“My passion for gardening may strike some as selfish, or merely an act of resignation in the face of overwhelming problems that beset the world. It is neither. I have found that each garden is just what Voltaire proposed in Candide: a microcosm of a just and beautiful society. ” Andrew Weil
Check out my easy YouTube video tutorial on how to properly plant invasive herbs such as mint, oregano, & thyme so they don’t overtake your gardens!
Supplies you’ll need:
Large planter Ground cover or landscape fabric to line the inside of the planter 2 cups of pea gravel Enough organic potting mix to fill the planter leaving about 2 inches of head space 1 perennial herb plant of your choice such as mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary, or sage.
I certainly hope you are encouraged to garden. Even if you start with only two or three of these things, that’s a great start!
“It is a good idea to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that all its shy presences may haunt you and possess you in a reverie of suspended thought.” James Douglas
You all know how much I love my herbs, so taking care of them and ensuring they continue to grow & thrive is essential to a bountiful harvest. Dividing them helps to keep them from getting too crowded, which can lead to poor growth and disease.
In this guide, I’ll be taking you through the benefits of dividing overgrown herbs, signs that your herbs need dividing, the best time to divide overgrown herbs, tools needed for dividing herbs, steps for dividing overgrown herbs, tips for planting and caring for divided herbs, common mistakes to avoid when dividing herbs, and recommended herbs to divide. So now lets get rolling friends!
Dividing overgrown herbs is a great way to keep your herbs looking and tasting their best. When you divide your herbs, you’re essentially creating new plants from one plant. This means that the new plants will have fresh, healthy roots and plenty of space to grow. Dividing your herbs can also help to promote new growth and increase the yield of your herb garden. And that’s what we want right friends… more herbs!
What are some of the signs that my herbs need dividing?
So, how do you know when it’s time to divide your herbs? There are a few signs to look out for. If your herbs are looking crowded or are starting to wilt, it’s probably time to divide them. You may also notice that your herbs are not growing as well as they used to, or that they are producing fewer leaves or flowers.
When is the best time to divide my overgrown herbs?
The best time to divide overgrown herbs is in the early spring or fall. This is when the plants are not actively growing, which makes it easier to divide them without causing too much stress. It’s also important to divide your herbs when the soil is moist, as this will help to minimize shock to the plants. If the soil is dry, I advise watering the soil and letting it set for about an hour before you divide.
Some of the tools you’ll need to divide your herbs!
To divide your herbs, you’ll need a few tools. These include a sharp pair of pruning shears or scissors, a garden fork or spade, and a container or pot for your new plants. You may also want to have some compost or fertilizer on hand to give your new plants a boost. If you are dividing herbs you purchased from a garden center still in its original planter, then you’ll need to carefully remove the plant and separate. See my video.
Here are the herbs I recommend that divide easily!
Not all herbs need to be divided, but some do better when they are divided regularly. Here are a few herbs that are great candidates for dividing:
Mint
Oregano
Thyme
Chives
Sage
5 Easy Steps to Dividing Your Overgrown Herbs!
Now that you have all of your tools ready, it’s time to start dividing your overgrown herbs. Follow these steps if you are dividing plants you already have planted or if you are dividing plants still in their original container:
Start by gently digging up the entire plant using your garden fork or spade. Be careful not to damage the roots. If you have a new plant in it’s original container, simply slide the whole plant out of the container.
Once the plant is out of the ground or container, gently shake off any excess soil. You can gently pull apart roots if they are root bound in the container.
Use your pruning shears or scissors to cut the plant into smaller sections. Make sure that each section has a healthy root system and a few leaves or stems.
Replant each section in a new container or pot, making sure to space them out evenly.
Water your new plants well and add some compost or fertilizer to give them a good start.
Here are a few tips & tricks for planting & caring for your newly divided herbs~
After dividing your herbs, it’s important to give them the proper care to ensure that they thrive. Here are a few tips to help you out:
Water your new plants regularly, but be careful not to over-water them. Herbs prefer well-drained soil, so make sure that your containers have drainage holes.
Place your new plants in a sunny spot. Most herbs prefer at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.
Pinch back any flowers or buds that appear during the first few weeks after dividing. This will help your plants to focus on growing healthy roots and leaves.
Fertilize your new plants every 2-3 weeks with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer.
Harvest your herbs regularly to encourage new growth.
Avoid these common mistakes when you divide your herbs!
Dividing overgrown herbs is a relatively simple process, but there are a few common mistakes that you’ll want to avoid. These include:
Dividing your herbs too often. Most herbs only need to be divided every 2-3 years.
Don’t divide your herbs in the middle of the growing season. This can stress the plants and make it harder for them to recover.
Not giving your new plants enough space. Make sure that each new plant has enough room to grow and develop a healthy root system.
Over-watering your new plants. Herbs prefer well-drained soil, so make sure that your containers have drainage holes.
Dividing overgrown herbs is an important task for any herb gardener. By dividing your herbs, you’ll be able to keep them healthy and productive year after year. Remember to divide your herbs in the early spring or fall, and be sure to give them the proper care and attention they need to thrive. With a little bit of effort, you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful harvest of fresh, flavorful herbs that you can use in all of your favorite recipes.
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“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul. ” Alfred Austin
This is a really handy dandy way to get the most bang for your buck when purchasing basil plants. If you notice, when you purchase a planter with basil, there are multiple stems. Sometimes as many as 10. That in reality means there are 10 basil plants in that container. You have a couple options depending on how many plants you would like to have.
First, you can simply and very carefully separate each of the stems, be careful not to harm the roots and replant each one. I advise trimming back some of the larger leaves so the plant’s energy will go into root development rather than trying to keep those leaves alive.
The second is what I am going to show you how to do. Let’s roll friends! Check out my easy tutorial here at my YouTube Channel!
Here’s the how to for growing basil from stem cuttings!
Step 1:
Carefully remove the plants from the container and separate each stem as best as possible.
Step 2:
Take each stem and cut it on an angle below the second set of true leaves; place in a container of water; repeat this process with each stem until you have them all done. You may need several containers of water to hold each one. I used food storage containers but anything will work as long as it is at least 2 inches deep. Be sure to keep fresh water for your stem cutting. Change the water or add every couple days as you see is needed.
2019
Step 3:
Take the remaining stems with roots attached and plant in organic soil; water regularly until new growth appears.
Step 4:
After a root system begins to appear, you will transplant them into containers with a good organic planting medium.
PRO TIP: Other containers you could use are yogurt containers, sour cream or chip containers, etc.
When you are ready to start gardening, simply transplant your seedlings into their summer homes.
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“Cooking is an act of love, a gift, a way of sharing with others the little secrets — ‘piccoli segreti’ — that are simmering on the burners.” – Sophia Loren
This has been a long time favorite for my boys, and now a new one for my sweet hubby! In the warmer summer months I actually will cook this in my cast iron skillets on my grill, but today we did it inside… it was still DELISH!!!
Today was extra fun because I got my youngest son Aaron involved! Both my boys love to help in the kitchen, as well as cook on their own!
Do you have someone who turns their nose up to fish? Well, this may be just the recipe that turns them around! Let me know how you enjoyed it friends, I love your feedback!
Check out this super yummy & delish recipe here at my YouTube Channel!
Our Favorite Recipes
Ingredients: I prepare 1 filet per person. Adjust to the appetites of your guests.
1 Catfish filet per person, or adjust for the appetite of each person
1~ 2 ounce jar or ½ cup of your favorite blackening seasoning~ I prefer Kinders
1 TBSP paprika
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
½ tsp pink Himalayan salt
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp red pepper seeds
1 TBSP salted butter per catfish filet
1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil per catfish filet
Lemon juice
Do you remember when Dave & I made the Vegetable Seafood Bisque? Well, we had some of the broth left over from that meal, and I just couldn’t throw it away… it was toooooo good! So I put it in a freezer container thinking I’d use it over a rice dish in the future! Today was the day and it was delicious over both the fish & rice! Check out that recipe if you missed it friends!
1 Place catfish on a cutting board and sprinkle lightly with salt on one side.
In a dish or plate combine all seasonings; blend well
Heat cast iron skillet on medium heat; once the skillet is hot add 1 tablespoon each butter and oil; place one filet in blended seasoning; flip and cover the other side.
Place filet in hot oil butter mixture and fry on one side for 2 to 4 minutes depending on the thickness; flip and cook on the other side. You’ll know the fish is done when it flakes apart with your fork; place on a cookie sheet and place in a warm oven while you cook the other filets. Cover with foil so the filets don’t dry out.
Repeat with each filet until done.
PRO TIP: Remove skillet from flame in between each filet. This will allow the skillet to cool just enough so the filets don’t burn.
Serve with dirty rice and your favorite vegetable!
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“Growing your own food may be one of the most powerful steps you can take for the health of yourself, your family, and your planet.” ― Lindsay Oberst (foodrevolution.org)
Did you know you could grow ginger root? Well, you sure can and it is super easy to do. I found this information provided by Penn State Extension and had to share it with all of you. I’ve also included a few recipes to use with your ginger root!
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Let me know if you’ve ever grown your own, and how it worked out in the comments below! I love your feedback.
How to start your ginger indoors!
What is ginger anyway? Ginger is a subtropical plant which requires a longer growing season to reach maturity. If you live in the Midwest or any other area that has a harsh winter, you will need to start your ginger indoors and bring it in over the cold winter months. It is essential to start your ginger root indoors a couple of months before it can be planted outdoors. You can keep it in a container, or grow it in the ground.
Follow these easy steps to grow your own ginger root:
Preparing the ginger for planting:
Cut ginger root into 3-inch pieces, ensuring each contains at least three growth buds.
Allow pieces to callous over for a week before planting.
Choose a good potting mix & container:
I recommend using an organic potting soil with some type of moisture control if possible. You will need a container with a water tray. A great option is a large mixed greens plastic container. You can use the lid as the watering tray and they are the perfect depth to plant your ginger root.
Spread the soil in the container so that it is uniformly 3 inches deep and lay the ginger pieces horizontally on top.
Bury the ginger root:
Cover with an additional inch of soil.
Caring for your ginger root:
Water from the bottom every five to seven days until sprouts emerge. Then water enough to keep the soil moist but not wet.
After sprouts emerge, use a seedling heating pad and grow light to provide the necessary warmth and 16 to 18 hours of light required to get ginger established.
How to prepare & plant your ginger outdoors.
After the danger of frost has passed and the temperature at night is consistently above 40 F, ginger can be transplanted outdoors. Follow these steps:
Harden off plants for five days to prepare for outdoor planting.
Choose a sunny site with loose, loamy, well-drained soil with a pH ranging from 5.5 to 6.5. You may also grow ginger in containers if soil conditions are not favorable.
Dig a shallow trench and plant ginger 3 inches deep and 12 inches apart so that sprouts are visible just above the soil. If you choose containers, plant each plant in a container with a 12-inch diameter or larger.
When new shoots form or the pink shoulders of ginger are visible, hill your plants (pile more soil around the base of each shoot) with an inch of soil and add a granular fertilizer.
Water plants two to three times a week, soaking them deeply.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is sometimes called ginger water and it wonderful for the stomach or gut. It is, quite simply, hot water infused with fresh ginger. It has a bit of spice which is easily adjusted by adding more ginger or letting it steep longer. Adding honey adds the final touch to make this tea a favorite for all.
Here’s what you’ll need:
2 TBSP freshly grated or sliced ginger root
4 cups spring water
1 TBSP fresh lime juice
1 to 2 TBSP local honey, to taste
1. Peel your fresh ginger and slice it as thin as you can to maximize the surface area. This will ensure a very flavorful ginger tea.
PRO TIP: Use the large slicer side of a 4 sided cheese grater.
2. In a medium sized pot, add the water and ginger; bring to a boil for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger.
3. Remove tea from the heat, strain, and add the lime juice and honey to taste.
Dijon Ginger Dressing
This zesty dressing will make any salad better. You can use it as a marinade for chicken as well!
Here’s what you’ll need:
1 ½ TBSP grated ginger, lightly packed
2 TBSP white wine vinegar
1 TBSP your favorite Dijon mustard
1 TBSP honey
½ cup safflower or canola oil
¼ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp pink Himalayan salt
Peel your ginger and grate it finely
Blend all ingredients in a small blender or immersion blender.
Store refrigerated for up to 1 week.
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“I love things that are indescribable, like the taste of an avocado or the smell of a gardenia. ” Barbra Streisand
Welcome to Day 18 of my Gardening 101 Part 2 on how-to create a container garden. In Part 1 I discussed how to create an herb container garden, today let’s look at how to incorporate veggies into containers.
Many of the elements will be similar, especially in the types of containers, making this post a bit shorter. If you missed Part 1, just jump on over for an informative recap!
If you are a novice gardener you may be wondering how you can grow veggies in containers. You may be an experienced gardener who is considering the option of moving your veggies from a standard tillable garden to downsize or just utilize space more effectively.
If you are a novice gardener you may be wondering how you can grow veggies in containers. You may be an experienced gardener who is considering the option of moving your veggies from a standard tillable garden to downsize or just utilize space more effectively.
If you’ve been eyeing up container gardening lately, then you’re probably wondering what it has to offer you. After all, growing in a garden doesn’t really work like that. As you all know I am a huge advocate for container and raised bed gardening. Raised beds are in reality just another form of containers, as I showed in Part 1. You can grow herbs and vegetables in a standard tillable garden, but that type of gardening takes so much more effort and planning. With container gardening, everything becomes simpler and more accessible than it is with other methods.
If you missed my two part series on the benefits of raised bed gardening, click these links. Part 1 and Part 2.
Have you been wondering how to get started with a vegetable garden, or just want to be able to grow your own vegetables at home? Well, a vegetable container garden might be just the answer you’re looking for. A vegetable container garden is essentially an easy way to extend the space of your yard so you can grow plants more effectively.
With this guide, I’ll be showing you everything you need to know about creating successful container gardens as well as the many benefits they have to offer. After reading through the following tips, you will understand why having a container garden is one of the best ways to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables all year round.
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“Help us to be ever faithful gardeners of the spirit, who know that without darkness nothing comes to birth, and without light nothing flowers. ” May Sarton
Check out the great list of content coming to you in the month of February!
Who is ready to get back into the dirt?
Some of you reading this may live in a climate where gardening happily goes on year round. I live in Michigan, so unless a gardener has ways to extend their growing season, then we dream of spring.
The use of green houses, cold frames, or similar methods can increase your growing season remarkably in cold climate zones.
This month I have a great lineup of garden related posts I’ll be sharing both here, at my Podcast, AND my YouTube channel! Be sure to check out my Facebook Events page for the full line up of Podcasts and REGISTER so you don’t miss a beat!
Check out this great line up topics friends!
February How-to Garden Topics!
Heirloom Seeds: Why I prefer them, their benefits & more.PODCAST
Join me for the first topic at my Podcast as I discuss the benefits & why I prefer Heirloom Seeds over Hybrid.
Seed Catalogs: How-to get your first order in! YouTube
How do you decide what seed catalog to shop from? How do I choose from the plethora of varieties? Today I’ll help guide you through placing your order & sharing my personal favorites I’ve used for years!
My Top 10 Easy Vegetables to Grow, & How-to Care for Them.
Today I’ll share my Top 10 favorite & super easy vegetables to grow. I’ll also share tips & tricks to have a successful growing season.
My Top 10 Favorite Herbs to Grow, & How-to Care for Them.YouTube
Let’s talk herbs!!! I’ll go over my favorite tried & true herbs and how-to care for them. I’ll explain the difference between annual, biennials, & perennials herbs!
My Top 5 Favorite Perennial Fruits & Vegetables, & How-to Grow & Care for them.PODCAST
Do you want to save money on your grocery bills? Today I’ll share my Top 5 Perennial Fruits & Vegetables, and How-to grow & care for them. It’s so easy & you’ll be amazed you haven’t been growing these for years already!
How-to Plant Asparagus, Care for it, and harvest!
One of springs first vegetables. This hardy vegetable will provide your family with years of fresh asparagus! Join me today as I share tips & tricks on how-to plant, care, & harvest your asparagus.
Easy How-to Plan Your Spring Garden! PODCAST
Planning your garden is the first step to preparing for success! Join me today as I discuss the importance of mapping out your garden whether or not you have raised beds or a tradition plot garden.
How-to Design & Build a Raised Bed Garden & the Benefits over a Traditional Garden. PODCAST
I love talking about Raised Bed Gardening & showing how & why they are so much more practical then traditional tilled gardens. Join me today as I explain why you should take the leap into raised bed gardening. It’s easier than you think!
Step-by-Step How-to Build a Cold Frame.
If you live in a cold climate zone like I do, then you will want to learn how-to extend your growing season by using this simple method. Cold frames are easy & inexpensive to build. This photo was taken from Pinterest for Bonnie Plants.
Top 10 Gardening Tools Every Gardener Should Have! YouTube
With the proper gardening tools, gardening is much easier and not so hard on your hands or back. Join me today as I show you my favorite tools and discuss the best way’s to use them.
How-to Compost & the Benefits for the Home Gardener.
To compost, or not to compost… that is the question! Join me today as I discuss the benefits of composting for the home gardener. It’s easier than you think it is!
Sunflowers: My Top 10 Favorites & Why You Should Grow Them. YouTube
Who doesn’t love the sunny face of a sunflower? Did you know there are dozens of varieties? Just for fun lets wrap up the cold days of February with a beautiful display of sunflowers.
Looking forward to seeing you all in February!
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Happy Day, Jean
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“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking, you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”
– Julia Child
My freshly dried basil
Growing your own veggies & herbs is a such blessing! Although having the ability to preserve them is a wonderful use of what you’ve grown & harvested. It helps save a ton of money as herbs can be very expensive, especially organic brands. Whether or not you garden organically, your home grown herbs will taste remarkably richer than any purchased from the store.
The following how-to can be used with just about any herbs you grow. Here are a few processes I want to share with all of you.
Pro tip: You don’t have to wait until the fall to preserve your delicious herbs, you can start early in the spring and work at it all season long!
As I mentioned there are a few ways to dry your herbs. Let’s look at each one.
Pro tip: You can have herbs all year in cold weather states. In the spring when you are purchasing your seeds, save a few to plant in late summer in pots. You can keep these in your kitchen all winter long.
Pro Tip:De-stemming your herb leaves from the stem is essential for the highest quality finished product. You can see in these photo’s the original stem of basil, then plucking each leaf off. The stems will not dry well and are often times stringy.
Some seeds do not have a long shelf life when kept at room temperature. If you keep the seeds in your freezer they will have a better chance of germinating.
1. Using a dehydrator. Your dehydrator will come with instructions and is very easy to use. You can use a dehydrator for all types of herbs as well as fruit! You can even make fruit roll ups!
2. Place herbs on a cookie sheet and dry in your oven. After you’ve de-stemmed the leaves, place them on a cookie sheet and bake in a 250 degree oven until dry. The length of time will be determined by the size of the leaves. For example, thyme and oregano leaves will be quicker than basil or parsley as their leaves are larger
Place leaves in a single layer on the cookie sheet so they are not overlapping each other. You do not need to turn the leaves. Check every 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Hanging your herbs to dry in a shady spot works too! You can bundle your herbs with a rubber band and hang them to dry. This generally takes a bit longer to dry as the herbs are more densely packed.
This photo was taken at Greenfield Village
Pro tip: Don’t hang these in a sunny window as the sun will fade the color of the leaves.
Once the leaves are crumbly to the touch, remove them from the cookie sheet into a shallow bowl; gently crumble the leaves, do not crumble so hard that they become dusty. Think about how herbs look purchased from the store.
4. Besides drying your herbs, you can also freeze some of them. I have found that chives and parsley both freeze well. Most others will turn black and slimy.
Storage: Once you have dried your herbs, you can store them in glass jars with tight fitting lids, freezer storage bags or I like to use half pint jars with cute labels.
Other tips!
Freeze your pesto for use year round! We use pesto for so many recipes. I will make a large batch when my basil and parsley are at their best and then freeze them in half pint jars as these are equivalent to 1 cup which most recipes call for. You can also freeze them in ice cube trays and toss in a freezer bag.
Pro tip: Remember to leave at least an inch headspace when freezing!
Herb infused oils can be rather expensive even though they are so easy to make! Simply pack 2 cups of most any fresh culinary herb with 1/2 cup canola or safflower oil.
Pro tip: Olive oil can have a strong taste so I generally only use a few herbs with it. Basil, Thyme, & oregano. I also love to add fresh minced garlic with these. Soooo yummy!
Bonus Herb Salt & Salt Free Recipes
Here are some of my yummy herb salts-less recipes! If you are trying to watch your salt intake, here a some great salt substitutes that the whole family will enjoy and they won’t even miss the salt!
For each recipe, combine all ingredients into a bowl and mix thoroughly I even use a mini food processor. Once blended, store each one in a separate airtight container; shake before using, contents will probably settle.
Combine all and store in an airtight container. Great in ground beef when making goulash!
Basic Herb Salt
1 cup sea salt 1 Tbsp. pepper 2 Tbsp. rosemary 2 Tbsp. thyme 1/4 cup parsley 2 Tbsp. tarragon 2 Tbsp. dill week 2 Tbsp. paprika 1/4 cup basil
Blend together in a food processor; store in an airtight container. Great for grilling or putting on pork or beef roasts!
All of these are great Great sprinkled on burger patties before grilling and really adds something special to ground beef when fried.
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