleased that you are enthusiastic about your project. Once you get used to having your own herbs you want to keep on doing it.
Your soil sounds fine for herbs. They don't need a rich soil; the sand mixed with compost should be fine. A little slow release general fertiliser if you like. Are you growing from seed? That should be fine but I must admit I don't bother these days. I just get seedlings so I don't have to worry about getting seed raising mix and transplanting etc although some people think that's a large part of the fun! You might not be able to get seedlings or potting mix where you are (?). But if you have compost and lots (as you say) of sand your seeds should come up fine.
So just a few comments if are growing from seed: The basil seeds are best left in the dark at about 70 F to germinate and should germinate in about 7 to 14 days. Then transplant them about 6" apart, usually in full sun, but, in your country, part shade at some time of day is good.
Coriander seeds should be sown about 4" apart where you want them to grow (they don't like to be transplanted) are also best left to germinate in the dark (you can cover them with plastic) at about 60 F and might take up to 3 weeks to appear. You might find coriander hard to get going in a hot climate because once they are germinated they should be in full sun! But they are worth the trouble because once you have a plant you can use the seeds as well as the leaves (which they call "cilantro" in America) in your cooking. But I buy seedlings and have never had any trouble transplanting them so maybe you can try that - I mean grow the seedlings yourself and then plant them out.
Mint is just too easy to grow. But I suggest you grow it in a pot so it doesn't take over the garden.It likes full sun and the plants can be thinned to about 4". I don't know what quality of seeds you get where you are but growing from seed may well result in your getting a variety of different mint types. But mint has a great fragrance and I like to position my pot where people may brush against it to release the odour! It's also great in cooking.
I planted some basil/mint this year - I'd never come across it before - and it's really taken off and smells wonderful. Basil is my favourite herb.
Parsley seed germinates very slowly, and it might be 3 to 4 weeks before you see anything. Sow the seeds directly into garden, 1/4" deep, and then thin the seedlings to 4 to 6". Keep them well watered. Soaking seed in water for 24 hours will speed germination. So good luck, Emilia. Let me now how you go! Ian F
14thNov06: ian!! thank you so much for all your advices!!!! Cilantro and basil are already starting to grow!! which makes me really happy, the mint and the presley not yet..as you said persley should take longer.. mhmhm but I have doubts about the mint, will see.
Anyway, thanks a lot!! I ll let you know how is everything going!!
Emi
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A fellow countryman from Sydney writes
hi Ian,
i was wondering if you have a spare moment to help me with something,
im only new to growing herbs and going good so far..
im from SYD Australia
yet when it comes to my Coriander, i planted it about 7month ago which
seemed to like its position because it really took off.... it is
starting to flower, the problem i am having is the leaves have become
smaller and smaller...
to me, it looks like the taller it get (to flower) the smaller the
leaves become, i use allot of its leaves for cooking....
is there a way to keep the leaves thick and rich which flavor? should
i just keep cutting it back and keep it short??
cheers thanks for your time...
Ian writes Hi,
You did well to get such good growth over a Sydney winter. You must have had it in good sun. But it sounds like it's "bolted" after it's great start, i.e. gone to seed. It'll do that if it maybe ran out of water for a while, although Sydney has done well recently for rain.
I'm from Toowoomba and we just haven't had rain for yonks so we have to keep hand watering or everything dies. I find the best way to avoid my herbs going to seed is to keep cutting them back. Sometimes I have to cut more than I can use which seems like an awful waste, but it seems to work for me. Once they go to seed they lose flavour. With coriander, I'd just start again. Get another punnet of seedlings and start a new batch. Some of my purist gardening friends are horrified at such an attitude, but it doesn't cost all that much and, if you're a real flavour lover like me, it's well worth it.
We are all different and have different priorities.
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Jodie from Ipswich writes
I have just bought a camomile plant & would like to know if & how to grow itIan writes ..
Hi Jodie! It rather depends upon....
1. which Ipswich you come from, and
2. which variety of chamomile you bought
OK. I bet you are from Ipswich, Australia, not the UK or the USA, and I bet you have a
Matricaria chamomilla plant (tell me if I'm wrong). I hope you do because it grows very
easily. It is an annual and will give you magnificant flowers
like this one. Make sure you have plenty of good draining soil underneath it so that the
roots don't get soggy. It likes sun but if I'm right and you are in Ipswich, Australia, you
had better not let it get too hot in the upcoming summer months. Not too much water; mulch is
good and compost in the soil if you have it. You shouldn't have to be too fussy about it.
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Ahmed from Jordan writes
Hello, i like your site so much and the information you have gathered about herbs, i wonder if you got any herbal remedy for uncommon disease called achalasia? The only way to deal with it is to do some kind of surgery which i don't really think is the right thing to do, i hope you can help me to find some kind of herbs that can make the LES works normally, thanks.
Ian writes
I have to be very careful, Ahmed, not to seem to be giving medical advice. It's clear, however, that you have already sought advice and been told that surgery is the best option. For the benefit of others reading this, achalasia is a condition where the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) which is a little valve at the lower end of the esophagus does not function correctly inhibiting the entry of food into the stomach. The symptoms are simply awful, constant reflux, chest pain and worse.
Yes, surgery is only suggestion that "conventional" medicine is likely to offer, and, although I can understand your reluctance, Ahmed, to subject yourself to that, some form of physical intervention may be the best option. I understand from my doctor collegues (yes, I have excellent relationships with many doctors) that there is also a manipulative process which can help, i.e. no knife!
Having said that I will refer you to this site which offers a herbal solution, but they also suggest that it be used in conjuction with orthodox treatments available. Their treatment is not cheap, however, and I really think that, should you eventually have orthodox manipulation or even surgery to the LES, that a complementary course of a digestion herbal solution such as Native Remedies Gastronic Dr. and DigestAssist would be of great benefit.
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Another difficult one from an anonymous writer
what herbs, and vitamins are good for macular degeneration of the eyes?
Ian writes...wow! What a question! A bit like asking - how do we stop growing old?. Well, of course, the answer is - you can't. But you can slow it down with antioxidants. And you can look after your eye health in particular by ensuring you have enough vitamin A C and E in you diet. Zinc is also important.
As far as I am aware the FDA of the USA have no recommended treatments for the common, dry type, macular degeneration. In fact some pharmaceutical drugs are known to be positively detrimental to eye health. I can list those for anyone interested.
I think, as far as herbs are concerned, I would recommend to the increasing number of people who are facing the infirmities and discomforts associated with age to supplement their diet with antioxidants and herbs that are acknowledged to support the cardiovascular system. Herbs such as grapeseed, rooibos, hawthorn, green tea will combat the damaging effects of free radicals. Garlic, hawthorn, ginkgo biloba and guelder rose are generally recognised as good for the vascular system, which is important to support the retinal blood supply.
That is not an exclusive list, of course. I really must start a section for seniors..there is so much help available. All a matter of time…
Oh - and consumption of omega3 fatty acids offers considerable protection, according to reliable sources.
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Comments on the herb spiral
This site started out as an explanation of how I grow my herbs in a herb spiral. I always get a buzz out of comments on the spiral, on the concept, the description of it (which was actually done mostly by my son). I'll reproduce some of them here. And please comment if you have something to say about it; you'll note I include negative comments too (actually I've only had one - honest!)
mrussel, USA wrote ......Thanks for the great instructions on the herb spiral. I looked at the directions for other spirals on other web sites, but yours were the clearest. I can't wait to make one next spring!
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BB USA CA wrote.......... I
love this idea for
growing herbs! I wasn't sure how or where and now I can use your
great idea! Thank you!
PS What kind if fertilizer do I use before planting?
Ian writes... I don't use fertiliser at all. But then I have plenty of compost handy (usually). If you haven't any compost try getting some peat moss and spread it around
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"md" from Australia writes....its ugle..
Ian writes....well, there you go...you can't please everybody. Personally I think it's beautiful, not ugly at all
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Clint from Mexico wrote.... In areas where seasonal rains occur,more drainage may be required,ie,build up the structure(bricks,rocks)first; then fill in with med.sized rocks followed(upwardly)by gravel then compost/soil mixture. You can also build internal walls(brick,rock)for each herb further stabilizing the structure. It´s amazing what 3 constant days of rain do to an herbal spiral built in the method described.
Ian writes...Hi Clint. Not something I'm used to...the heavy rainful, I mean. Of course you are right, and even in my low rainful area the spiral needs maintenance from time to time. Thanks for your comments!
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Katers from Canada wrote....
You have totally inspired me! I am going to do this
next year! I
am going to make my with stones rather than bricks though!
Thanks for making this web page!
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David from Australia wrote.....This is an excellent example of how to build a herb spiral. Simple in construction using readily available materials. Thank you!
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"LBF" from USA wrote...I love this idea! I'm so excited to try it!!
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Dipak from Nepal wrote....Fantastic!!
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Chris from Alaska wrote.....What a good idea!!!
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Sonya from Germany wrote.....Wonderfully easy to follow step by step, Thank-you for putting this up!
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Andy P from Australia wrote.....What a fantastic idea, thank you
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Ian writes...thank you all for your comments. I hope my visitors will forgive my self indulgence in reproducing these comments from all over the world, but it really makes the whole thing worthwhile for me knowing that a variety of people are being motivated to try growing herbs this way. If you have a comment please pass it on. I know I missed a lot of comment early on before I got my spam problem sorted out. But I love the emails and will try to answer, or acknowledge, at least, them all.
Mandy from California writes
Hello. If you remember me, I have
e-mailed you twice about my Basil project. I would like to ask you
about my Basil. What if its stems are brown and hard like a tree's
twig?
Hi Mandy,
I'm sorry, I cannot find your previous emails. I'm having an enormous amout of spam and they may have got cauught up with that.
Re your basil. It sound like your basil is in it's second season. It will go exactly as you described. Some "authorities" say you can go a second season and of course they are right. But it will go woody and, more seriously, lose it's flavour.
Basil is so easy to grow, I really think it's worth starting again every spring. Maybe it's different in cooler climes to what I am used to.
Basil is my favoutite herb. Keep going with it
regards
Ian