The Supermarket Gardener: Part 4 - Herbs

Herbs, Herbs and More Herbs:

Celery:

Average Cost Per Pound In U.S. and Midwest Region

$1.37

Time to Reach Maturity

130-140 days

Scraps To Garden:

Save the base of the celery (white part), rinse it off
Place the base in a bowl or saucer with warm water with stalk side up
Put the saucer where it can get some sunlight
Leave the celery in the bowl for about a week, changing the water every 2 days or so
Spray the center of the base with water during this phase
When the leaves in the center of the base begin to thicken, it is time to transplant it to the soil
Mix organic compost and fertilizer in the soil prior to planting
Cover the base with soil in a pot, planter or directly in the ground outside, leaving a little bit of the leaves out
Plant them about 10 – 12 inches apart
Water generously – celery loves water!
Use a substantial amount of mulch and compost around the plant to retain moisture
Celery requires generous amounts of food; therefore it is recommended to use organic fertilizer to keep it growing
When planting, be mindful of the season: celery thrives best in 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit temperature
You can harvest when they are about 8 inches tall

Food for thought -- the greener the stalks, the more nutrients they contain. However, the more color it has, the tougher the celery becomes.

Fun Facts:

Celery is an aphrodisiac. It contains a hormone released by men through the sweat glands called androsterone that attracts females.
The ancients regarded celery as medicine as opposed to food. It was the Italians who first used celery for food.
Celery is an herb belonging to the Apiaceae family, which includes carrots, parsley and fennel.

Basil, Sage, Mint and Rosemary

Average Cost In U.S. and Midwest Region

Basil: $5- $10 per package

Rosemary: $2 per half ounce

Fresh Mint: $7.75 per 0.75 ounces on Amazon.com

Fresh Purple Top Sage: $62 for a 3 ounce container on Amazon.com

Time to Reach Maturity

4-8 weeks

Scraps to Garden

Immediately immerse fresh stems in a glass of cool water. Water level should be below the line where the leaf meets the stem
Cover them loosely with a plastic bag and leave at room temperature
Wait about 1- 2 weeks for roots to sprout
When the roots have about 2 inches in length, transplant them to moist potting soil
Firm the soil around the roots and water them
Transplant them to the garden when new growth forms

Basil:

Basil loves the sun, so make sure you plant in a sunny area
When it has developed two sets of full leaves, spread the plant out 12 inches apart
Keep sowing new plants every few weeks to maintain good flavor

Sage

Sage loves full sun and loves well-drained soil

Never overwater

Cut back the stems after they have bloomed

Mint

Prefer shade or partial shade

Plant in rich, moist soil

Plant mint by itself to prevent it from taking over the garden

Pinch the flowers back to get bushy growth

Rosemary

Rosemary loves the sun and well-drained soil
Prune the plant after it has flowered to achieve a bushier growth

Fun Facts

Basil is considered sacred in the Hindu culture as it is believed to be a favorite of the gods.
Basil is believed to be a sign of love and devotion between young couples in certain cultures.
Sage means to heal or save, coming from the Latin word salvia derived from the word salvare which means to save.
Clary Sage, which means to clarify, was used to treat inflamed eyes. It also has anti-anxiety effects.
There are 24 true species of Mint. The hybrid varieties bring it up to about 2000 species.
Peppermint is a hybrid that came about in the mid-17^th century.
Rosemary is believed to sharpen the mind and memory.
Rosemary is used as a preservative by modern food processors.

“All that man needs for health and healing has been provided by God in nature, the challenge of science is to find it.” Philippus Theophrastrus Bombast that of Aureolus Paracelsus (1493-1541)

References:

ALL ARTICLES BY Francine Binns

Articles published by Basmati.com are no substitute for medical advice. Please consult your health care provider before beginning any new regimen. For more information, please visit our disclaimer page here.

Back to main site