At this time of year, quite frankly, my 20-foot, raised-bed vegetable garden is becoming a little tiresome. The butternut squash has refused to die off, the milkweed is throwing its seed everywhere and we must bid adieu to our lone cherry tomato plant.
So, my answer to what’s next in the garden is to prepare window boxes and terra cotta pots that will be much more manageable and useful with upcoming holidays.
If we take a look at a cook’s garden at this time of year, we might find the Thanksgiving triumvirate of parsley, sage and thyme. Now if we expand on those three, from a culinary point of view, we would add basil, dill, oregano, even lavender. Any of these herbs will be ready for use in holiday dishes in November and will last through December, without freezing temperatures.
THE EIGHT ESSENTIAL PRE-HOLIDAY PLANTINGS
BASIL – With the wide variety of basils available, it is hard to pick just one! So, if your space allows, try to grow at least three. Thai basil has a smaller and much tastier leaf that the Italian varieties, with a red hue that adds spice to all stir fry dishes. Genovese basil has large leaves and African basil can be raised as a perennial.
DILL – This towering annual grows to 3 feet tall, and each piece of the plant is useful. Used as an indoor arrangement in a large vase, this will wow your guests, who can take home a small sample as a place setting.
LAVENDER – Although many gardeners think of this aromatic herb just as an ornamental, many cooks now use it in tea and desserts.
THYME – Although this spicy herb can be difficult to harvest, it just requires a pair of tiny scissors to snip enough to add to your holiday stuffing.
OREGANO – A year-long favorite, this fast-growing perennial can be snipped for a meal or dried for future use. Used in a window box, it quickly becomes an unwelcome guest unless it is pruned weekly.
PARSLEY – Either flat-leafed or curly, this favorite will never stop growing. Clip on a weekly basis, since pruning stimulates growth.
ROSEMARY – When purchasing rosemary for a window box, be certain to start with the smallest plant, since it can grow to over 2 feet tall!
SAGE – Cooks either love or hate this highly odorous herb. But its distinctive flavor in stuffing cannot be overlooked.
SHOP FOR THE PERFECT CONTAINER
To create the perfect outdoor window box for your front entrance or backyard patio, think carefully about its placement.
I use window boxes in all areas of the yard, simply because they can be moved easily. This time of year, it’s time to dump those raggedy annuals, fill in the box with new soil and plant your holiday herb garden.
The term “window box” is used loosely to describe any plastic or terra cotta planter that is anywhere from 24 inches to 36 inches long. So many of the garden centers have a colorful assortment of these planters, so decorate according to your household taste.
START YOUR SHOPPING LOCALLY
So many of our local garden shops have herbs that are ready to plant now and have been brought in to replace the summer stock.
Our friends at Anderson’s La Costa Nursery recommend purchasing at least six herbs for each box. According to Hanna Faulstich, horticultural staff member, “We have such a wide variety to choose from so gardeners can have their pick. I recommend using a variety of thyme, including the lemon or variegated varieties, since they all have a different flavor. There are a number of different basils and sages to choose from, and don’t forget the rosemary!”
Hanna also recommended using Recipe 420, which is the most popular soil sold for outdoor containers. “There is no need for fertilizer, since it is enriched with compost.”
The nursery also offers a beautiful variety of terra cotta and hand-glazed ceramic pots to complement your outdoor herb garden.
Anderson’s LaCosta Nursery is at 400 La Costa Ave, Encinitas; phone 760-753-3153, open daily 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For those gardeners in the Vista area, Pearson’s Gardens & Herb Farm has a huge selection of herbs, vegetables and native plants grown on-site. Pearson’s is at 1150 Beverly Drive, Vista; 760-726-0717.
PLANTING THE BOX
- Use any plastic or terra cotta window box from 24 inches to 36 inches.
- Choose at least six herbs to fill the box.
- Purchase high-quality outdoor potting soil (Do not use soil from an outdoor garden).
- When choosing the plants, you will need: Two creeping plants (oregano or thyme), one large tall plant (basil, rosemary, sage or lavender) and three fillers (parsley, cilantro or dill).
- Procedure: Fill the box ¾ full with fresh, dry soil and water. Dig a hole in the middle for the tallest plant. Make two holes at the end of the box for the creeping plant and place each plant in box.
- Finishing the box: After the tall and creeping plants are in, add the remaining space with the “fillers” to complete the box.
- Press all plants in firmly and water thoroughly.
- Place in a sunny spot and water only when dry.
- Clip herbs as needed or dry in preparation for the holidays.
We hope you can use our planting and decorating ideas for the upcoming holidays! Your guests will be amazed when they taste your herbal stuffing and side dishes.
Jano Nightingale is a horticulturist and Master Gardener who teaches vegetable gardening at the Carlsbad Community Senior Garden and other venues. Contact her for upcoming classes, [email protected].
