JohnT wrote: > JimC writes: >> Here's my poll: Who has got what in the ground (chiles) & how's it >> doing? Haven't even worked up the nerve to go see if I can answer my >> own question yet :-) > > > Not a darn thing!! Haven't put a plant "in the ground" since '84. > > > AlexS writes: >> The dill is out of control and the garlic chives are filling the yard >> waste cans. > > Dill!!! Once again I forgot to start a couple dill and tarragon plants. > Planted 4 pickling type cukes this year (they taste terrible!) for > fermenting and forgot that the recipe calls for those herbs. It cost > nearly > $3 ea for tiny, tiny pkgs of a few sprigs. Plus it took 30+ miles and 4 > grocery stores to find. The pickles are worth it though. > > > Back to peppers.... Got the freshest possible rocoto seeds from CameronB > last fall and the two plants look fantastic. Blooming nicely, but no > pods > set yet. We are enjoying a rather cool June this year so my fingers are > crossed that will get some pods set before it gets too hot. Picked a > handful of 2nd year Scotch Bonnets this morning and I see some Datil > and a > cayenne type (from Tom Jefferson's garden) starting to turn color. > Really > hoping for a good crop of bird peppers this year. 4 plants going from > Ian > (England.. attends O.F.) and 2 second year plants from WillardB > (Rogue) that > gave me a handful of tiny pods last year. (from Monticello too) Also > have > some of my old fav 'pubes doing very well. So happy to get seeds for my > original 3 rocotos after having lost all my old plants when I got ill and > had given all the seeds away. Quite a few people responded to my seed > request. > > jt > > > JT - I planted dill this year for the first time at the request of my wife, who likes it with salmon. I am yet to be convinced. The chives contend with the mint for mastery of the herb patch, but the oregano is staking a strong claim to at least a corner. And coming up on the outside is rosemary, which also over-wintered (for the second year, so I think I'd actually have to set that thing on fire if I wanted to get rid of it - not that I do!) I also planted flat-leaf parsley (the Italian kind), tarragon (for making my own tarragon vinegar among other applications) and lemon thyme (which I don't much care for because it's a low-growing, spreading plant and I am apt to step on it). Having taken a well-deserved sort-of-day-off from work today, I mowed and weed-whacked the lawn, then pulled out our eight or so lettuce plants that have just got too tall and bitter. I then planted four new basil plants (I've already got two) in our half-barrels on the patio. So we should be fairly well supplied with the herbal side of things (and no, I don't mean the smoking sort) come the late summer and fall.