Bringing life back to overwintered herbs

moswell 4/9/2013, 4:29 pm

I'm looking for some advice about ensuring some herbs I left in my SFG over the winter thrive this year. I've got rosemary, oregano, parsley, and thyme that I just left in the box. The rosemary continued like gangbusters all winter, but the others died away a bit. In addition, I've got a pot with some German thyme that I really love that keeps coming back year after year. In all cases, the soil has gotten a bit compacted or the square is running over with the actual plant. How can I work in some compost to give them a boost without destroying the plants themselves?

quiltbea 4/9/2013, 4:39 pm

For most herbs that grow as perennials (chives, thyme, lemon balm, etc), you can pull the whole plant out, then separate it into several sections. You can use a sparp knife or spade to chomp right thru it. Replant one section in the square and give away the others or plant elsewhere.

moswell 4/9/2013, 4:43 pm

quiltbea wrote:For most herbs that grow as perennials (chives, thyme, lemon balm, etc), you can pull the whole plant out, then separate it into several sections. You can use a sparp knife or spade to chomp right thru it. Replant one section in the square and give away the others or plant elsewhere.

lol - when I kill it can I blame you? Very Happy

**camprn** 4/9/2013, 4:47 pm

quiltbea wrote:For most herbs that grow as perennials (chives, thyme, lemon balm, etc), you can pull the whole plant out, then separate it into several sections. You can use a sharp knife or spade to chomp right thru it. Replant one section in the square and give away the others or plant elsewhere.

+1

moswell 4/10/2013, 8:43 am

Okay, I'll try it this weekend. But I warn you, I tend to kill things that rely on me in any way whatsoever to survive. Smile

**llama momma** 4/10/2013, 8:56 am

your poor plants! get that pesky wabbi

Think positive! sunny

**Kelejan** 4/10/2013, 10:15 am

moswell wrote:Okay, I'll try it this weekend. But I warn you, I tend to kill things that rely on me in any way whatsoever to survive.

Did you have children, moswell?

H_TX_2 4/10/2013, 10:44 am

"If you are not killing plants, you are not really stretching yourself as a gardener."

Go for it and if you kill the plants then you will learn how not to do it in the future. Learn and keep getting better. Don't worry about a few sacrificial plants along the way. Since you had these plants last year it is a bonus if you keep them alive and no loss if you accidentally kill them.

moswell 4/10/2013, 10:46 am

H_TX_2 wrote:"If you are not killing plants, you are not really stretching yourself as a gardener."

Go for it and if you kill the plants then you will learn how not to do it in the future. Learn and keep getting better. Don't worry about a few sacrificial plants along the way. Since you had these plants last year it is a bonus if you keep them alive and no loss if you accidentally kill them.

That's an excellent way of thinking about it! I'd hate to have to buy more herbs or wait until they regrow from seed, but I suppose it wouldn't be the end of the world. Smile

I really love that German thyme though. Much more so than the common thyme.

**camprn** 4/10/2013, 11:41 am

H_TX_2 wrote:"If you are not killing plants, you are not really stretching yourself as a gardener."

There well may be a degree of truth to this adage, however I believe that one exhibits wisdom, that kills not the entire garden.

H_TX_2 4/10/2013, 12:05 pm

Well yes. Everything in moderation.

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