289201 Wed May 08 09:57:47 -0700 2002 12 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1564580 The last post reminded me to ask this incredibly knowledgable group two questions that have been frustrating me. First, I've planted all my herbs for the summer. Most are doing well, especially the cilantro, except for the basil. Many of the leaves have holes in them, although I have found no actual bugs. These leaves quickly turn green/brown and ugly looking. Does anyone know what this could be and how I might remedy it? Second, I have not been able to find "mint" plants in any store. I've found spearmint, peppermint, and even pineapple mint. Are any of these the same? I think I just want standard mint. Do I keep looking? Any help would be very appreciated. Thanks. -Bill. Wed May 08 09:57:47 -0700 2002 0 Bill 1 1564585 Holes usually mean bugs. I grew 4 types of Basil for a few years and every now and then I'd see the holes. All you need is a good insecticidal soap. Can find it anywhere. I favor organic but hey, your choice. Wed May 08 10:19:53 -0700 2002 1564580 0 Hunter 2 1564794 I grow a lot of different herbs, mostly in pots outside. I found that if I plant a garlic clove along with whatever herb I planted the insects stay away. Pretty soon a green garlic shoot sprouts up. If you pull it out in a couple of weeks you get a sort of garlic scallion. If you leave it alone until the green shoot dies, you get a head of garlic. It's like killing two birds with one stone. Fri May 10 11:39:02 -0700 2002 1564585 0 Joan Winston 1 1564588 Mint is a large family of herbs. Spearmint is the usual culinary herb. If I were you, however, I would contain the roots in a planter. Mint is invasively weedy (think of it as an herbal kudzu, but by roots), particularly in moist soil, so do not let it grow uncontained in any bed that you care about maintaining. Wed May 08 10:46:05 -0700 2002 1564580 0 Karl S. 1 1564589 I use spearmint for all the dishes that call for it including tabouleh and some Thai cooking when I can't find Holy Basil. www.seedsofchange.com does have seeds for dotted mint though. Wed May 08 11:00:12 -0700 2002 1564580 0 LisaLou 1 1564601 LOL ! I get little sunlight in my windows and I have been trying to grow herbs for a couple of years. The basil and mint were the only two I could keep consistenly. I finally discontinued the mint because it grew so well and spread so much. The basil just made it through the winter and is doing just fine now. Can't wait till we get a rural place and we can plant a garden. Wed May 08 13:42:18 -0700 2002 1564580 0 DavidH 1 1564633 Bill, I hope you take this the right way, but I am so glad to know that I am NOT the only person on the planet who has problems keeping basil alive. I killed ma beautiful full basil plant my mother gave me within a couple weeks last summer, even with correct watering and care. My black thumb has made me the butt of many jokes in my family of avid gardeners. In any case, when the basil was still alive, I had the same problems of holes and withering leaves. The beer trick Jambalaya mentioned works well to combat the holes problem, if you have slugs. Use cheap beer (my slugs prefer Southpaw Lite from a tallboy can) and make sure to empty the containers often as they accumulate corpses. You'll want one small shallow bowl about every 18 inches or so in larger beds. Hope that helps, although I may not be the best source of info here. :) Blue skies, Catherine Wed May 08 17:11:42 -0700 2002 1564580 0 Catherine 1 1564645 All mints have square stems. You can immediately feel the four corners if you are looking for that, and realize that they are not round. Gardeners may be quite surprised to learn which herbs are actually mints if they do this "feel" test. There are thousands, and quite a few of our herbs in our backyards are mint, but you may not know that -- Wed May 08 19:51:43 -0700 2002 1564580 0 Pat P 1 1564684 Thanks so much everybody. I'll try a little spray on the basil, and put out a dish of beer as well. I do have some more questions though. Specifically, my thyme is flowering all over. It's growing well, and looks healthy, but I have very small little white flowers all along it, not just at the ends. Is that normal? Which leads to my next question. Am I supposed to be pruning all these plants? This early in the season? And if I do want to "harvest" some herbs, do I cut from the bottom? the top? Will they all grow back? Even chives? It looks so easy on TV when chefs just reach out their windows and twist-off a big handful of fresh herbs. Thu May 09 10:25:26 -0700 2002 1564580 0 Bill 2 1564688 For herbs where you intend to use the leaves, you generally pinch them back to discourage flowering and encourage new growth. For many species, the leaves can acquire slightly bitter overtones after flowering. Thu May 09 10:52:23 -0700 2002 1564684 0 Karl S. 2 1564718 Flowers are quite normal but generally speaking you don't want them except perhaps on chives. Cut em back. As far as cutting/pruning, I do so continuously even if I don't need them (just dry them and put em in a bowl or jar). It keeps the flavor strong and the growth even. Thu May 09 15:44:24 -0700 2002 1564684 0 Hunter 2 1564767 There's a lot of great information about this and other herb questions in THE HERBFARM COOKBOOK. I really recommend this book, especially if you consider yourself to be a culinary cook/chowhound gardener. I haven't tried too many recipes, but all so far have been good, and the tips re pruning, watering, etc. and many charts are quite useful. Good luck! Fri May 10 09:27:57 -0700 2002 1564684 0 chow pup 2 1564768 There is no way, in my experience, to eliminate the flowers on thyme. And beware, they attract bees, especially if you plant this as ground cover. For your personal use, just grab some and break it off. Thyme is highly prolific, and each part of the stem that touches the ground grows new roots. Fri May 10 09:34:11 -0700 2002 1564684 0 Pat P