How many of you buy parsley and then "exhibit" it in a glass of water in your kitchen hoping to use bits off it over the next week or two?

After a very few days you end up with a yellowing smelly mess, right?

Stop throwing manky parsley away.

When you buy it, wash it, drain it well and then store it in a paperbag in the dark in the fridge.

It will stay in useable condition for much longer and you will probably get to use all of it.

We grow our own, much more fun.

You people need to get out more.

lol....I agree.

But on the other hand, I now have a gorgeous garden, with a herb garden in a rock thingy and waterfalls, night lights all over the place. We have curry plants, smells lush when it hits you. And that's just one area. I'm now tempted to grow a few vegs......all I need now is some pink wellies!!

Yep, grow your own, and rosemary and thyme and a little bay tree and sage etc... You can't beat fresh herbs when cooking.

And Guido, we don't need to get out more, we have a garden, that's the whole point, lol.

I did not know this herb growing was an outside thing.

I know some herbs you can certainly grow inside.

In any event Bookie you have definitely confirmed my need to get out more fears.

If we want to talk about money saving, we should save electricity by turning off our computers.

Yep, grow your own, and rosemary and thyme and a little bay tree and sage etc... You can't beat fresh herbs when cooking.

This is all new to me, a few tubs here and there was always my limit. My o/h is a big time chef who believes everything tastes better if you know where it comes from.

And as it turns out...it's fun!!

I did not know this herb growing was an outside thing.

Well I will soon know if they all die:razz:

If we want to talk about money saving, we should save electricity by turning off our computers.

Is that even possible..??

You people need to get out more.

:D:D

I did not know this herb growing was an outside thing.

 

I know some herbs you can certainly grow inside.

 

In any event Bookie you have definitely confirmed my need to get out more fears.

If we want to talk about money saving, we should save electricity by turning off our computers.

(anyway, mine is foot-powered, lol)

I have a herb garden too, but got some unusual herbs in it like lemon balm, ambrosia and catnip!!

My success this year was CHILLIES, out of 6 plants I must have over 100 of the little green and red blighters, so lots got frozen and the rest got given away.

i forgot to water my herbs they died.

The herbs that we use the most of, basil and coriander we buy as growing plants in pots, from the supermarket. They then live on the kitchen window ledge.

I generally grow tomatoes, every year.

We've had quite a good crop of chillies, grown from seed. Good crops of broad and runner beans.

Beetroot failed miserably and the bell peppers died, just as they had started fruiting.

There is nothing to touch home grown veg for flavour.

Strangely enough someone I know was saying last week that you should store herbs in brown glass jar in freezer so they don't go off or get soggy. Same principle I suppose.

Not big on cooking so don't actually use them.

I tried beetroot for the 1st time this year and mine failed. Still picking lots of lovely tomatoes though and the bees love my rosemary. Muzst try harder next year. Planting seeds later to overwinter.

I need to learn for next year and not just "wing it" like I did this year. Any tips welcome!!!

Things like chilli and tomatoes can be started indoors from January onwards. Just read what it says on the packets, same with herbs although most will be March onwards.

Get a good gardeners book for reference. How come I can give advise and not act on it.

Don't laugh but some cereal packets give free seeds away..........

Things like chilli and tomatoes can be started indoors from January onwards. Just read what it says on the packets, same with herbs although most will be March onwards.

 

Get a good gardeners book for reference. How come I can give advise and not act on it.

 

Don't laugh but some cereal packets give free seeds away..........

Sally.

You have said that they can be grown indoors does this mean in the house or can be in a shed? I know the shed wont be heated or anything but it would be a idea to know.

On a windowsill. If you grow them in a shed will they get light which is a basic requirement for seeds (as far as I know).

I've got one of those cheap plastic greenhouses which I will leave outside with the zips open if the weather is nice during the day. Any windowsill will do - I expect I may end up using my bedroom window as it is south facing.

Do we want progress reports - 1st time I've done this. Gosh I feel organised being off work for 2 weeks. I should have done some seeds last month but what the heck

Debbie - you wanted any tips - I have been saving normal size empty tins (the ones with white linings - organic tomato tins) which I will remove the top and bottom lids. These will be suitable for large seeds such as sunflowers, sweet peas (which I am doing today). That way I have containers for free so don't need to spend money on containers.

If you have access to 'The Works' bookshop you might want to consider Alys Fowler's 'The Thrifty Gardener' which they have been selling for £5.00 - should be £16.99

thought this was a consumer forum?:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

get friendly with a local shoo,t they are always looking for beaters, i do it and end up walking across fields of veg ,some just happen to jump into my poachers pocket in my coat,fresh potatoes,carrots, swede,turnips doesn't cost a penny, oh and i get paid:wink:

Best indoor crop I had was rhubarb, grown in a big pot on a sunny windowsill... currently got a couple of herbs in pots on top of the fridge in the kitchen.. no garden here.

get friendly with a local shoo,t they are always looking for beaters, i do it and end up walking across fields of veg ,some just happen to jump into my poachers pocket in my coat,fresh potatoes,carrots, swede,turnips doesn't cost a penny, oh and i get paid:wink:

My OH does that but as its a family friend he refuses to accept the money. Though he does bring home a few ducks.

Dad also will be getting Chickens and Pigs in his garden soon, the pigs will be in the shed and chicks running free. We normall end up with a couple of chickens and some of the pigs, sausages bacon and bits of sunday roast, for helping clean them out and feeding them when were over.

Dont mind the odd free duck and uber chicken.

If you buy store herbs such as Parsley, Basil, Chives, Sage and Thyme, these will grow quite happily in the kitchen. Just re-pot them and they will grow on all Summer. Transplant outside and they will establish themselves, saving you rebuying. Grow Peppers and Chillies indoors if possible.

If they don't keep, like Basil, Coriander etc, blanch the leaves before freezing. It stops them going yellow. Save the seed heads before you do anything with them.

Once You have bought herbs there is very little reason to buy them again. Even if you have to nick cuttings off your friends.

What I tend to do for parsley is put it in the bottom of the fridge and be very gentle with it when I take some out of the packet, It usually lasts really well like that and I rarely waste any.

During the Spring I buy two pots of basil from the supermarket but immediately repot them into a much larger pot with some old compost I have from growing tomatoes in the greenhouse the year before. After that I feed them well and have fresh basil for the whole summer to late autumn Plently to make lots of fresh pesto, which involves using a large amount of leaves. Cut basil is hard to keep after buying it so this is far cheaper and two pots are about the same price as a couple of packets but they refill themselves as well

Last year went into veg growing big time... carrots, toms, cabbage,french beans, courgettes etc... bloody Lab ate nearly the whole lot. I go out to pick and she just helps herself or pulls the plants up totally and runs round the garden with them:-x ... then theres the pigeons, squirrels, slugs to fight with as well:D Strawberries are now grown in hanging baskets in the greenhouse so that she can't reach them. Hey ho, nearly time to go through the same routine again:p