October 2008

Finally I am able to sit down and write the October newsletter. This month has been unusually busy, even for me, and as I like to write in the morning, any day I have to be somewhere early is not a day I can write easily. I don't know exactly why that is, but I guess that's just how my biorhythms operate. As I was musing about this month's topic, I thought about how much I enjoyed the event I attended in Corpus Christi last weekend.

The Rockport Herb and Rose Study Group, of which I am a member, presented a program on herbs to the public at the South Texas Botanical Garden in Corpus Christi. The audience was very enthusiastic and engaged in our talks about growing, harvesting and cooking with herbs. What I was reminded of listening to the talks and watching the audience, is how our love of and interest in herbs binds us.

We may have different political views, different economic situations and lifestyles, but our common interest in herbs brings us together. We love the smell, the feel, the look and the taste of our herbs. We love how useful they are in many ways.

"The term "herb" also has more than one definition. Botanists describe an herb as a small, seed bearing plant with fleshy, rather than woody, parts (from which we get the term "herbaceous"). In addition to herbaceous perennials, herbs include trees, shrubs, annuals, vines, and more primitive plants, such as ferns, mosses, algae, lichens, and fungi. They [herbs] are valued for their flavor, fragrance, medicinal and healthful qualities, economic and industrial uses, pesticidal properties, and coloring materials (dyes)."

-Deni Bown, 2001.

Citation: Bown, Deni. The Herb Society of America New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2001. p. 18

Historically "herbs" included all sorts of plants: trees, flowers, roots and seeds that were used to season and preserve foods and that had curative, ritual and beautifying powers. Also included were plants that we think of as vegetables today: asparagus, beans, beets, brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, cucumber, garlic, leeks and onions. Some of these vegetables are still used in beauty products such as cucumber. We're beginning to learn about the curative or preventive properties of many plants like garlic and the cole family including broccoli and cabbage.

Today, we think of herbs mostly as annual or perennial shrubby or smallish plants used for flavoring, tea and for medicinal uses. Typically the leaf or leaf and tender stem or even the flower is the part used of an herb. We generally think of spices as a separate category because the bark, seed or root is used.

Another thing that caught my attention during our presentation is how much more people know about herbs now than 10 or so years ago when I started growing herbs and doing programs. Gardeners have started incorporating herbs in their gardens for the look as well as the ease of growing and their drought tolerant properties. Here in Texas we have had drought conditions for many months. The plants that are doing the best in my gardens with the least amount of water are the herbs.

Rosemary, oregano, thyme, and curry plant (Helichrysum) have thrived with very little supplemental water. There are herbs, however, even planted in good soil in a favorable location needed water every day during the worst of the summer and early fall. But, this is Texas and our heat is so searing and intense, I'm not ever surprised when even some herbs need supplemental water.

One "whiner", as I call them, is stevia. He's needed water every day to keep from being terribly wilted. I think relocating him to a shadier afternoon location will help. I intend to do so as soon as I finish taking cuttings off him for propagation.

Basil is another one that likes more water, although a good organic soil that holds more water will help with basil's water needs. Speaking of basil, did you know that the Egyptians used basil in embalming their dead? And, to the Greeks and Romans, basil was associated with hostility and insanity? They painted Poverty as a ragged woman with basil at her side. They believed to grow really fragrant basil one had to shout and swear angrily while sowing the seed. I know I may shout and swear angrily if I'm sowing basil and run into a fire ant mound, but other than than, my basil comes out fragrant and flavorful without rancor while sowing the seeds.

Another terrific reason for growing herbs in your gardens and yards is how well the flowers attract beneficial insects and butterflies to the area. Anyone who has grown any of the plants in the Umbrilliferae family: dill, parsley, fennel- knows that butterflies come and lay their eggs on the plants so the hatching larva have something to eat. Those larva, of course, can decimate a plant in no time. But, we get butterflies in exchange, and generally the plant recovers. Other beneficials are attracted to herb flowers, too.

The following was posted by "Honey Gal" at Organic Consumers Association's web forum: "I'm a beekeeper and teach classes in bee stewardship. One thing folks can do to help, even if you aren't a beekeeper, is to make your yard bee friendly. Plant a flowering herb garden. Bees use herbs medicinally and your plants can help make a difference. I suggest rosemary, sage, THYME (lots of it), marjoram, chives, basil, all the mints and other herbs with flowers. Bees will find them. To do more, plant native flowering bushes, too. In our area (WA) spirea and goldenrod are bee magnets. Try to have flowers in bloom through into fall. Put out a big shallow dish of water with sticks or moss in it (so they don't fall in) and keep it moist. If you can get seaweed, bees are particularly fond of the minerals so I keep a little pile of seaweed in the "bee pond." All these small actions add up and make it a little easier on your local bees."

Low growing plants such as mint and thyme act as cover for ground beetles which are good predators for lots of tiny pests. These low plants also provide shady, protected areas for laying eggs. Tiny flowers, like plants from the Umbelliferae family: fennel, angelica, cilantro/coriander, dill, Queen Anne's Lace, yarrow, and rue will attract tiny beneficial wasps. Composite flowers (daisy and chamomile) and mints (spearmint, peppermint, or catnip) will attract predatory wasps, hover flies, and robber flies.

Attract the above mentioned beneficials to combat the following:

Parasitoid wasps - feed on aphids, caterpillars and grubs

Lacewing larvae - feed on aphids

Ladybug larvae - feed on aphids

Ground beetles - feed on ground-dwelling pests.

Hover flies, and Robber flies - feed on many insects, including leafhoppers and caterpillars

Herbs are also used in companion planting as deterrents to many pests. many common pests in gardens can be deterred by interplanting herbs among and along vegetables and in flower gardens. This practice eliminates the need for harsh pesticide use around your food crops and your family and pets.

The following list will give you some basic information regarding which herbs to plant to deter the pests that can plague your garden.

Aphids - Chives, Coriander, Nasturtium Coriander/Cilantro

Ants ­ Tansy- not really useful for Fire Ants in the South

Asparagus Beetle - Pot Marigold, aka Calendula Calendula

Bean Beetle - Marigold, Nasturtium, Rosemary

Cabbage Moth - Hyssop, Mint (also clothes moths), Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Southernwood, Tansy, Thyme

Carrot Fly - Rosemary, Sage Sage

Flea Beetle - Catmint (Contains nepetalactone, an insect repellent. Steep in water and spray on plants.), Mint

Flies - Basil, Rue

Fruit Tree Moths - Southernwood

Japanese Beetles - Garlic & Rue (When used near roses and raspberries), Tansy

Potato Bugs - Horseradish

Mosquitoes - Basil, Rosemary Rosemary

Moths - Santolina

Nematodes - Marigold (Marigolds should be established for at least 1 year before their nematode deterring properties will take effect.)

Savory, Winter - Some insect repelling qualities

Squash Bugs & Beetles - Nasturtium, Tansy

Ticks - Lavender (Also thought to repel mice and moths.)

Tomato Horn Worm - Borage, Pot Marigold Borage, Marie Iannotti

I hope you can use the information in this newsletter to better plan your next garden, whether it will be in the spring or this fall and winter, for those of you who live and garden in the South and West where mild winters allow for gardening. In mild winter areas pests are not killed off my the cold and freezing weather, so can be a problem year round.

There are 10^11 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it's only a hundred billion. It's less than the national deficit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers. -Richard Feynman, physicist, Nobel laureate (1918-1988)

Until Next Time,

Good Growing to You,

Cindy Meredith, proprietor
The Herb Cottage
442 CR 233
Hallettsville, TX 77964
phone & fax: 979-562-2153
http://theherbcottage.com

Resources used in the Newsletter

http://gardening.about.com/od/naturalorganiccontrol/a/Companion.htm

http://www.helpfulgardener.com/organic/2006/beneficial.html