Supermarket Herbs

[essexpaul]

Has anyone tried planting out the pots of fresh herbs that you can buy from most supermarkets now? Do they grow well?

[Shiny_Bottom_1]

Yep. Some do, some dont (in my experience anyway).

The basil grew well, but the coriander died pretty quickly, and didnt grow back too well when cut.

If you want to grow herbs, I would say its better to get them from a garden centre than a supermarket.

[essexpaul]

Thanks SR,

I have tried the garden centres but they don't seem to carry many, only the seeds.Being lazy, and leaving it a bit late for this year I can only use what I can find in Tesco! I'll give it a go a see what happens.

Edited July 20, 2005 by essexpaul

[kar999]

In my experience some of the supermarket ones do very poorly.

[Great Plum]

The mint I bought grew well!

[Anti-Mild]

Basil, thyme and chives grow well. Coriander and Parsley not so good. Also if you get a chance, plant some Rosemary in your garden-you have to really screw up for that not to do well!!

[Cakie]

Basil does quite well from Tesco but water it little and often.

Parsley and Coriander are looking a bit ropey

I agree with the Rosemary, it's hard to kill (believe me I tend to kill things :o ) just take regular cuttings off for your food and it will be fine

[essexpaul]

AM,

I got hold of Basil, Thyme, Chives and Coriander today so it looks like I might be OK. Couldn't find any Rosemary in the garden centres today, I' ll have to keep looking! I'm fairly sure I can kill most of them completely by the weekend though :o

Edited July 20, 2005 by essexpaul

[essexpaul]

Thanks Katie,

Do you know if they prefer to be in the sun or shade. I have bulit a bl**dy great planter to put them in the garden, (which my wife has alredy christened the coffin!), so I can move them around.

[flagpole]

The trouble with the supermarket herbs is that they will often have been forced.

I think Basil is an annual so you'd have to replace it each year.

If you want to plant some up, try chives, a bulb which should grow fairly well and mint. Mint is as tough as old boots.

Rosemary is one of my favourite herbs too.

I have a herb garden which I never water and its thriving on neglect.

[essexpaul]

I'm an expert at neglect, so I should be OK :o

[Hemlock]

Rocket is good, hardy, grows back well when cut, nice peppery taste.

[kar999]

Mint is as tough as old boots.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It certainly is, but it can also spread fast so it's best grown in a container of some sort.

[essexpaul]

I was planning to grow some mint in my neighbours flower beds, just because he winds me up!

[frogesque]

Old and colourful addition to the herb garden is nasturtium. They are annual but self-set seed quite readily. Has a mild peppery taste and is an ideal compliment to an otherwise bland salad. Flowers and leaves are edible.

[johnholmes]

hi the old story really. You get what you pay for. There will be exceptions but buying from a garden centre, better still one that specialises in herbs, will usually give a better return.

[Verglas]

a sort of parallel theme ~ I read some time ago about someone who bought some quail eggs from a supermarket and put them in an incubator and hatched quite a few of them into chicks !

I bought some spuds last week and they are starting to sprout, should I plant them or mash them