Gardening Tips

Herb Basting Brush

Turn a sweet-corn feast into an elegant affair with easy-to-make herb basting brushes. These fragrant brushes infuse butter with the flavor of the herb, enhanching the taste of any food they contact.

To make a brush, cut fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, small-leaved basil, or chives from the garden. Gather a few sprigs into a small, tight bunch; insert the pointed end of wooden skewer or clean, straight tree twig into the middle. Bind the herbs to the skewer with a rubber band, trimming the ends to create an even brushing surface.

Cover the rubber band with a length of raffia tied into a bow. Then dunk the ends into melted butter, brush them over a steaming car of sweet corn, and enjoy.

Herbs from Seed

Growing herbs from seed can be pleasing experience if preparations are carried out carefully. Some people prefer to start the seeds indoors where one can control the environtment and keep their friends, the birds, from eating the seed before they germinate.  If they are going to grow a plant in a container, they plant the seed in the pot in which it will grow. if seed are to be grown outside, in the garden, they start them in flats of some sort.

The most important thing to remember when starting any seeds is to keep the seedling bed constantly moist. This means moist to the touch on the soil`s surface, but not really soppy wet. If the tiny seedlings are allowed to become dry, they will wilt and never recover. Watering should be done with a mister of sometype until the plants reach about two inches in height. If they are moisted by pouring water on them, they will be dislodged, and your careful distribution of the seeds will be totally wrecked.

After the seedlings are up there is another problem with watering by pouring; that is the stream of water will wash the seedlings to their sides and they will generally end up lying flat on the soil.

The soil mix for seedling should be very fine. The mixture should include equal parts potting soil, coarse sand and peat moss. Prepare the mix by first sifting the soil through a 1/4 inch mesh screen. Usually they prefer to buy package potting soil for starting seeds due to the fact that it is sterilized and is usually fine in the mixture.

Borage Plant for Gardening

Borage is an annual plant in the garden that easily reseeds itself after it is established. Borage grows to three feet in height but could be maintained at twelve inches in a container. the plants can be started from seed that germinate in about two weeks and new plants should be started in August or September for growing indoors for winter.

The leaves of Borage are useful in flavoring drinks or in salads where they impact a cool, refreshing, cucumber-like taste and fragrance. The botanical name of Borage is Borage Officinalis. It has been used for centuries as a medicine or in drinks for a quick pick-up on those hot lazy days of summer.

Indoors or outdoors, the plant prefers full sun in temperatures that range from fifty to seventy degrees. A potting soil of equal parts sand, soil and peat moss is fine for growing the plant. It should be kept moderately moist at all times. Plant the seeds in the container in which it is to be grown, since it is difficult to transplant.

Take into consideration that the plant will be rather hairy, gray-green in color, and long ovaled in shape. It makes a nice looking pot plant with tree or four plants in an eight inch pot.

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Take a while to read Basic home gardening tips and Gardening with herbs