Where is doing good deals on fresh herbs you can grow?

ALIBOBSY

BTW most herb seeds do better if watered from underneath, I am trying homemade "self watering" pots from old plastic pop bottles and the basil has romped away, caught DD2 munching away on some leaves last night lol.

I have been told to soak parsley overnight in warm water, or at least for a few hours to help break down the seed coat.

Once you have some growing you can then take cuttings easily to grow on, but those supermarket pots can be an easy start-Aldi's seem to be a bit cheaper than the other shops.

Ali x

K9sandFelines

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

.

I have used park promotions a few times over the years and they are pretty good and deliver quickly. I had one issue where they hadn't sent one pack of seeds, but a duplicate of another-think I had 2 lots of globe artichokes and no celery I emailled them and got a reply very swiftly to say sorry, please keep the extra chokes and my celery seeds would be resent. 2 days later got 2 packs of celery and a few radom packs of seed to "apologise" as per the nice note they sent with it.

Will pop off to look at this years offer

Ali x

Though i haven't checked them yet, i ought to. My Dad is dropping off the compost i gave to him to use a while ago, because i thought i didn't need it ... who knew

Mr T delivered my mint plant, so that is on the window. I must research how to look after it so i don't kill the poor thing, before it's had a chance. Next week i will order the other herbs, as this one in particular was on promotion. I can't get to Aldi, but if by chance i do go i will look.

When you say water from underneath, do you mean sit on one of those little saucer things with water in it so the bottom absorbs it!? I'm so bad at gardening it's untrue :rotfl:. How would i soak parsley, and what's the difference between flat and curly (i think it is) just the appearance? How would i soak the parsley ...i haven't a clue!

purpleheather2810

When growing parsley you need to break down the seed husk to help it to germinate. Sow the seed in a tray of compost and cover with clingfilm. Put in the freezer overnight and then put on the windowsill and wait for shoots to come up (could be 4 weeks!) - take the cling film off when you can see shoots. Or you can do as someone else has suggested - water the tray with hot water from the kettle and wrap in cling film until you see shoots.

This is why some people don't bother growing parsley from seed. You could do both - start your own off but get a plant to keep you going in the meantime...

pinkcandyflossprincess

i buy the ready pots from aldi, about 69p? for a pot of basil etc, then just repot it when i need, the salad trays of lettuce are good when you can get them as you can just snip a few and repot the others etc

good in this weather as nothing is surviving outside and my windowsills are full of courgettes, tomatoes, basil and chilli plants from over optimistic planting in march:o

fm123

Was in aldi today and they had lots of plants reduced down including lettuce plugs for 29p (6 pack), and 6 strawberry plants for £1.99. Its definately worth checking your local.

A good tip for germinating seeds is to put a damp paper towel in an old plastic fruit tray and cover in cling film and put it on the kitchen windosil. I have managed to get okra seeds to germinate in just a few days. And its taken 6 weeds but I've managed to get strawberry seeds from shop bought strawberries to germinate too.

K9sandFelines

Wow, thanks for all the tips ladies. I will take these all on board, and will also get to work reading my little book that came with park promotions seeds; then get cracking asap.

ALIBOBSY

Yep watering from underneath means to sit in the water so its soaks upwards. The pre soaking means stick the seeds in some hot or warm water-different people have different ideas, I like hand hot from the tap. Let them sit overnight to start the breakdown of the seed coat.

Ali x

blossomhill_2

If you can get some reduced cut herbs from the supermarket (often yellow stickered) the rosemary sprigs root easily in a pot or water - just strip off about 1-2 inch of leaves and poke the bare stem into compost or glass of water

The pots of growing herbs are basically seedlings and if you want them to do well try dividing them and planting them as small clumps into their own pots of compost then pinch out the middles when they have recovered from being potted on

Good luck

K9sandFelines

blossomhill wrote: »

If you can get some reduced cut herbs from the supermarket (often yellow stickered) the rosemary sprigs root easily in a pot or water - just strip off about 1-2 inch of leaves and poke the bare stem into compost or glass of water

The pots of growing herbs are basically seedlings and if you want them to do well try dividing them and planting them as small clumps into their own pots of compost then pinch out the middles when they have recovered from being potted on

Good luck

I've managed to visit a garden centre today with my Dad, so picked up Lavender ( DD wanted this to put in her room to help her sleep :cool: ), garlic, strawberries, coriander, catmint and oregano for £1.25 each and then a pot of basil for a £1 from Morrisons; so more than enough to be going on with!