It is Herb Day!

Today the herb starter plants went on sale at the Inuvik Greenhouse- commercial operations. This is where Inuvik community members buy all their bedding and starter plants for the season. With the new roof at the greenhouse, temperatures are hotter than normal and the little herb plants need to get out of the starter pots and into gardens! So what did I buy and what do I with the herb starters?!

 

Oregano, Thyme, Parsley and Sage- These herbs I plant together in a couple of pots. They grow about as fast as I harvest them. Some cuttings I use right away and some I dry, throw in a Ziploc and then freeze to use during the winter time. I tried at one time to keep them all dried and separated but that was too much work. They all go in the same Ziploc in the freezer and can be used for soups, pasta sauces, etc.

Rosemary- I plant this in its own pot as I think it needs room to really grow into a mini tree. I think if you crowd it in with other herbs you just end up getting the one main branch of a plant.

Chives- My gardener friend S. has nice chives growing already in her plot, which lasted over the winter and are thriving early season already. I want these too! And so I bought a chive starter and it will go in its own pot to stay together and not spread too much.

Mint- I consider this the crazy/wild plant of the garden. It needs its own pot or its runners will over take everything!

Fennel seeds I started on my own this year and plant on transplanting soon. I want them to grow into the large bulbs, not just harvesting the leaves. Although the greenhouse had really nice looking basil, I don't basil starters as I plant a whole row of basil as I eat so much of it!!!! Same goes for dill as I like a whole row of this also.

Food production and consumption is sooo much better in the summer months thanks to a garden full of herbs.

S.