Get Your 2017 Growing On With My Wall-Calendar Help!

Dear Folks,

Gardeners start turning their mind and eye to what to grow, what to plant next, as we head towards the end of the year, and the New Year and maybe new plants beckon.

My wall-calendar (also available in PDF form) is the key for USDA Zone 9b and above, which includes the desert southwest (Phoenix Metro area etc.) and the Deep South.

Each month it shows you want to plant, gardening tips and maintenance information.

We can garden year-round in the Phoenix Valley of The Sun,  however there are optimal times for planting/sowing to achieve best success.

The photos are all from my gardens.

Amazon - with herb pairing tips, staple bound

My Bound Version with extra herb pairing cooking tips at the back

My publisher Spiral-Bound Print version

PDF version - have at your fingertips at all times.

. . .

My favorite New Year Planting Tip - Plant Potatoes!!!

It is my personal tradition to start the New Year by planting my potatoes on New Year's Day.

A number of years ago I did a photo collage of how to grow potatoes in a raised bed on TOP of the soil.  I decided on a simple frame raised bed,.worked the soil to loosen it, laid out the starter potatoes (seed potatoes), then covered with mulch, watered and keep the watering up and continued adding mulch

The concept is to make it easier to harvest.  The KEY is the growing tubers and base of the plant MUST be covered in mulch at all times, to avoid the toxic greening condition in the spuds (which is caused by exposure to the sun).  You can easily do this in a very large pot or high raised bed.  Keep the plants at least 6 inches in from the sides and keep adding mulch as the plants grow.

Have a wonderful, save and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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12 Days of Christmas Starts Today - December 25th

Dear Folks,

I am re-posting these links for you to enjoy.

While many people believe the 12 days lead UP to Christmas Day - in tradition, the 12 days START with Christmas Day going to the Eve of "Little Christmas" - the Epiphany.

That does not limit the thoughts and recipes I share in each day, so click on the links and enjoy.  As these are older posts some of the internal links may no longer be active.

Have a wonderful holiday season, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

-- Catherine, The Herb Lady


http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2008/12/12-days-of-christmas-christmas-day.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2008/12/12-days-of-christmas-2nd-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2008/12/12-days-of-christmas-3rd-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2008/12/12-days-of-christmas-4th-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2008/12/12-days-of-christmas-5th-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2008/12/12-days-of-christmas-6th-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2008/12/12-days-of-christmas-7th-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2009/01/12-days-of-christmas-8th-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2009/01/12-days-of-christmas-9th-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2009/01/12-days-of-christmas-10th-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2009/01/12-days-of-christmas-11th-day-of.html

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2009/01/12-days-of-christmas-12th-day-of.html
 

-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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Merry Christmas!

Dear Folks,

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, and a Joyous Holiday, whatever your beliefs.

May you have peace, love, understanding - and good food!







-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

Days 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of 25 Days of December Herbal Celebrations!

Dear Folks,

Celebrating the Multicultural festivities of December, I thought I would pick an herb or spice which is referenced in the Bible (land of three of the Major Religions of the world) and used in many cuisines around the entire world, as a way of gathering together all the wealth of diversity around us - in true celebration.

A note about the herbs and spices I selected. There is agreement on some of the herbs (garlic, onion and mint for example) and some continuing discussion on which plant the Bible referred to.  After many years there is a consensus - although still discussed by some - that the Hyssop of the Bible is Syrian Oregano (Origanum maru).  Since Hyssop (Hyssopus officionalis) is not indigenous to the lands of the BIble but Syrian Oregano is, I have included it as the Biblical plant.

References to Hanukkah are listed in some of the posts but may not fall within the celebration time because the dates vary each year.

Day 21

Herb:  Laurel (Bay Leaf),  Psalm 37:35 “I have seen the wicked ingreat power, and spreading himself like a green  bay tree.”  Isaiah 44:14 “He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.” There are several different translations of these passages some referring to Laurel,Bay,  or luxuriant tree, Cedar, Fir, or even Ash.

Since Bay is native to the Biblical lands, I will focus on Bay for this post.

About The Herb:
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) sometimes called sweet bay or Grecian Laurel, native to the Mediterranean area, is a shrubby tree. Used by the Greeks to honor their Olympic winners in a wreath, the herb is also associated with Apollo and the nymph Daphne.

Planting:
Transplant Bay into a sunny, well draining spot in your garden.  It grows slowly the first couple of years and then really starts to take off. As a shrub, Bay can be harvested at will once your plant has good size growth on it.  Leaves can be picked as needed or whole branches can be harvested and dried.  Don’t toss the stems, they can also be used to flavor food or used as kabob skewers.

I did grow one ofmy plants from seed and I do not recommend it.  I planted 13 seeds and one!! came up 8 months later!!  Go with a transplant for happier success.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_21.html


Day 22

Herb:  Onion, Allium cepa, Numbers 11:5  "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, 6 but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna."

I know many of us would also miss onions from our kitchen.  I just have to put some chopped in a hot pan with a bit of oil or butter and the house already smells like something good is cooking.

Onions along with garlic and leeks are considered both an herb (because the inside of the bulb is made up of leaves) and a vegetable.

All herbs are "spices"  but not all spices are herbs.  Herbs are the green, leafy part of the plant, whereas a spice is generally referred to as the dried seed, stem or root.

There is a lot of information on this common vegetable at Wikipedia, including some of the nutrient information.

Considerable differences exist between onion varieties in polyphenl content, with shallots having the highest level, six times the amount found in Vidalia onions, the variety with the smallest amount. 36 37 Yellow onions have the highest total flavonoid content, an amount 11 times higher than in white onions.Red onions have considerable content of anthocyanin pigments,with at least 25 different compounds identified representing 10% of total flavonoid content. 37 --   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion

It is not surprising that this much-loved food not only adds great flavor to our dishes, but also healthy components.

Planting:
Onions are planted by either seed or “sets” which are tiny baby onion bulbs.   The typical varieties of “bulb” onions – the kind we like to keep on hand with a papery skin, can be grown here in the desert garden.

Read More Here
http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_22.html

Day 23

Herb:  Mustard, Brassicanigra,  Matthew 13:31 " He presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than thegarden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES."

Festivus  a Secular celebration Originally a family tradition of scriptwriter DanO'Keefe, who worked on the American sitcom Seinfeld, Festivus enteredpopular culture after it was made the focus of the 1997 episode TheStrike.  Theme:  Festivus forthe Rest of Us, guides the "parody holiday festival" and as aform of playful consumer resistance.

Read up on Festivus and ways to celebrate it at:  --https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus

Planting:
Plant Mustard seed in the fall and expect 80+ days to mature seed harvest.  You can pick some of thegreen leaves during the growing period, but don’t harvest too much – you want the plant to have plenty of energy to flower and produce seed.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_23.html

Day 24

Herb: Marjorum/Marjoram,Origanum majorana Leviticus14:4  “Then the priest shall give orders to take two live clean birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop for the one who is to be cleansed.”

Marjoram is one of the plants mentioned as the Hyssop of thebible, and while it is a member of the same family as the Syrian Oregano (Za'atar) which is generally agreed to be THE Hyssop, marjoram would have been known to the people of the biblical time and area.

Light The Yule Log!
 
NORAD's Santa Tracker for the family and children to watch Santa's Travels.

Marjoram is a member of the “oregano” family but with a big difference in flavor.

Marjoram:  Oregano’s Citrusy Cousin
by Catherine, The Herb Lady  - originally published in the East Valley Tribune September 25, 2004
     Many new-to-cooking or gardening get a little confused between Marjoram and Oregano.  It's not surprising.  Sweet Marjoram,Origanum majorana L. (formerly called Majorana hortensis Moench and sometimes called Majorana majorana L.) is from the same family as Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum),  and they both have relatives in the same Oregano family (Wild Marjoram is Origanum vulgare - not hirtum) and some of those relatives are called Marjoram and taste more like Oregano, and vis-a-versa. All are perennials from the mint family (Lamiaceae) many of which come from the Mediterranean area of the world, while Sweet Marjoram hails originally from Asia Minor (Turkey and Cypress).
     So what is the difference?  Sweet Marjoram has a sweeter, citrusy backnote rising from the essential oils Terpineol (Cardamon)and Sabinene (Star Anise, Cardamon, Lemon, Lime and the Lavadin branch of the Lavender family), and lacks the pungent, peppery bite of Greek Oregano (which comes from Carvacrol and Thymol - also found in Thyme and Savory).


Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_24.html

Day 25

Herb: Saffron, Crocus Sativus, Song of Solomon  4:14, “Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, With all the trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, along with all the finest spices. 15 "You are a garden spring, A well of fresh water, And streams flowing from Lebanon."

Christmas Day! The Day Jesus Christ was born and is celebrated, and the 1st Day of The Twelve Days of Christmas*

Luke
6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.7 And she gave birth to her first born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. . .9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, andthe glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring yougood news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in thecity of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

The Herb:
Saffron is an ancient spice beloved for both its flavor and value.  Made from the stigmas of the crocus flower,they must be hand-picked.  To glean 1 lb (450 g) of dry saffron requires the harvest of50,000–75,000 flowers.

The “Safflower” plant (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is considered a poor man’s Saffron substitute, as is Calendula flower, both used to brighten foods, but with out the real Saffron flavor.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_25.html


I mention that Christmas Day is the 1st Day of Christmas even though the commercial retailers and others choose any 12 days leading up TO Christmas, the traditional start of the 12 days IS December 25th and end on January 6th, Epiphany.  Sometimes called "Little Christmas" (our family celebrated this too), these 12 days are usually ended with a "12th Night Feast"

I did a separate set of blogs for the 12 Days of Christmas.  If you would enjoy those here is the link for a post with all of the 12 days post links.

List of 12 Days of Christmas Post Links


I hope you have enjoyed these posts.

Have a wonderful, peaceful and loving Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas!


-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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We Have A Winner! of My Basil Recipe Collection PDF

Dear Folks,

I am pleased to announce the winner of my contest is "HisGrace".

The winner has been notified and the PDF file sent and received.

Thank You ALL so much for participating in this of what I hope to be the first of  more Give-A-Way Sweepstakes.

I truly appreciated your entries and would ask for any observations or comments on the contest process to make it the most enjoyable for you in the future.

Have a best day,


-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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Give-A-Way Ends Tonight! Sunday, December 18th - LAST CHANCE

Dear Folks,

Last chance to enter. Even if you entered already, you can enter again (once each day) to increase your chances of winning.

The "Give-A-Way" -- My PDF of some of my favorite dozen recipes using Basil.

No purchase is necessary, just enter your email address and you are entered to win in this random drawing.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

The PDF has no pictures and no pictorial cover.  It is in black and white text, but the recipes are delicious! :-)

When the random winner is chosen I will email the winner and as soon as I get a return email confirming the winner's email is correct I will email the PDF to begin enjoying the recipes.

Good Luck and thank you for entering.

AND, I welcome observations on this contest.  I want to offer future fun things for you to have an opportunity to win.

-- Catherine, The Herb Lady


Disclaimer: Clicking on links on this blog may earn me a small commission if you purchase something. Your price does not change.

Days 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of 25 Days of December Herbal Celebrations!

Dear Folks,

I apologize for not getting this segment of my 25 days of Herbal Celebrations up on time.  Distracted with under-the-weather-days for us, and I lost track of where I was with this series.

Celebrating the Multicultural festivities of December, I thought I would pick an herb or spice which is referenced in the Bible (land of three of the Major Religions of the world) and used in many cuisines around the entire world, as a way of gathering together all the wealth of diversity around us - in true celebration.

A note about the herbs and spices I selected. There is agreement on some of the herbs (garlic, onion and mint for example) and some continuing discussion on which plant the Bible referred to.  After many years there is a consensus - although still discussed by some - that the Hyssop of the Bible is Syrian Oregano (Origanum maru).  Since Hyssop (Hyssopus officionalis) is not indigenous to the lands of the BIble but Syrian Oregano is, I have included it as the Biblical plant.

References to Hanukkah are listed in some of the posts but may not fall within the celebration time because the dates vary each year.

Day 15

Herb: Mint, Mentha from the Lamiaceae (Mint)family which includes its relatives such as Basil and Lavender.  Mentioned in the bible Matthew 23:23, Luke11:42 "But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”  Mint along with other herbs were so valued they were used as a form of currency.

"As for the garden of mint, the very smell of it alone recovers and refreshes our spirits" --Pliny the Elder

Meet The Neighbors – The Lamiaceae Family – The Mint Branch!
By Catherine, The Herb Lady - originally from my Newsletter  January 18, 2003
     Lamiaceae (formerly labiatae) is the well-known and well loved mint Family.  Botanically, the members of this family have a square stem, two-lipped flowers, and simple usually undivided leaves. Many are herbs such as lavender, basil, thyme, rosemary, and of course the mints--and it is the mints we will visit with today.
     As neighbors, mints are an old established family. Grandma planted them under an old leaky faucet, because they just love to playin the water!  One of the few herbs that likes its feet wet, mint needs damp (not wringing wet) soil and a bit of shade in the western summer afternoons.  Once established this family of herbs can easily take over the neighborhood. The incredible list of scents and flavors is due in part toits willingness to make new friends, i.e., plant two different side-by-side and you will eventually have a third kind--one reason for separating your beloved favorites to keep them really separated.  Cross-strains can produce wonderful results or something not quite so wonderful.

Read More Here
http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_15.html

Day 16

Herb:  Hyssop – of the Bible is generally recognized as Syrian Oregano Origanum syriacum aka Origanum maru, is native to the lands of the bible.  Leviticus 14:52 "He shall thus cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and with the running water, along with the live bird and with the cedar wood and with the hyssop and with the scarlet string. 53 "However, he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it will be clean."

Syrian Oregano is a superior culinary herb and can be usedin place of Greek Oregano Origanum vulgare.  Where Greek Oregano has a distinctive “bite”the Syrian is slightly sweeter, still having all of the culinary and medicinal properties of oregano.

If you have enjoyed the authentic Middle Eastern spice blend Za’atar, then you have tasted Syrian Oregano, known as “Za’atar in that region. The blend is a combination of ground sesame seeds, sumac berries (a specific plant -- Rhus coriaria -- known asthe “lemonade tree” for the tangy flavor of the ripe berries – not to be confused with poison sumac) and Syrian Oregano, and is the “go-to” blend for seasoning many dishes.  Many Za’atar blends substitute some form of Thyme for the Syrian Oregano.


Read More Here 
 http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_16.html


Day 17

Herb:  Garlic (Allium sativum) Numbers 11:5 “"We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt,the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic,”

Both regular garlic (Allium sativum) and elephant garlic (Allium empeloprasum) are members of the onion family.  Elephant garlic is not actually a "garlic" but rather a Leek on Steroids, and has a milder (some think too mild) garlic flavor. You can't see the leaves in the picture, but they are 'strappy' like leek and could be used to flavor foods.  In fact, even the stalk and leaves of either plant, which are generally disposed of after harvest, can be used to flavor soup, stews, and broths.

Other “named” garlics are Garlic Chives, aka Asian or Chinese Chives, Allium tuberosum, and Society Garlic, Tulbaghia violacea. Garlic Chives like onion chives are grown for their leaves and flowers to be used in cooking and has a milder garlic flavor.  Society Garlic is a totally different plant family and is grown for its beautiful orchid like flowers and leaves in cooking.  Society Garlic is said to have the Anti-Garlic affect on your breath.

Garlic is best known for its edible cloves contained in a ‘head’ which have from 6/8 and up to 14 cloves depending on the variety grown.


Read More Here
http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_17.html

Day 18

Herb:  Leek, Allium porrum, Number 11:5  "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt,the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic.”
The biblical reference aside, leeks have been recorded as early as 2000 BC.

The leek is one of the national emblems of Wales, worn along with the daffodil(in Welsh, the daffodil is known as "Peter's leek," Cenhinen Bedr) on St. David’s Day.The Welsh leek appeared on the coronation gown of Elizabeth II.  It was designed by Norman Hartnell; when Hartnell asked if he could exchange the leek for the more aesthetically pleasing Welsh daffodil, he was told no. -- wikipedia

Think of the leek as a scallion on steroids – bigger with strappy leaves.  The leek’s mild onion flavor lends itself well to many dishes where the onion flavor is desired but not as pronounced.

Easily grown from seed, it does take about 100 days from sowing to harvest time, so it is best to seed in every 2-3 weeks through end of February in the desert garden for a supply going into late spring.

My first sowing are usually right at peek (BIG – but can be harvested sooner) just in time for St. Patrick’s day feasting and making colcannon, a mixture of leeks, cabbage and potatoes that is just plain comfort food.

Read More Here
http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_18.html

Day 19

Herb:  Sage - (Salvia sp.) Jeremiah 18:18 – “Then they said, "Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the sage, nor the divine word to the prophet! Come on and let us strike at him with our tongue, and let us give no heed to any of his words."

The word Sage has long been used to denote a wise person.

2016 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Year of the Pulses, to celebrate all the great benefits of eating legumes.  See the references for beans in recipesbelow.http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52505#.VnA0ym7cYr0

The Bible describes the belief, even then, of the health value of eating pulses.

Daniel 1:12 --"Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.  13 "Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king's choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see."

During captivity, Daniel shows the benefits of eating only pulses (vegetables etc.) and water, so effective "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Fast

Sage, Salvia officinalis, is a member of the prodigious mint family (Lamiaceae formally Labiatae).


Read More Here
http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_19.html


Day 20

Herb:  Nigella, Nigella sp.   Isaiah 28:26, different translations of the Bible refer to Cumin, BlackCumin, or Black Caraway, which of God’s instructions for sowing and reaping.  25. Does he not level its surface And sow dill and scatter cummin And plant wheat in rows, Barley in its place and rye within its area? 26  For his God instructs and teaches him properly. 27 For dill is not threshed with a threshings ledge, Nor is the cartwheel driven over cummin; But dill is beaten out with a rod, and cummin with a club.

Two plants share the name Black Cumin, Bunium bulbocastanum and Nigella sativa. For the purposes of this post we will discuss Nigella, aka Love-In-A-Mist.

Nigella --Love-In-A-Mist (also called Black Onion Seed) is an unusual and striking flower, also called Black Onion Seed, and Black Cumin and used in East Indian foods.  The seeds smell like strawberries and taste like pepper, a most interesting spice.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_20.html


-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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January Planting Tips

Seed Starting in Jiffy Pellets

Dear Folks,

Time for my monthly planting guide for the desert southwest and USDA Zone 9b and above.

There is still time to enter my contest for a PDF copy of My Favorite Basil Recipes. 2 Days left.  Click below and enter your email address.  A random drawing will be held after the contest finishes and I will announce the winner and email the winner.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



JANUARY PLANTING:


My Personal New Year's Tradition is to Plant Potatoes!  That get's my "spring" gardening going and kind of closes out the major festivities.  So on New Year's Day I get them in, covered with mulch and give them a sprinkle of water.  I always step back and smile at the mound of leaf mulch I know hides the start of my potato patch.

SEED Selection:  Where possible choose short maturity (75 days or less) for maximum production.  Plant short rows in succession of veggies like carrots ( 2 feet at a time) to provide continuous harvest potential (can you really use 12 feet of carrots all at once?).  Also, start seeds like tomato, basil, eggplant and peppers indoors under lights or in a greenhouse to set out February 1st (with frost protection)

Anise
Asparagus
Beets
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Cabbage
Caraway
Carrots
Cauliflower
Chamomile
Chervil
Cilantro
Dill
Fennel, Leaf
Fruit, Bare Root
Fruit Trees
Garlic, Green (planting cloves for use as scallions through spring - they will NOT produce heads)
Greens (lettuce, kale, arugula, spinach etc.) 
Kohlrabi
Lavender
Lettuce
Marjoram
Mustard
Myrtle
Onions, Green
Oregano, Greek
Ornamental Cabbage/Kale (Brassica Oleracea)
Parsley
Peppers (seed)
Radishes
Sage
Savory
Shungiku Chrysanthemum
Spinach
Strawberry
Thyme
Turnips
Watermelon

EDIBLE FLOWERS TO PLANT:

Carnation (Dianthus)
English Daisy
Jasmine Sambac (Arabian)
Nasturtiums
Pansies
Primrose
Scented Geraniums (with protection)
Snapdragons
Stocks (Matthiola)
Sweet William (Dianthus)
Sweet Alyssum

GARDEN TIPS for January
    As we are nearing the end of the primary perennial planting season, I like to celebrate the start of the new year by planting at least one new plant on January 1st.
    Celebrate New Year’s Day by planting potatoes. (I like the purple ones because they are unusual and have more anti-oxidants.)
    November through January can be a ‘rainy’ season for the desert. You can usually hold off on regular watering if you have received a half inch or more of rain within 2 days of normal watering days.  Make good use of your water meter to determine soil moisture.
    If rains are heavy this month, in addition to foregoing some water days, you may need to put down Ironite or green sand to compensate for mineral bonding (which makes iron unavailable to the plants) due to both the excess water and the cold soil.
    Prune citrus and deciduous fruit trees no later than early January before flowering starts.  Shrub trees such as pineapple guava which bloom in late spring, need to be pruned later -- in April approximately.

WHY Edible Flowers? To attract pollinators to your fruit, herbs and veggies year round and to use as safe garnishes and additions to your dining table.

FROST damage:  Do not prune until danger of frost is over - the damaged plant protects the lower growth.

FROST/FREEZE NOTE: Have protective covers ready anytime the overnight forecast is 40 or lower.

FORCING BRANCHES

One of the delights of spring is the peach and apricot bloom time - clouds of light to dark pink flowers cover the ends of the tree branches with the bees busily doing their work.

Just as the tree's flower buds are starting open you can select a few branches to 'force' into bloom inside for a lovely arrangement.  I emphasize 'a few' because you will loose that potential fruit.

Select a branch and clip off 12-18 inches - arrange in a vase of room temperature water or slightly warmer, after re-cutting the branches under water.  You will be treated to a spring display as one another the flower buds are 'forced' to open in the warmth of your home.  Change or freshen the water each day - if you need to, re-cut the branch, under water, every several days to keep the moisture flowing up to the buds.

At the end of the display, add to the compost pile, or dry and use as kindling for the grill or firepit.

Check out my recipes for New Year's Day on my "12 Days of Christmas Post"

My 2017 Month-By-Month Planting Wall Calendar has similar information, at your finger tips, for each month




-- Catherine, The Herb Lady


Disclaimer: Clicking on links on this blog may earn me a small commission if you purchase something. Your price does not change.

December Pruning, January 1st Potato Planting, Still Time To Enter My Give-A-Way

Asparagus

Dear Folks,

I will be posting my monthly Planting Tips for January in a couple of days, but I wanted to give you a heads-up on some pruning you should be doing NOW.

When your asparagus looks like this, it is time to cut back to the ground.  The new spears will break ground the end of January, beginning of February.  Having the "feathers" grow all spring, summer and fall, means lots of energy to strong roots, which translates into more to harvest. 

Along with pruning the asparagus, Deane usually starts the deciduous tree pruning (apple, peach, apricot, plum and figs) this time of year to get it all done before the trees pop into bud in mid-to-late January.  Mild winters have seen blooms in early January, not a good thing.

Potato Planting

My tradition is to plant my regular potatoes (not sweet potatoes) on January 1st, which is my mental signal that the holidays are over and spring is around the corner.

The regular potatoes need the cool winter to grow nicely and are ready to harvest in late April - May for new potatoes.  If you have not grown potatoes here in the desert, russets are very difficult to grow as the heat in late spring causes the plants to go down, signalling time to harvest.  I always save some of the spuds and store in my frig for planting out next January 1st.

Starting Seeds for Later Transplanting

I am also jump starting some seeds for transplanting out on or about February 1st in a small greenhouse I decided to set up and use this year.

In the past when I have started seeds in December for plants like tomato, basil, eggplant, and pepper I have shuttled the trays back and forth into our laundry shed overnight - the water heater is in there, then drag them out during the day.  To minimize that work and have, in theory, more of everything started, I purchased a greenhouse late last year and actually got it set up last week.  It is the perfect size for me and I can open it up completely on nice days for air circulation - air circulation is critical in a greenhouse to avoid "sick greenhouse" issues.

Enter To Win A PDF Copy of My Favorite Basil Recipes PDF

Click below to enter.  The Give-A-Way (technically a sweepstakes with no purchase required) ends in 4 days.  Good Luck!


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-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

Disclaimer: Clicking on links on this blog may earn me a small commission if you purchase something. Your price does not change.

The Give A Way for My Collection of Basil Recipes Starts Tuesday, December 13th!

Dear Folks,

This is truly an experiment since I have never used this kind of software before.

 The "Give-A-Way" -- My PDF of some of my favorite dozen recipes using Basil.

The contest will run for about 1 week, I will let you know when it is near ending.  All of the timing and collection of data is done by the software system.  When the contest ends, the software randomly selects the winner and I contact you to let you know you won.  The PDF has no pictures and no pictorial cover.  It is in black and white text, but the recipes are delicious! :-)

When I receive your acknowledgement that my "you won" email is received by you, I send you the PDF file.

I welcome any and all comments and observations, as I truly want this to work and be successful, because I have plans to offer more give-a-ways in the future.

The contest begins tomorrow morning (December 13th) at 12:30 a.m.

I set it up so everyone can enter once a day until the contest ends, so you have multiple chances to win.

Good Luck!.

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-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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My First Give-A-Way Coming Up!

Dear Folks,

I am trying my first ever give-a-way opportunity for you.  I will post the appropriate link for you to click on to enter.  You do not have to buy anything.  Your email will be saved because 1) I have to notify you if you win, and 2) I may email you and ask if you would like to subscribe to my blog or like my facebook page.  ONCE and only once unless you ask me to keep you on a list.  Your choice.

The first give-a-way will be a PDF of a Collection of a Dozen Recipes using Basil which I started developing over 10 years ago.

When you are notified you won, your first name and last initial will be posted in the legally required winner notification here on my blog, website and/or facebook and twitter.

I will email you to let you know you won.  When you confirm I got your email correctly, I will email you the PDF file to enjoy and experiment with the recipes.

Since this is my first time using this program/software I would love to know your thoughts and observations.  The give-a-way will run for about a week.

-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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Days 11, 12, 13, and 14 of 25 Days of December Herbal Celebrations!

Dear Folks,

Celebrating the Multicultural festivities of December, I thought I would pick an herb or spice which is referenced in the Bible (land of three of the Major Religions of the world) and used in many cuisines around the entire world, as a way of gathering together all the wealth of diversity around us - in true celebration.

A note about the herbs and spices I selected. There is agreement on some of the herbs (garlic, onion and mint for example) and some continuing discussion on which plant the Bible referred to.  After many years there is a consensus - although still discussed by some - that the Hyssop of the Bible is Syrian Oregano (Origanum maru).  Since Hyssop (Hyssopus officionalis) is not indigenous to the lands of the BIble but Syrian Oregano is, I have included it as the Biblical plant.

References to Hanukkah are listed in some of the posts but may not fall within the celebration time because the dates vary each year.

Day 11

Herb:  Coriander (Cilantro seed) (Coriandrum sativum) Exodus 16:31  “The house of Israel named it manna, and it was like coriander seed, white, and its taste was like wafers with honey.” Numbers11:7  “Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium.”

The ancient Hebrews originally used cilantro root as the bitter herb in the symbolic Passover meal.

Cilantro is an herb that is known by two different names depending on whether you are talking about the leaf (cilantro) or seed (coriander).  Some cultures refer to both leaf and seed as Coriander.

Cilantro is probably one of the first herbs to be used by mankind, going back as far back as 5000 BC. It is mentioned in early Sanskrit writings dating from about 1500 BC.

WHAT IS FRESH, GREEN, TANGY, SPANISH AND ASIAN?
By: Catherine, The Herb Lady originally appearing in the East Valley Tribune October 25, 2003
       Cilantro! Coriandrum sativum comes to us by way of the Eastern Mediterranean or Asia Minor.Cultivation dates back to ancient Egypt.  This cool weather annual is also known as Coriander (for its edible seeds) and Chinese or Indian parsley. It is one of those herbs that has no gray areas--you either love it or hate it.  Its taste is described as fresh, green, tangy and sometimes citrusy. The leaves, stems, flowers, seeds (called fruits) and even the roots (in Thai cooking) are edible. A member of the Apaiaceae family which contains parsley (for which it is sometimes substituted) and Dill, it has a long taproot, and two types of leaves--a large flat leaf resembling parsley and a lacy fern-like leaf evidenced before it starts to flower.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_11.html


Day 12

Herb:  Lavender (called Spikenard in the Bible) Song of Solomon 4:14 (Nard)  Solomon Admires his Beloved  13 "Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates With choice fruits, henna with nard plants, Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, With all the trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, along with all the finest spices."  John 12:3  "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment."

Lavender, Lavandula is a member of the mint (Lamiaceae).

Lavendula (the Latin name is believed to come from "lavare" — to wash, (a possible reference to the ancient Romans’ habit of adding lavender to their bath water) Augustifolia, is an herb so versatile I call her the Queen of Herbs for this fascinating herb is used in cooking, teas, cleaning (it has antiseptic qualities), in cosmetics, as a headache remedy, and as a pest control (most bugs stay away from lavender). The fragrance is evocative — the fragrance of the fields of spring.

There are over 200 varieties that have been identified. The Augustifolia [English or French] or official lavenders, are the preferred varieties for cooking, but all are edible. As with other multiple variety herbs—some are more palatable than others.

One of its essential oils (linalool) is shared with other herbs including basil androsemary.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_12.html
 
Day 13

Herb: Cumin, Cuminum cyminum, Isiah28:27 “For dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, Nor is the cartwheel driven over cummin; But dill is beaten out with a rod, and cummin with a club”, Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

Cumin along with other herbs was so valued it was used as currency in the Biblical areas of the world. A member of the Apiaceae (carrot) family, it is from the East Mediterranean to India, and used in many culture’s cooking.  Cumin was introduced to the Americas by Spanish and Portuguese colonists (Wikipedia), and is widely used in Spanish, Asian and Middle Eastern foods.  Indeed most any of these culture’s savory dishes are enhanced with cumin.

Planting:
Growing Cumin is very similar to growing cilantro.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_13.html

Day 14

Herb:  Dill Anethum graveolens) a member of the carrot family, it is also the only member of its subspecies Anethum.  It is mentioned several times in the Bible, including references to it, along with other herbs, as a form of currency.

Isaiah 28:25 “Does the farmer plow continually to plant seed? Does he continually turn and harrow the ground? Does he not level its surface and sow dill and scatter cumin and plant wheat in rows, Barley in its place and rye within its area?”  See also Day 13 quote on Cumin.

Dill, the tangy and fragrant leaf and seed are widely used in everything from pickles, to vegetables, soups, stews and cooked meat dishes.  I can’t image a pantry without dill in it.

Planting:
Dill is easy to grow in the desert garden.  Start sowing seeds in early fall and plant every 2-4 weeks through January for successive harvesting and to ensure you can harvest seeds at the end of the season for use in cooking and to re-sow next fall.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_14.html

I hope you are enjoying these 25 days of herbal celebrations and that you are finding neat facts and ideas.

Have a best day in the garden and kitchen. 



-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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Let me tell you the story of the Bradford Watermelon Scar.

Dear Folks,

If you have been reading my posts for a while, you know I planted and have harvested a couple of Bradford Watermelons, and heirloom "discovered" several years ago growing in the backyard of the original grower's heirs.

To say this watermelon variety is worth every effort to grow it, is an understatement. The fruit, even under-ripe is incredibly sweet -- all the way through the white rind -- just amazing.  (You can use the white rind as you would a cucumber.)

Pictured is the comparison of the scar when we first discovered the damage and after harvesting the fruit.  Don't let the ugly appearance of the scar fool you, it is the same kind of damage branches rubbing on a growing fruit produces.  The fruit 'sealed' and 'healed' -- this is the story.  For the purpose of this collage, I flipped the harvest scar to show you the orientation.  The scar never changed - never got worse, only grew in proportion to the growing fruit.

You can read the my other posts here on my growing adventures.

First Bradford Harvest

Second harvest and I dropped it!

So on to the last Bradford Watermelon harvest of the year, November 27th we noticed the vine had suddenly collapsed. Time to harvest the remaining viable watermelon.

This one had a special place in my garden journey.  After discovering the fruit under some vine on October 12th, I placed a paper plate under it to protect from the soil-born bacteria which can rot the fruit.

4 days later we spotted damage to the fruit by a squirrel.  The little stinker had shown up rather suddenly and contemporaneously discovered our fruit!

We discussed the 'nature' of the damage and determined it was literally only skin deep, so I decided to let it continue growing - now with a chicken wire hat to protect it, and it worked perfectly.  (Check out my youtube channel for a couple of short videos on using chicken wire hats.)

When we notice the vine had collapsed on November 27th I harvested the last melon, the one with the scar.  Pictured you can see how much it had grown.

In the early pictures I was amazed at just how fast it was growing.  The first picture showing when we discovered the fruit and I slipped a paper plate under it, for ratios the plate is 9 inches wide, and the fruit is about 7 inches long.  4 days later the fruit was as long as the width of the plate.

When I harvested it using my hand and the subsequent baking tray I have the cut melon on, the fruit had reached about 15 inches long.

After I started cutting the melon I remembered the scar and took a photo to illustrate the original work of the squirrel and not invaded the fruit and merely remained a scar on the outside.  Not pictured clearly is that the scar thickened outside not inside the skin.

So really ugly scar amazingly delicious fruit, even slightly under-ripe.  It could have probably gone another couple of weeks, but I did not want to chance it since the vine had collapsed.

I will have seeds from the earlier and possibly this fruit in my seedbank.

. . .

>> eBundle coming in January - Watch for updates as they become available -- the eBundle will be available for one week only <<



Have a great weekend in the garden and kitchen!


-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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Days 7, 8, 9 & 10 of 25 Days of December Herbal Celebrations!

Dear Folks,

Continuing my re-posting of my 25 days celebrating herbs mentioned in the bible, here are days 7, 8, 9 & 10 featuring:

Dandelion, Sow Thistle, Horseradish and Sorrel

Celebrating the Multicultural festivities of December, I thought I would pick an herb or spice which is referenced in the Bible (land of three of the Major Religions of the world) and used in many cuisines around the entire world, as a way of gathering together all the wealth of diversity around us - in true celebration.

A note about the herbs and spices I selected. There is agreement on some of the herbs (garlic, onion and mint for example) and some continuing discussion on which plant the Bible referred to.  After many years there is a consensus - although still discussed by some - that the Hyssop of the Bible is Syrian Oregano (Origanum maru).  Since Hyssop (Hyssopus officionalis) is not indigenous to the lands of the BIble but Syrian Oregano is, I have included it as the Biblical plant.

References to Hanukkah are listed in some of the posts but may not fall within the celebration time because the dates vary each year

Day 7
Herb:  Dandelion, Taraxacum Officinale,  a bitter herb of the Bible

Hanukkah Continues - this site gives history, children's activities and more.
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default_cdo/jewish/Hanukkah.htm

The Bible does not specifically name Dandelion, but it is presumed to be one of the bitter herbs.  As often happens with historic writings, we can make some better than a guess about what constituted - in this and other instances - the "Bitter Herbs."  However, the dandelion is not only a probable Biblical plant considered as one of the "bitter herbs," but for centuries around the world this herb has been valued for food. -- Herbs of the Bible  By Allan A. Swenson

I am sure I was one of millions of children who plucked the bright yellow flowers to bring a bouquet to their mothers, or blew the delicate seed head and watch them float away.  A lawn-purist's nightmare, the Dandelion is again coming back to appreciation for all of its great culinary uses, and the pollinators love them too.

Dandelions are found on all continents and have been gathered for food since prehistory, but the varieties cultivated for consumption are mainly native to Eurasia.  -- wikipedia

Food:

The entire Dandelion plant is edible, known for its tonic properties and digestive aid.  The roots are roasted to make a caffeine-free coffee substitute.  The flower petals used to make a spring Dandelion Wine.  The leaves and flower buds are blanched or sauteed like spinach, or used raw in salads.

More of the Farmers Markets are carrying Dandelion greens along with other ancient lessor-known greens and vegetables.

Read more here
http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_7.html


Day 8
Herb:  Sow Thistle (Milk Thistle) Silybum Marianum) Genesis 3:18 - Bitter herb and associated with the Vrigin Mary.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception  celebrates the solemn belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary  It is one of the most important Marian feasts celebrated in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church celebrated worldwide.

Bodhi Day is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautauma (Shakyamuni), experienced  enlightenment.

Services and traditions vary amongst Buddhist sects, but all such services commemorate the Buddha's achievement of Nirvana, and what this means for Buddhism toda.  Individuals may choose to commemorate the event through additional meditation, study of the Dharma, chanting of Buddhist texts (sutras), or performing kind acts towards other beings. Some Buddhists celebrate with a traditional meal of tea, cake, and readings.

Food:  Like many wild plants younger leaves can be eaten in salads or at a pot herb.

The roots can be eaten raw or boiled and buttered or par-boiled and roasted. The young shoots in spring can be cut down to the root and boiled and buttered. The spiny bracts on the flower head were eaten in the past like globe artichoke, and the stems (after peeling) can be soaked overnight to remove bitterness and then stewed. The leaves can be trimmed of prickles and boiled and make a good spinach substitute or they can also be added raw to salads. - Wikipedia.

Sow thistles got their name because they were fed to lactating pigs. (Remember the old heuristic way of thinking? If you want to see like a hawk eat hawk eyes. If you want mama pigs to nurse better feed them plants with white sap.)  This site has some recipes to cook with sow thistle.   http://www.eattheweeds.com/sonchus-sow-thistle-in-a-pigs-eye-2/

Read more here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_8.html


Day 9
Horseradish

Horseradish, like other bitter herbs, is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but in modern times is used as a component of them.

Probably native to Southeast Europe and Western Asia, it is naturalized around the world, and what a good thing that is, for its wonderful additions to flavor and spicy up our food.

Planting and Harvesting:  Horseradish can be grown in our desert gardens, but the planting and harvest times are reversed.  It took me a couple of seasons to get this figured out.  Plant in the fall to late Winter and harvest in late spring/early June.  It takes a couple of years to get to a good enough size root to harvest, but you can use some of the peppery leaves anytime they are lush.  Just don't harvest too many - you want the leaves to feed those roots!  Leave some roots in the ground for next years growth.   Pictured is my plant this September, lush and green, and a harvest several years ago in June.  Note:  The roots won't grow as huge as you may find in the grocery store, but they are just as good tasting.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_9.html

Day 10
Sorrel Rumex (Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) Family) one of the herbs recognized as a Bitter Herb of the Bible, although not mentioned specifically.

Sparrows enjoying 1 of my sorrels.

There are three major varieties of Sorrel (Rumex):  broad-leaf (arrow head shaped leaf) (Rumex acetosa), French (Rumex scutatus), and red-veined sorrel (Rumex sanguineus var. sanguineus).  All have tastes that range from tangy / sour to bitter and are a lovely green for salads or cooking.  Most of the flavor comes from Oxalic Acid, also found in spinach and like spinach, should not be consumed in large quantities (People with arthritis or kidney stones should eat minimal amounts of sorrel because the high oxalic acid content can aggravate those conditions.).  I love the lemony flavor of my sorrel.  It is great in salads and cooking for the extra zip it gives.  Before the introduction of lemons in the Middle Ages, sorrel was used in cooking and to prevent scurvy due to its high Vitamin C content.

Plant:
I grow the Broad-Leaf and it is a wonderful herb in the garden, usually producing year-round, and will thrive for several years.

Growing certain types of greens in the desert garden can be challenging and most people who have grown sorrel have not had luck with it growing through the summer.  I found an afternoon shaded spot worked well to keep me in sorrel year-round. The growth is far more vigorous in the winter, but still produces enough during the summer for occasional use. (Pictured, the birds never paid any attention to the plant until I temporarily potted it to move it!)
Baker Creek has 3 types of sorrel seed for sale -- http://www.rareseeds.com/search/?F_Keyword=sorrel

Food:
Dandelion & Sorrel Salad
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/dandelion-and-sorrel-salad-with-paprika-stars-11700

This Recipe for A Chocolate Dreidel was too cute to pass up, even though not quite in the theme.
http://www.marthastewart.com/318045/edible-chocolate-marshmallow-dreidels
More recipe ideas for using sorrel.

Read More Here

http://edibleherbsandflowers.blogspot.com/2015/12/25-days-of-herbs-and-celebrations_10.html

Have a wonderful time in your garden and kitchen
 

-- Catherine, The Herb Lady

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