Yep, my Tarragon is 3 years old and already 2 feet tall this season. Same with Good King Henry. All types of Basil grow really well here too, when the frost finally quits.

I had trouble with Basil and Tomatoes when I lived on the west (Sunshine) coast, because of the high humidity, probably much like your climate, if cooler. BTW, I’m originally from Minneapolis. Wanderlust.

I get many of my seeds through Richters, also Seeds of Diversity (Canada) is a tremendous resource for growers of open pollinated and heritage seed…the first place I look for anything nearly lost or unusual. I think there is a sister site in the States and they may work together.

My stevia seed came from seedman.com this year, and I got an amazing 100% germination. In fact, I ordered 100 seeds and got 103 plants. I think they are closer to your neighborhood than mine. The stevia I ordered from Richters is still back-ordered.

My living room in February looked like a catalog supply store..with my little greenhouse standing next to the couch. We all do what we can, eh? ;o)

Right now, my chive flowers are about to open, then I will pick them and stuff them (washed!) into a bottle, cover them with cider vinegar and stopper it, then put it in a sunny window for a week or two. The resulting pink vinegar has a delightful flavor for any use, but it’s especially good on salad with a few drops of olive oil. And, of course, wine! With maybe, some essene (living)bread. Hm. I’ll have to go talk to my lettuce about growing a little faster….

Laury

p.s. cloches are outside the budget, I use plastic buckets (from Dairy Queen) and take them off during the day. The long daylight hours would cook anything under glass; it will be around 10pm before it’s dark tonight. other people use those red plastic tomato cages here, the kind you fill with water for insulation. It acts like a cloche but is open at the top, and provides a bit of shade as well.

Thanks!

Interesting info. on the hollyhock flowers. Thanks for sharing.

One thing you do have going for you in Canada is you are closer to Richter’s which is old family herb grower. Look them up on internet as they have some very nice herb choices.

Where you should do much better than a Zone 7 does is with French Tarragon, dill, etc. as in zone 7 we are just too hot and humid and there is really no replacement for French Tarragon. Yours will become bush like and we’re lucky to get 7 branches before it wilts and dies.

If you have a chance look around in your garden shops and see if you can’t find some “cloches” which are nothing but clay pots with a top, that you remove during day, replace at night, and extends your “hot weather” growing season. That’s a short term solution and they are visually attractive in the garden.

In one of the forthcoming etips you will get from our herbal lore/legend series I will mention to you to find the book, “The Pleasure of Herbs” by Phyllis Shaudys on internet ( it’s out of publication now) but it’s one of the best books ever on learning how to use different herbs different ways. Great book.

Thanks.

bobj

I wish there was a resource like yours near where I live! Maybe it will have to be me…(got any pointers??)

The growing options are limited here. I have wintered Lavender with great care, but can’t keep Rosemary as a perennial. I had 4 inches of snow on June 5th, here in Southern Alberta, zone 3a. My growing season is about 85 days between frosts… you are so fortunate to live in such a wonderful climate!

I have been growing a variety of culinary and medicinal herbs for about 14 years. I find that many people need a little help adding them to a traditional ‘meat and taters’ diet. Your website is very much like what I hope to accomplish here. Thank you for a great resource!

Laury

I moved to NC approximately three years ago and unfortunately was not able to bring my plants that were passed down from generations. I did not know their history, just that my grandmother and other family memebers had this and that in their gardens. I use gardening for my source of rest and relaxation and the more I learn about it the more I enjoy it. I may not be great at it but I enjoy it very much.

Thank you and your wife for what you are doing.