The Old Bones Society

Can't wait to learn about herbs and useful tips using them. 

Caution! Some herbs and supplements can ne harmful if you're on certain meds! Just an FYI.

Good point  

I am just getting into the herb gardening. I have grown basil and rosemary which are probably two of my favorites maybe only because they are the only one's that I have attempted to work with.

BASIL.........Is the king of all herbs. This herb is low in calories and contains no cholesterol. It has high levels of Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene. The basil leaves are composed of several essentials oil compounds that are know to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Excellent source of iron and minerals like potassium, copper and magnesium.

This year I did 3 beds of Sweet Basil close to my back porch....when I walk by the plants I always take my hand and brush the tops the aroma that comes off is wonderful. I pinch the leaves off and use them in salads, on top of my homemade pizza, I make a tomato, mozzo cheese and basil salad with no fat Italian dressing that is my favorite. You can also take 4-6 large leaves and drop in a cup of boiling water and let steep for 2-3 minutes.....let cool. Pour into a glass with ice cubes.......makes a refreshing drink. 

This is such a pretty plant in the garden.........I had the luck last year to get a cinnamon basil plant and it produced the most beautiful red flower. I have some chocolate basil growing in the garden but have not worked with it yet. One downfall of this plant is you have to reseed each year or purchase new plants.......Another thing that I did was plant some basil plants around my tomato plants.......my tomatoes have the best flavor. You will catch me sitting down in the kitchen garden eating my cherry tomatoes off the plant they are so tasty.......my experience with Basil.

 

 

 

Has anyone had any experience in growing lemon grass?  I happen to be at Lowe's this weekend and they had some on their clearance carts. I got  6 plants for $1.50 each. I cleaned them up and put them in pots as I have read that they are good to set on your porches to deter mosquitos. They have a wonderful lemon smell but you are to treat them as an annual herb plant........also you can cook with them apparently they use it in a lot of Asian dishes.........just was wondering if anyone has had them in your gardens.

I bought some at Lowes in May and was hoping to plant in the yard. That hasn't happened yet but it's doing great in the pot it's in! I also bought a bunch of catnip and have that in pots all around as that too gets rid of the mosquitos. Our yard has been pretty mosquito free this summer, which is great! BTW the lemon grass is also supposed to discourage snakes which is why I wanted to plant it by the fence, so don't know if that part works yet!

Well lucky you Jeannine that you bought 6 plants! It is a very strong lemon scent plant..love it! Very good plant to get those nasty mosquitos out of the way like Vicki says..you can easy put lemongrass in pots..it is a plant that you can`t compare to no other imo qua scent..it is really plenty citronelle  make sure when summer is over the soil must be really dry and then water them..If you like Asian food ..its called Sereh lovely in Curry`s..

 

 

Wow gorgeous plants you have Jo-Anne, mine have quite a way to go!!

Jo-Anne your plants are gorgeous..........now do you keep them in the ground thru the winter? I was reading up on them and they said they need to be treated as an annual........I put mine in pots so I could place them in the green house if I had too. When I was working with the plants that I got I could not get over the strong citronelle  smell that they gave off.

On 8-9-2016 at 6:06 PM, Missysmom said:

Wow gorgeous plants you have Jo-Anne, mine have quite a way to go!!

Thank you..

they grow pretty fast  and then you have to split them and in no time they will grow out again..

On 9-9-2016 at 4:01 PM, Sophie's Haven said:

Jo-Anne your plants are gorgeous..........now do you keep them in the ground thru the winter? I was reading up on them and they said they need to be treated as an annual........I put mine in pots so I could place them in the green house if I had too. When I was working with the plants that I got I could not get over the strong citronelle  smell that they gave off.

Thank you.. yes I keep them in the ground all winter..mulch them..and in spring there will be a new plant..new leaf..it is not been done a lot like this but for me it works..I am a bit of a loner in things..might just do it the other way they say  and then see what happens..this turns out fine..best don`t eat lemongrass raw..I dry it...

Does anyone have a Gingerplant in their garden? 

I have been thinking about growing my own ginger due that I use it quite often. I was checking it out and like grasses their are so many selections to choose from to grow in your garden.

I think this will be my spring 2017 project.....to start from the actual root I think takes lots of patience which might be a winter project............

That will be a great project Jeannine! Are those the ones  you can eat? .....

Well the idea off ginger didn`t get out off my head..and I want to know if I can have a plant..trying this way..ha ha ha hope it works..they say it does happen there will be a plant..sure is an easy way though..

How neat.......the tube is just setting on the dirt? Did you put a lid on top of the container to keep the humidity in?

No lid on top..just put it in a warm place..I put it in my windowsill..and yes the tube is just setting on the dirt..gave it a bit of a hole and put it to bed  that is it..

Well when Bill goes grocery shopping next week I will have him pick me up a ginger tube........(you don't know how nice it is not to have to grocery shop.....I am so lovin it.)   

 

If you want to start herbs..or learn more about them..

Really to start your own herb garden you don`t need much..three pots and soil..and some seeds or herbplants..if you start with three kinds you can easy make a bouquet garni for instance..lovely to use in the kitchen..

I have loved my vegetable garden the last couple of summers and would love an herb garden.  Where do you get your herb starters? My local Lowes does have herb starter plants but just basic as in a basil plant, and I am fascinated reading about Jeannine's mention of Cinnamon Basil.

I was actually able to get Cinnamon Basil at Lowe's last year but this year they did not have it but had Chocolate Basil instead but with the heat of the summer the plant did not stay it's chocolate color......it did have a light taste of chocolate though. I went on line and checked out seed companies and ordered some catalogs to start some herbs and plants  on my own.......Burpee Seed Company (I sign up for their email newsletter) newsletters are great and they only list plants that grown in your zone......so my newsletter only gives me information for my  Zone 7 which I find very informative.....and each seed/plant that you inquire about will give you a timetable on when you should start your seeds in pots or in the ground or when you should plant your seedling plants.......Bill is in the process of building me a new greenhouse as I have outgrown the one that I have so I am taking my old greenhouse and use that one for starting seeds come Jan/Feb......now my gardens are going to be a year round thing for me and I am excited about that......... 

On 19-10-2016 at 2:44 PM, Sophie's Haven said:

newsletters are great and they only list plants that grown in your zone....

Thank you ..never thought of that..to sign up for the newsletters..

Do you have the Holy Basil in your garden..

http://www.magicgardenseeds.com/tree/244/Basil-Seeds/article/OCI08/Tulsi,-Holy-basil-(Ocimum-sanctum,-tenuiflorum).xhtml

I have not come across Holy Basil.......I was checking out Burpee Seed company this morning and ordered some perennials (got a bit carried away) and I check out the Basil selections and there was 24 different varieties that grow well in my zone but Holy Basil was not listed........one of the garden shows that I listen to on PBS  had a variety of Basil that was a perennial but grown in Central Texas.......curious are you going to start your seeds now in your greenhouse? I am going to wait until my order comes and then order my herb seeds......my new greenhouse will not be complete in time before cold weather sets in so my little one will be filled with my hibiscus and geraniums........but if I have enough room I just might start some........

On 24-10-2016 at 7:38 PM, Sophie's Haven said:

I have not come across Holy Basil.......I was checking out Burpee Seed company this morning and ordered some perennials (got a bit carried away) and I check out the Basil selections and there was 24 different varieties that grow well in my zone but Holy Basil was not listed........one of the garden shows that I listen to on PBS  had a variety of Basil that was a perennial but grown in Central Texas.......curious are you going to start your seeds now in your greenhouse? I am going to wait until my order comes and then order my herb seeds......my new greenhouse will not be complete in time before cold weather sets in so my little one will be filled with my hibiscus and geraniums........but if I have enough room I just might start some........

I will go and order it..because it is a lovely "potpourrie" herb and want to add it to my collection..which I do from now on in several stores.. I buy seeds and receive some swap seeds too from people I know who also have a herb garden I like..love Burpee Seed for giving the zone information..they should do that here too! mailed a few stores and told them about that! No my greenhouse, much smaller then yours  is filled up right now too. I have two of these https://www.amazon.de/G187-Girlande-Micro-Grow-Light-Garden/dp/B015WEWSY4/ref=sr_1_3/251-3429117-8295023?ie=UTF8&qid=1477473383&sr=8-3&keywords=Grow+Light+Garden..don`t know what to do without them..they come in two sizes..I have the larger ones.. I love that Bill is building you a new greenhouse..so exited for you..I know what it is like only to have a small size greenhouse..there is never enough space..

I love ginger. I just want to share since I'm drinking ginger tea at the moment.

1 inch ginger grated to a cup of hot water + honey to taste. (Or with lemon too)

I drink this when for stomach aches (acidic or gas or bloat) and when I got exposed to someone with a cold and/or starting to feel like I would be catching a cold. I haven't had a cold in the last year since I started on this. (Knock on wood) I find it soothing for my throat. It does kind of take a bit of getting used to but I love the taste now.

I've also grated a huge ginger in a glass jar and poured boiling water in it. When it cools, I'll squeeze a lemon in it and keep in the fridge to have it ready when I want a drink later. Can also be made hot or cold, just add water and honey. I prefer to add honey before drinking because I've read that honey loses some of its health benefits in heat. 

Thanks so much minabey! Both hubby and me have been trying to come down with a cold all week so will try this! Of course we don't have any real ginger on hand wonder if using ginger from a spice jar would do any good?