WHAT DO HERBS WANT?

	Sun-herbs need full sun, i.e., at least 6 hours of sun a day.
	Water-herbs do not like wet feet. They need an inch of water every 10 days or so.
	Soil-good, average soil that drains well. It is important to add organic matter to the soil to provide nutrients and to lighten up our Virginia clay. Good additions are leaves, peat moss, and manure. Also a handful of lime or wood ashes at the time of planting will improve the ph. Local soils tend to be acidic.

Perennials- thyme, rosemary, sages, lavender, chives, saffron crocus-fall blooming, marjoram, chives, mint.

Annuals-basil, cilantro, dill.

Biennial-parsleys-italian or curly

To grow from seed: parsley, easy but takes at least 2 weeks to germinate, be patient.
Also from seed - dill, cilantro, basil

The rest should be purchased as plants from a nursery.

Herbs can be grown in pots, either plastic, ceramic, or terra cotta. Remember plants in pots need to be watered more often. Choose a deep pot, use good potting soil, and add organic matter to the soil. Strawberry jars and whiskey kegs can grow a whole garden easily and compactly.

RESOURCES:

On the WEB
www3.garden.com -commercial, great photos, good search engine, and "design a garden" feature.
www.hgtv.com -general gardening info, excellent tv show
www.gardenweb.com -internet gardening community, reliable info, variety of resources listed
www.vg.com -Virtual Garden-Time Life plant encyclopedia, commercial
homearts.com/depts/garden00gardcl.htm -commercial, general gardening info
pages.prodigy.com/Real.Gardeners/ - for amateurs, see Yard Art feature

FOR CATALOGS : www.cog.brown.edu/gardening/cat17/frame-cat.html

LOCAL NURSERIES: Will have all varieties available by May.
Sunnyboy - Earlysville. About 250 varieties of herbs that they grow themselves, open Sundays, can order a catalog by phone 974-7350.
Elzroths & Thompson- Rt. 29 S. About 100 varieties, locally grown.
Ivy Nursery-Rt.250W. About 100 varieties locally grown.
Snow's Garden Center- Avon St. extd., closed Sunday. Not as many, but the basics.

CATALOGS:
Burpee
Johnnys
May
Sheperd's

LIBRARIES:
Search "herbs" in Virgo for books. Most are in Fine Arts and Sci Eng
Public library also has some gardening books
Bookstores have many titles.

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