What do you do to be an eco-friendly gardener?
Poll Is Closed |
| Buy biodegradable pots/recycle plastic pots |
5 |
12% |
| Use natural pest control |
6 |
15% |
| Have a rain barrel |
8 |
20% |
| Plant native species |
9 |
22% |
| Use solar lighting |
7 |
17% |
| Avoid planting invasive species |
3 |
7% |
| I'm not an eco-friendly kinda gardener |
3 |
7% |
| Votes: |
41 |
100% |
Comments (12)
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03-22-2010, 07:49 PM
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#91
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Mentor
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sterling Heights
Posts: 1,780
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Rosemary.
Yes, Janet.
I truly am a rosemary afficionado. Love the stuff.
I did start some from seed last year , and it did pretty well. I discovered it has to be planted early ( like December, January) because it is a slow grower.
I saved a rosemary plant from last years' garden and over wintered it in the house. It's fine, and I'll harden it off starting nest month and it will take it's rightful place in the herb garden sanctury.
I purchase several rosemary plants, Janet, from the nursery and end up keeping the best one to bring in for the winter each year.
This year I am going to try propagating it from cuttings. We'll see what happens.
Harv 
__________________
The less routine ~ the more life !
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03-23-2010, 01:02 PM
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#92
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Active Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: portage
Posts: 206
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HARV..thanks for the rosemary tips...I just planted some seeds last night ..If they don't make it...I will buy plants this year. I did overwinter a huge rosemary on the porch foryer but it looks terrible and straggley..not sure if it is even alive. It is cold on the porch foyer.. but not freezing. (usually around 50 or so temps.) Maybe it is too cold. Does your overwintered rosemary look really healthy?? I am going to try my hand at cuttings also this year for propagation of my rosemary..I just love that scent of fresh rosemary..it is my favorite herb. 
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gardening makes me happy.....Janet
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03-23-2010, 06:23 PM
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#93
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Senior Mentor
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Maple City
Posts: 2,162
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I LOVE Rosemary....unfortunately...hubby hates it....so I just buy a couple of plants to put in the garden for MEEEEEE.....After all it IS all about MEEEEE!!!
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Sandy
*****
Leelanau county, Zone 5A
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03-23-2010, 06:36 PM
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#94
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Charlevoix
Posts: 3,936
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***  ***
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Zone 5a
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03-23-2010, 08:41 PM
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#95
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Dearborn
Posts: 855
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Gardenshadow- Could you give me some tips about overwintering rosemary? I love the stuff, but have heard it is not easy to overwinter. [per Janet's post]
Al I have heard mostly is that the leaves dry up easily. Thanks!
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Gardeners, I think, dream bigger dreams than emperors.
~ Mary Cantwell
Zone 5b
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03-24-2010, 12:31 AM
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#96
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Mentor
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sterling Heights
Posts: 1,780
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Rosemary Obsession.
Kathie, I keep it pretty simple when I bring rosemary inside for the winter. It can be tricky, but I have found my method to be effective.
I pot the rosemary in an unglased clay pot with good drainage (it's more difficult to over-water using a clay pot), and ready it to eventually bring it inside. I place a sheet of aluminum foil on my workbench in the basement and set up a two bulb shop light over the bench. The foil will reflect the light from the shop light and increase it's intensity when I eventually set the rosemary under the light.
The only other thing I do is keep a misting spray bottle filled with water with a shot glass of hydrogen peroxide in it to mist the plant once or twice a week. The peroxide helps keep any fungus from growing in the potted plant.
I water it when it is dry and put a little peroxide in the watering can also, ( I check it two or three times a week) but am careful not to over water.
I have a timer on the light switch and set it for the light to be on 15 to 16 hours each day. I do this in the basement because it is about 60 degrees most of the time and the air is not too dry and away from any heat registers.
This has worked for me for several years. Remember to harden-off the plant when it comes time to put it back outside.
Harv
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The less routine ~ the more life !
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03-24-2010, 11:35 AM
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#97
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Mentor
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Wayne County
Posts: 1,108
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Very interesting Gardenshadow!
Great system!!
I have been using peroxide for many years but never used that much per spray bottle.
I just use a few cap~fulls.If I get damping off straight little capful cures all, but I need to monitor it; maybe reapply.
I brought (I think2) Rosemary in and Curry, nearly lost Rosemary due to lack of knowledge where she was *lol, found her, trimmed her and she was fine until I thought it was curry and took it outside because another was still living (inside and outside) and needed to have less to keep track of. So...I do not know where the other went it is in a pot someplace in this house*lol
I had to bring tons of shed stuff in so I am in a fix.
Maybe I'll go look for her *lol
How big and old is your Rosemary!??
How many do you bring in?
Houseplant potting soil or do you make your own mixes?
OH! I have Sweetpepper germination and HOT mix!
they are itty bitty but they are coming along fine took a while. Eggplant nothing need to sow again today.
Have your peas come up Gardenshadow!? Mine.nothing/
Oh does anyone grow Peony (Bowl Of Beauty) ?
I do not see any sign whatsoever, believing too soon.
Happy Spring....
Kale 
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Roses come in all colors, even colors you didn't order.
Veggies are good food, sow until you glow!
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03-27-2010, 08:18 AM
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#98
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Active Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Redford
Posts: 66
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Good Morning everyone!
Harv, I see what you mean about the rosemary, which I also love. I started some from seed inside under the lights on 3/3, but am seeing just some tiny green peeking through. What height am I looking for before I seperate the seedlings?
Kale, I have some lovely old peonys that just overflow when they bloom! I think they are beautiful, but I know others who don't, because of the ants. I've never had a problem bringing them inside for bouquets by just cutting them, rinsing them well, then letting them set for at least a day outside in a large vase or bucket of water. And if you get an ant or so in the house, it's not going to be that big a deal, right? I see no life on them yet, but when they are 2' up or so, I have my make-shift cages ready; just a couple wires for each peony permanently attached to the chain-link fence they grow in front of. I just pull them up around the plant before they get too tall, and voila!
Today's task is seperating the seedlings that are getting tall, and hopefully readying my main square foot veg bed ~ still planning on planting many things in there April 16-18 if the weather holds. And, blast it all, I have to finish the darned taxes!!!
Happy Saturday!
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~ from Tess' garden!
Redford ~ Zone 6
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