Question
I am new to gardening, and am trying to lose my reputation for having the black thumb of death...

I have a few small chive plants and a sage plant that have managed to survive for the past couple of years. I've let them grow until now, but I was wondering when, (during or after spring) and how much I could harvest for use in cooking. I don't use much sage, but I do like chives a great deal.

Can you just trim off a little as you need, or do you take a certain portion at a certain time, leaving the rest to grow the rest of the year? Can you dry herbs slowly in a warm oven for preservation?

Also, when is a good time to plant rosemary and lemonbalm (melissa) starts outside? I live in Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh, and the last frost seems to vary a great deal over the past couple of years.

Thank you so much for your help!

Baihu

Answer
Baihu:
The chives can be cut at any time during spring, summer & fall. Do not cut below 2 inches. Cut what you need and they will grow back quickly. If they are in the same pot, take them out in the spring, trim off 1/3 of the root system and re-pot to a larger pot in good composted soil or add organic fertilizer to regular soil. They like liquid fish fertilizer once every 3 weeks. If you allow it to flower in the spring, you can eat them in salads and then continue to harvest them thru the season. During the growing, you can cut the chives into smaller pieces and lay on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer for an hour. Place them in a zip lock bag and freeze. They will be ready to use during the winter since they don't produce much then. Do not rinse them off when you harvest them, the water will make stick together. If you have the all green sage, it is hardy and will return each year. Be sure both are outdoors facing east or south. Do not harvest sage branches after september. Pull the leaves as needed. There are many herb books out on drying. Check the library first. I only place them in brown paper bags and allow to dry and them place in a blender and pulverize them for my bottles.

The hardy rosemarys are called "Hardy Hill and Arp". They both will withstand 10 degrees below 0. Most of the women like Hardy Hill best because of its flavor. It also is greener and fuller. You are right about the weather. I no longer use the zones. I am sending you my hardy code for planting. The lemon balm is hardy and will return each year, but give it a good barrier, because it will take over anything in its path. I am sending my pruning info for all herbs.

How & When to Prune Your Herbs

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There seems to be very little info on when and how much to prune our herbs.                                

I have a little formula that I now use that may help you to have healthier and productive plants.                                                  To tell you the truth, I did not practice this myself until I started to experiment with pruning the rosemary, lavender, sage and thyme. What a difference I saw in this timely pruning!

As new growth begins in the spring and gets to 6 to 12 inches, cut 1/3 from the top down on each stem, SPARE NO ONE! This will be done every 3 weeks or less, depending on how much you use the plant.

Don't go over 3 weeks without cutting it, even if you don't need to use it!                                                                      

Make an herbal vinegar, freeze, give away or if scented, place in old stocking, tie in a knot and put into your dryer, clothes drawers, closets, car ashtrays, car pillows, etc.

Basil is a must for constant pruning. It also keeps the plant from becoming too woody.

Don't let it flower for more flavorful leaves. You can slow the flowering down a little more (especially basil ) by cutting 3 pairs of leaves below the flower heads.

The Herbman's Hardiness Code

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Annuals
This plant will grow for (1) season. Seed collection is necessary for the next season's propagation, or you can also buy again.
Plant when night temperatures are 55+ and no wind chill below 50. Basil must be 60+ and no wind chill below 55. Watch for fluctuating night temperatures and add good cover.

Biennials
This plant produces leaves the first year and flowers the second. After blooming it will re-seed itself.
Plant the same as Annuals above.

Tender
This plant normally cannot withstand a hard frost or freezing. Some plants have made it through our winters, especially those that were mulched well and had some protection from the winds. Those with southern exposures have the best chances for returning.
Plant when night temperatures are 50+ and no wind chill below 45.

Hardy
This plant is a hardy perennial and will live through most of our normal cold winters? It is best to give the plants a light mulch or what Nature has already supplied. It must not set in water all winter. Provide some type of drainage.

When night temperatures are 45+ and no wind chill below 40. Be prepared to cover the plants when wind chills, heavy rains show up. The extra coverage can be rewarding in an early harvest and deeper roots when the heat comes.   


Use the hardy code to plant your cool crop of veggie plants. The earlier you get them into the ground so the roots can get down before the heat comes in, you may have a better harvest if everything else goes well!

The Herbman,

Leroy

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