My 2014 Herb Experiments (+Giveaway)

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horizonherbs

My gluttonous seed-hoarding habits seem to be behind me now, or have at least calmed for a spell. This year I have abstained from impulse buys from swollen turnstile racks and I only placed one mail order this season. Of course, I say this having bought 40 packets of seed in Tucson, Arizona last June. It was too late then to start the bulk of those plants so in that sense they are new. That said, none of the seed I have purchased within the last year have been tomatoes, so I think I deserve at least a little pat on the back. Perhaps I will make myself a self congratulatory certificate that says, “For excellence in exercising a single ounce of restraint!”

Basil

Yesterday my single seed order of the season (Oh, but I am a martyr) arrived in my mailbox to a round of jumpy claps and shouts of joy. The “inspiration” behind this order came from my friend Margaret. She knows I have a special place in my heart for basil and had recommended checking out the selection at Horizon Herbs. Within minutes of getting off the phone with her I was on the website, ohhing and awwing over a collection of basil varieties that I had never heard of before. I could have ordered one of each, but again I dug deep and used both the power of my will and the lack thereof in my bank account to narrow it down to 6 packs. I chose:

  • African Tea Basil Set: Includes the varieties ‘African’ (described as “minty” and used medicinally for headaches, among other things), ‘Kivumbasi Lime’ (I was most intriqued by this basil, described as citrusy and smelling of kaffir lime), ‘Mtule’ (my recent dental problems made me interested in this one, which is used medicinally for dental pain), and since they were out of one type they sent ‘Mrihani’ as a replacement.
  • ‘Rama’ Tulsi: I have grown a few different tulsi basils, as well as others that have been referred to simply as ‘Holy’ basil. I find that they tend to be misidentified and it can get a bit confusing. That said, I decided to try this one because with its purple stems, it looked different from those I have grown. It is also listed as being the “highest in medicinal compounds.”
  • ‘Mrihani’ basil: I received two packets because one came as a replacement in the tea set. I am particularly taken with the toothy serration of this plant’s ruffled leaves and can’t wait to see it in my garden. It would make a wonderful ornamental plant should you choose not to grow it for culinary or medicinal purposes.

Sage (Salvia)

Moving onto another love, salvia, I choose 2 varieties that will go toward my life-long ambition to grow as many salvias as possible. Again, I had some difficulty narrowing it down, but realized that unless I plan to dedicate my small garden space to JUST basil and sage, I need to be reasonable about how many of each can be grown in a season. They are:

  • Black Sage (Salvia mellifera): I decided to try this one as an ode to my recent excursions in the dry regions of California.
  • Dominican sage (Salvia dominica): I love Clary sage, and this one is described as being similar, but even more aromatic. Sold. I plan to use this one to make a hydrosol. Last season I made hydrosol from the flowers of the clary sage that I grew from seed and nurtured over two seasons. Wonderful stuff.

And All the Rest

  • ‘Chilhuacle Negro’ Pepper: Another mildly hot hot pepper for me to try. I love the rich, chocolate-brown skin of this variety. I need to get these seeds started asap!
  • Chinese Mint (Mentha haplocalyx): Mint is another problem area for me. There are simply too many types to try! Described on the site as “the best new-to-us mint we’ve tasted in years”, I pretty much had to try it.
  • Dyer’s Chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria): It’s use is right in the name. Once again I am looking to expand my experiments in dyeing thread and fabric with plants and this seemed like a good fit.
  • Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum): The selling point of this one was its description as an excellent herbal tea. I drink A LOT of herbal tea throughout the year, including mixes made with various types of mint. I prepare them using mostly fresh leaves and flowers in the growing season, and I dry an abundance for use in the off seasons. So when I find something described as excellent for tea, how can I resist?
  • Peshawar Poppy (Papaver somniferum var. album): A white flower with an extraordinarily-sized seedpod? Yes please. Thankfully these have arrived while there is still time to sow.
  • Yunnan Chickweed (Stellaria yunnanensis): Common chickweed (Stellaria media), is a nutritious green that is also considered a weed. I allow it to flourish in my garden for use fresh in salads. The Yunnan chickweed is like nothing I have ever seen before. The roots are the part that is consumed. I hope I can get a crop this year.

Giveaway

There are two ways to win and two winners:

1. I will purchase for one winner your choice of one of the basil seed sets from Horizon Herbs.

All you have to do to enter is tell us in the comments about something new that you plan to grow from seed this year. (If you are feeling shy simply go ahead and write “Count me in” instead and you’ll be entered.)

One winner will be drawn randomly after entries close at midnight on Thursday, April 17, 2014 and informed by email.

2. I will draw a second winner from the newsletter list so you double your chances if you head over there and sign up You are already entered if you are currently on the list.

Please note: This giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the Continental US only.

Disclosure: The seeds shown in this post as well as the giveaway were paid for by me and are not sponsored by Horizon Herbs. I do not have a business relationship with them of any kind. Please see my current Publication Policy
for more about my commitment to transparency.

Gayla Trail
Gayla is a writer, photographer, and former graphic designer with a background in the Fine Arts, cultural criticism, and ecology. She is the author, photographer, and designer of best-selling books on gardening, cooking, and preserving.

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266 thoughts on “My 2014 Herb Experiments (+Giveaway)”

  2. Epazote! Looking forward to having my own supply of this hard-to-find Mexican herb.

    Thanks for this giveaway!

  3. My new garden additions are also from Horizon! (I live just 30 minutes from them, and you would love their grounds — you’d love Richo, the owner, too)

    The newbies are spilanthes and borage. Enjoy your Rama tulsi!

  5. I’m growing all of my garden from seed this year! It’s only the second season I’ve grown from seed, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. My Green Sausage tomatoes are doing particularly well, as is my dwarf kale. :)

  6. Sweet Chocolate Pepper and Bulgarian Carrot Hot Pepper. New seeds I purchased this year from The Cottage Gardener. So excited!

  7. Growing Marglobe tomatoes! My Grandmother planted this in the spring of 1939! Found this mentioned in a diary we found this past year!

  8. The co-conspirator convinced me to try peanuts this year. Might be iffy this far north but I’m feeling adventurous

    • Every year I think I will do peanuts and then I never do. Hard to find the space for them. But it’s so cool how they grow… I want to see it. Let me know if yours work out.

  9. I’ve cleared out a sunny spot in my yard so I’m going to try some beautifully coloured swiss chard! Hope it will be a colourful addition to my usual beans, peas, and lettuces!

  10. Trying the same tomatoes, peppers and squash from Native Seed Search as last year, but this year trying yellow lemon cucumbers and cinderella pumpkins too. Hopefully this year have better luck with the squash vine borers.

  14. New for me this year, from seed, are Blue Celeste Sweet Peas, German Johnson tomato, Indigo Rose tomato and Laurentia (an annual). So far all have sprouted in the propagation trays inside the house, under grow lights and near the warm boiler unit and water heater. Dozens of other plants are growing from seeds as well, but they’re not “new” this year, they’re old standbys.

  16. Trying out some new mini bell peppers this year (sadly, none of my Chinese five-colour hot peppers have sprouted), and a few different varieties of greens/veg (spinach, mustard, radish, beets) and even a grain…red amaranth.

  17. This is the first time I’m starting pretty much everything from seed! Flowers and veggies and herbs. I was a very reluctant gardener, but I missed my mom’s fresh picked tomatoes and jumped into it last year. I was successful with starts, now I’m trying to work with seeds! I can’t even decide what I’m most excited about…

  18. I’m growing a bunch of new stuff this year — broccoli, soybeans, carrots to name a few!

  19. This is only my second year of gardening, so I’ve got lots of new things I’m growing. I’m especially pleased with how the California natives I’m growing for my front garden are coming along.

  20. This is my first year growing yellow crookneck squash. It’s one of my favourite things from the farmer’s market, so I hope I am successful!

  21. I’m expanding into the world of kales because my new garden is mostly filtered sunlight. Not shade, necessarily, but certainly not full sun. I’m expecting a very poor tomato harvest.

  23. Everything is new for me! Ambitious first-time gardener. Most excited for my herb garden and mints

  24. Just moved into a new backyard garden and going all out! This year I’m trying out some new tomato and pepper varieties along with asparagus, squash, cucumbers and more!

  27. I’m currently trying to sprout Salvia mexicana “Limelight” seeds that a friend collected from his plants. Beautiful bright green bracts and blue-purple flowers!

  28. Sadly I am growing all new varieties of tomatoes from seed this year. Fusiarium resistant hybrids because we found out last year our soil is riddled with fusarium! All of our lovely heirlooms struggled…

  29. Trying to start some in the greenhouse now. Thinking that I’ll try beets for the first time this year.

  30. I’ll be trying watermelon this year because one of my kids picked it out. We’ll see how it does!

  32. Radishes will be new in my balcony garden this year, as well as marigolds and nasturtiums!

  34. I purchased some stinging nettle seeds, to make natural antihistamine tea. NONE of the seeds sprouted. Today I was outside cleaning up last year’s containers, and lo and behold. Stinging nettle was growing wild in three of them. D’oh!

    • Ha! I’m so glad you got some. Every spring I forage elsewhere for my yearly stinging nettle crop, but this spring I found some coming up in one of my raised beds.

  36. I ordered seed for both cumin and black cumin from seedsavers exchange. Cumin is I spice I use frequently so I am excited to see how these compare to the typical grocery store shelf cumin. I also planted the hibiscus used in my favorite Celestial Seasoning’s Tea. We will see if it has time to mature and put on blooms.

  38. Lots of new things for me this year: cucumbers, tomatoes, peanuts, lavender and purple basil, which i discovered while reading your books. Oddly enough, I had never seen purple basil before!

    • I think I am very fortunate here in Toronto as we seem to have access to plants that I don’t see when I visit other cities. The purple varieties are my favourite for drying. They taste better. Have fun!

  40. This year I’m going to try and grow my tomatillo plants from seeds I saved from last year.I’m also growing little sugar baby watermelons again, they were so good last year, so im going to plant a BUNCH of seeds this year! Love your blog by the way!

  42. This is my year of seeds! I’ve not had much luck starting seeds in Arizona- I think I’ve waited until it’s too hot. This year I started earlier and started the indoors. They are popping like crazy now! All kinds of flowers, tomatoes & cilantro. I’m most excited about the Hollyhocks and peonies and, although not from seeds, I’m having luck with the bareroot hydrangeas I ordered. Very exciting things happening in my yard this spring! It is especially exciting as we pretty much only had dirt in our backyard until last spring! Our “healing garden” has taken bloom!

  43. I’m growing a bunch of new things (to me) from seed this year: celtuce, podding radish, tong ho…oh, and Mexican sour gherkins that I think I read about here.

  50. Unfortunately, I just moved into an apartment, which means I can’t grow nearly the same number of things I used to! This year, I’m thinking of growing some more unusual indian herbs from seed — including methi, which smells absolutely amazingly.

  52. We are going to try our hand at watermelon this year! So, so excited to get back outside after the long, cold winter.

  53. New plants i’m growing from seed would be flowers, corn, kale, rhubarb, and a few herbs like lavender and rosemary. We’ll see how it grows!

  54. This year I’m growing Vietnamese coriander from seed for the first time. I just started them last week and am anxiously awaiting the little sprouts!

    • Do you mean Rau Ram (Persicaria odorata)? I’ve never tried them from seed. Gorgeous plant. If you have trouble with the seed and live in an area with an Asian supermarket, I suggest buying some there and rooting the cuttings.

  55. Flanders and California Orange Poppies…me, my family and my friends have suffered through a lot of loss these past few months….figured a flower that represents ‘remembrance’ was most fitting for the garden this year :)

  56. Trying Oca (not from seed, but from root) Pepino Dulce from cuttings, Sweet Corno di Toro Rosso Peppers from seed and Papayuela from seed in my ‘greenhouse’ like guest room. Good times! Small greenhouse type enclosure this year to try and get my melons to work a little better.

  57. Everything this year is new! I’m particularly excited about the radishes. I chose them for their cold-hardyness as well as their short roots for container growing. However, I’m curious to see if they will be spicy or mild or somewhere in between.

  58. I am planting love in a puff and nigella for the first time. I purchased the seeds gathered and packaged from the children’s botanical garden in my area in the fall- and they are all coming up in my cutting garden.Thanks for the chance to win some more seeds.

  59. I’m very excited! I’m growing borage and chamomile from seed for the first time!

    Well, technically, this is my second try with chamomile. The first try not a single seed sprouted. This time nearly all did!

    Count me in. :-)

  62. I’ve got spinach seeded out on the balcony as the sleet falls right now. We tried it last year but had no luck due to the lack of a spring. Pretty much went from last frost to too hot in a week. Hoping I’ve got in early enough to have a chance this year!

  64. This is the first year I have my own garden (not my parents’). I’m a little nervous at what I’ve taken on, but I’m hoping everything sprouts. I’ve planted seeds for scarlet runner beans, green beans, peas, rainbow carrots, and lettuce in the bed, and started basil, marjoram, and catnip two months ago inside. I have no idea what I’m doing! Ha.

  65. I’m growing a bunch of new things this year. Four new tomoates, krim, marvel stripe, tangerine, and early girl. Yellow strawberries. Purple and Thai Basil. Sunset peppers. Chocolate daisies. The list goes on and on!

  66. I’ve wanted a veggie/herb garden for ever! Living in apartments haven’t made it easy. This year (though I bet I’m late at starting) I want to try a balcony garden since my balcony is quite big! Not too sure where to start but since finding your website I’m eager to try!

  67. Thanks for the giveaway! I want to try to grow habaneros. I haven’t ever had much luck with peppers.

    • Have you grown in pots? I don’t know what your climate is like, but I find that container growing eliminates issues with too much water, soil with poor drainage, and also makes it possible for you to move the plant into the sun that it needs.

  68. Some ordinary basil and lots of rosemary. So many of my perennial herbs didn’t make it through the winter. Also the “right” kind of sorrel. Thanks for the giveaway.

  70. like so many others who commented, this is my first time growing anything. I’m starting a small container garden on the roof of my apartment. Started seeds for two varieties of dwarf tomatoes (whippersnapper and black cherry) and jalapeno peppers. So far so good.

  71. I’ve finally put together a little grow light system so am a little more ambitious this year – new plants include lots of beneficial and medicinal herbs like marshmallow, evening primrose, yarrow, stevia (which I usually buy as transplants), lavender (first time from seed!), and more! I’m evening growing dandelion – intentionally! :)

    • Some do it in late fall/early winter. I sow mine in the early, early spring. Usually earlier than this, but until recently the soil was covered in a thick lake of ice.

  73. I’m growing a new tomato variety (it’s new for me!) called Dolly – it is apparently an heirloom beefsteak. I tasted this tomato last year and was determined to have plenty this year – well, to make a valiant effort anyway!=)

  74. I’m growing Butterfly Weed and California Bluebells . I’ve also set up a house for the Mason Bee as I’m hoping to attract pollinators.

  75. I’m growing chamomile from seed. Hope for it to make its way into some nice teas and will use it for infusing oils for body products!

  76. With a brand new house and not set up to grow, there will be some “potted” herbs. The one that I want to start this year is Lovage, but after I get my gardens in place, there will be many. I love this idea of hydrosols! That sounds like something we’ll have to try….

    • We LOVE our loofahs! They’re also one of the only cucurbits to not get affected by all the pests and mildew, so they make a good squash crop when they’re little – though they’re a good cash crop if you grow them for sponges and sell them, so we tend toward that instead.

  78. I didn’t exercise the same restraint and I ordered one of each of the tomatillo varieties from Native Seeds/SEARCH since last year my husband and I decided tomatillos are a must have in the garden; thankfully they only have 4 varieties so it didn’t hit the wallet too hard. So we will be growing new this year some awesome native varieties of tomatillo: Tarahumara, Tepehuan, Zuni, and Mountain Pima. My husband is also trying to grow chayote this year over the carport in hopes that it will provide a squash-like harvest (squash is hard to grow here with the mildew and caterpillars) and will also help provide a cooling effect if it grows rampant over the house.

  79. I’m trying some different kinds of tomatoes and growing some cucumbers and green beans for the first time.

  80. I’m trying lots of things! I tried winter sowing for the first time, and am seeing how it will work for tomatoes, delphinium, agastache, aquilegia, amongst others. I also am experimenting with direct sowing corn poppies, Queen Anne’s lace, globe thistle and other things in one section of the garden. Definitely trying to be adventurous this year, and use some of the seeds I have hoarded over the years.

    • It’s my first attempt at winter sowing too! I’m putting in a butterfly garden, with plenty of interest for birds and bees, too. Probably the most unusual plant I am attempting is honeywort. The seeds have been successful indoors…now to keep them alive until frost danger is past!

  81. I really want to grow EVERYTHING from seed this year but im moving to a new place in may with no balcony so I will have to be pickier than originally planned. I’d love to grow Kale, thats something I had never even considered before. I believe it’s a colder weather plant though? I’m so behind, moving is no friend to plants!

    Emily

  82. I’m trying to grow tomatoes, cilantro & mint for the first time. It’s my 2nd year of having a garden. This website has been very helpful, so thanks!

  83. I just moved and have to start my whole garden again from scratch! (I was able to move a few plants with me, but not nearly as many as I would like.) I have added collard greens to our usual mix of veggies and greens this year, am attempting new varieties of cucumber and tomatoes, and bought seeds for morning glories, which my grandmother always grew but I have not yet attempted.

  85. I’m trying my hand at lemon cucumber and padron peppers this year. Thanks for a lovely giveaway!

  86. Just moved to an apartment and will be doing some container gardening, but nothing new unless I find another variety of lettuce to try. The basils would be fun-I’m mostly sticking to herbs this year that I hope to bring indoors to overwinter.

  87. Broccolini.
    Also, giant sugar beets. I like to grow freaky vegetables “just because”. I already have a customer for sugar beets: my friend’s rabbit. If they won’t be eaten by wild rabbits, that is.

  88. Count me in! I don’t usually have much success growing from seed. But I’ll never give up. It’s in my DNA. My grandfather had a garden, my dad had a garden, now I WILL have a garden, too. My lettuce was a success last year, so there is hope for me yet :)

  89. I would really like to grow cilantro from seeds. I haven’t done much seed growing before so we’ll see how it goes! But I’m excited to have a sunny balcony, and your book You Grow Girl, to play with and make a garden this year!

  90. New to me this year will be Mexican sour gherkins, agretti, spigariello and padron peppers. I know a couple of those were inspired by your blog….

  91. I’d love the Tulsi set! New to the garden this year is symphytum officinale. I successfully germinated seeds that were purchased from Horizon. Love them!

  93. New this year is Baker Creeks African Wild Melon Mix. I have no idea what I’m going to do with them, but how could I resist the weird spiky little fruits?

  95. This year I’m trying companion planting with beans and tomatoes in our in-ground garden to help with putting the nitrogen back into the soil that’s being used and a variety of veggies in pots as another garden. I’m super excited! Parisian carrots, scallions, and garlic being some of the new varieties. :)

  98. I’m trying out some savoy cabbage and a variety of broccoli and cauliflower. I’m also hoping this new batch of pepper seeds will result in actual peppers, and not just a huge plant of….nothing…

  101. Last year was the first time I’d tried to grow anything on my Toronto balcony and I loved it, therefore I’m not sure exactly what I want except tomatoes, cucumbers and onions.

    I’d love to try growing some Tea as being from Scotland a good cuppa is an important part of the day!

    My rule of thumb is to try new types each year until I find something I just can’t give up. :)

  102. I’m interning at a bed and breakfast, and the owner and I are attempting to start some herbs from seed this year for the breakfasts! I’ve also just started some lil seeds of my own for the first time on a windowsill (:

  103. Starting a new garden in Ottawa this year…just moved from Toronto. Super excited to start some sugar baby watermelon seeds!

  104. one of my daughters chose a packet of nasturtium seeds this year, which we’ve never grown before… I’m pretty excited, I haven’t even told her the flowers are edible yet, that’s going to be fun!

  105. We’re trying some grain amaranth “golden giant”, some quinoa “cherry vanilla”(I hear this is hard to grow though, so we’ll see), some seeds from my grandparent’s ground cherries, and a melon called “Minnesota midget”. Also some perennial flowers, which my in laws killed last year when I left my precious seedlings with them. :( I’m also trying a cherry tomato called “Isis candy”…which the feed store guy talked me into. I understand your seed splurges…he didn’t have to try hard. :)
    Just barely finally melted the snow here, drooling at your green lovely plant photos!! Can’t wait to get growing!

  106. This year I’m set to try asters and poppies. My grandpa used to grow poppies in the garden to harvest the seed pods, which I relished as a kid. Those really fresh poppy seeds directly from the pod have a flavour that I still remember… Also, last couple of years I grew green kohlrabi, but this year I’ll grow purple.

  108. I’m trying several new things this year, including: eggplant, zucchini, spaghetti squash, and melon!

  110. In my previous comment about borage – I seeded it directly outside.

    So, I’m starting Calendula inside hoping for a better success rate than I did with direct sowing last year.
    As for new – plantain – this first batch did not take at all – the second batch has something growing … hopefully plantain!
    I’m going to go with the volunteer dandelion and the perennial comfrey that I planted and then uprooted (after I thought it would take over), and then planted again.
    I got the Jumpstart growlight – it’s working well – hoping for non-scrawny tomato plants.

  111. This year is the first time I will grow squashes. I have both summer and winter squash seeds that I bought and saved, but I have never grown them. So wish me luck.

  112. Last year I tentatively tried out some tomatoes on my balcony, not expecting anything much to happen. I made some sub-irrigated planters in a fit of ambition, and by August, was harvesting handfuls of tomatoes from two plants! I saved seeds using your guide, so I’ve got some of those little tomato seedlings going, a tomato called Czech bush, another called Baxter’s bush, cilantro, habanero, and sweet peppers! I’m so excited, I always thought you had to have a special talent to grow things, but it turns out you really just need earth, water and sunlight. Your blog has given me a lot more confidence! Thanks!

  114. Besides my large supply of backstock I managed to pick out a few new seeds. This includes Delphinium, which is a flower and seed that I’ve never seen in person. I started a few inside and they’re already getting big. I can’t wait to see how they turn out and hope to find tall blue spikes lining my boring old fence. I’m also retrying cactus from seed (my first and last attempt had been unsuccessful). Cactus is tough because some have such a long germination period. I had a hard time deciding if I was still watering anything at all a month after I started them. Hopefully this attempt will be more successful. Thanks for sharing!

  115. I don’t think I’m growing anything new from seed this year. We just moved in November and my gardening efforts have had to shift from a mix of containers and in-ground gardening to containers only (and a much smaller area to put them in) so I’m trying to work my way through my existing collection. There’s always room for more basil, though. Probably?. Walkways don’t have to be completely clear of pots, right?

  118. I plan on trying some heirloom tomatoes, the hillbilly and old german. Also looking for lime basil and lemon thyme to try this year.

  119. Some funky colored carrots! I’ve never grown carrots before, so I’m hoping they will work in a container.

  120. I am planning to try yacon this year after reading about tubers from a Way to Garden. I have also been the recipient of wooden wine boxes which shall become my herb gardens for annual herbs. So yay to many kinds of basil!

  121. I’m back in the Pacific Northwest of the US after spending five years in the South. It’s great to be home, but I am going to miss the near year-round gardening I could do in North Carolina. So, my garden this year isn’t exactly “new”, but a re-training of what I can and cannot grow during a shortened growing season.

  124. I’m trying to grow white tomatoes for the first time (I had no ounces of restraint and bought 6 new-to-me varieties) and lime basil. I have a tomato, basil, and pepper seed addiction.

  125. I’ll be trying zucchini squash from seed this summer! I have never attempted growing any squash in my garden, so this will be my first go at it! I hope the results are good. So far all my leafy greens and herbs started from seed in late winter are growing nicely now and enjoying the spring sun. I’m looking forward to summer!

  126. This year I’m trying dragon tongue beans. I have no idea what I’ll do with them, but a friend recommended them and they look way more fun than traditional green beans! Maybe this will be the year I try pickling beans, who knows!

  130. My french Charentais melons just sprouted yesterday, I don’t have space for them but I couldn’t resist. I’ll try them on a trellis.

  131. I’m feeling quite adventurous this year and starting, spinach, beets, nasturtium and delphiniums from seed. So far so good, the seedlings have sprouted!

  134. Most of what I’m growing this year is new to me, because I’m starting a farm! (Possibly this is a bad plan…) I’m growing herbs and cut flowers for sale, and I’m especially excited to try growing white sage, anise hyssop, and larkspur. If they work out. I could really use some more diversity as my farm budget couldn’t accommodate every unusual herb I wanted to try out!

  135. I am trying Chervil and Borage this year! I am excited to see how they do in my garden. I am also planting Marigolds in with all of my herbs and vegatables to see if it truly does help keep the bugs away :)

  136. Arugula from seed for the first time this season and a “cut flower” seed mix that I plan to let overtake a section of my garden bed. Also repeats from last year are:green onion, lettuce mix, spinach, pole beans, marigolds and nasturtium.

  138. I’m planning on growing “pickles” aka cucumbers from seed this year, thanks to a request from my son…

  139. We are planting Popcorn this year, we did this many years ago, so its like starting from fresh. We are hoping for great results, and plan to give as Christmas presents… if all goes well! Wish us luck.

  140. this year I am planting three new winter squash varieties, three kinds of potatoes, Chinese greens, and indigo for my dye pot in addition to all the vegetables and berries and fruits that are my standard fare here in my Montana gardens. Bee balm, Echinacea, flax, hollyhocks, sunflowers, poppies, roses, salvia and lupine keep the bees and butterflies busy and the birds love the seeds through the winter…I do not cut all things back leaving a bit of winter grain for those birds that stick around.

  142. My plan is to start leeks this year but I am afraid that I might be too late to start them indoors, even in Newfoundland. I am also growing gigantic sunflowers so I can make a fort for my 2 year old. I think he would like that. The culinary basil set from Horizon Herbs looks very interesting. And thanks for introducing the company here. I am always on the lookout for ethical seed suppliers.

  143. I am growing goards this year to honor my late grandfather. He made birdhouses out of them, which I will do too.
    My autistic daughter loves animals in the garden so this year, she will have her own flower garden ( for birds, bees & butterflies) .
    Also, I have 18 tomato plants that I grew from seeds. They are another ‘first’ for me. I gave two away to the little girl next door .
    I love herbs and with all the tomato plants, I can use more Basil!

  144. Radishes…Watermelon Radishes, specifically. They just looked so pretty in the picture I couldn’t resist. And several new varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Just because.

  145. There are two new things for me this year. Hyssop is the first. I just love the flowers. Also, I’m growing pickling cucumbers because I’m going to enter the wonderful world (I hope) of preserving.

  146. I will be growing a Tomatillo from seed this year, and I am super excited. Also I am determined to grow some foxglove from seed this year as well in hope of a cottage garden feeling around my vegetable garden. I am excited for what this year will bring!

  147. As a child my father “did” the garden. As a married woman, my husband “did” the garden. This year he is too busy to take care of it and was going to leave the beds empty :( , so this year I am going to “do” the garden. Since I have never planted before, I was going to buy starters from our local nursery, however, for your challenge, I will try to grow from seed some Hatch Green Chili from the pods I bought from them last year. Very nervous, but, I might be pleasantly surprised!

  148. No veggies, alas. I’ve given up due to deer and rabbits. But a post on Magaret Roach’s blog sent me to Select Seeds where I ordered flower seeds. New to me are chinese foxglove, clary sage, and verbena bonariensis.

  149. I, too, especially love all sages and salvias—have planted too many to name! I’ve also planted red poppies from seed. I’d love to win!

  151. New things I am trying from seed this year: ground cherries, sage, kohlrabi, and Korean hot peppers.

  152. I have always wanted to plant ‘fill-in between the flagstone’ creeping thyme but the cost was way too much for plants. So this year I am attempting to grow from seed ‘mixed creeping thyme-thymus serphyllum sp’. I started 36 cells with over 250 seeds,yesterday. I found this cool garden source that specializes in thymes & hops -web site-www.thymegarden.com. I also am going to try for the first time growing hops, I love the aroma of fresh hops. Definitely will have a lot of fragrance this year if all goes/grows to plan…

  153. I plan to grow giant Mammouth Sunflowers from seed this year. This is my first time growing sunflowers and I have a perfect sunny location on the side of my house where I plan to grow them. I also plan to save the seeds from my flowers once they are done this summer so I can utilize them next year!

  155. I grow new varieties of OP tomatoes and peppers each season….but this season the new seeds I am most excited about growing are White Sage!!! I will be using the foliage for smudging and I am so totally stoked about it.

  156. I’ve started eight new varieties of tomatoes from seed this year. I like trying new ones, always looking for that “perfect” variety that is disease resistant, prolific, and tastes the very best.

  157. This spring for the first time I have Nasturtiums I have started growing from seed. I started them in February and now they are in my flower beds blooming. They are all bright red-orange. Another plant I have started for the first time from seed is Sage and I’m really happy about that since in the past I have had to purchase the plant. I live in Florida so the seasons are a bit different.

    • I love reading how other gardeners are reveling in blooming flowers!!! I am in Minneapolis, MN and the weather today is —- windchill 21. Cold. Nothing blooming in my garden — darn it — but in a few more weeks: joy.
      Thanks for making me smile and envious at the same time.
      Happy blooming to you.

  158. Sorrel and Love Lies Bleeding are my two of my new seed choices. I have to wait a bit, but I can hardly wait.

  162. Oh I’m also growing some avocado trees from seed! Not positive I’ll get fruit from them since they’re from the grocery store, but it’s worth trying! One already has it’s big boy leaves!

  163. I’ve got foxglove that we started from seed…very excited about this addition to my medicinal garden…those herbs w/b nice in there too!

  164. My husband’s supervisor gave him some hot pepper seeds from a relative in India. I have started them and will try this year. They are supposed to be mildly hot with a lot of flavor. I also try a new tomato every year, this one being an heirloom from Iraq.

  165. I am growing garlic from seed/bulbils and also cobea scandens, my favorite vine. Also trying to spread my winter aconite by scattering the seeds from spent flower heads.

  169. I was tempted to just say ‘count me in,’ but my mother and I are determined to grow most of our garden from seed this year. The most adventurous of these being Malabar and Strawberry spinach, and Japanese indigo (as a dyestuff and as a bee-plant. The bumblebees love it!).

  174. This year I started a bunch of veggies from seed including peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, herbs, asian greens, red orach, rocky top salad mix, beets, carrots, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, melons, corn and kohlrabi.

    I never before grown anything besides peppers from seed. I just decided to go for it this year! =)

  175. Five new varieties of tomato: Carbon, Giant Syrian, Indigo Rose, Juliet (because of Margaret’s recommendation), and Hahms Gelbe Topftomate (because of your recommendation).

  177. On a whim I purchased PINEAPPLE BASIL last year – and it tuned out to be wonderful. Plan on purchasing seed for different types of herbs this year — have dedicated another area of my garden just for them. Basil and sage are my favorites – and am going to give spearmint a try. Wish me luck. bls

  178. I’m *hoping* to start some flowers from seed this year, but I can’t decide which ones. I have a limited number of containers, haha. I usually only grow herbs and veggies, so flowers are new to me.

  179. I have attempted to start perennial sweet peas, lavender and a variety of peppers so far this year, all for the first time. I had to put the lavender seeds in the fridge for a month. They have sprouted! So have the sweet peas. All but one of the 5 varieties of peppers have sprouted as well. I have not given up on the last set. Really looking forward to getting out and into my garden. Living in Bancroft, my garden is still snow covered. That has not stopped me from setting up seedlings. Come spring. Come.

  180. This year I am attempting to grow a few types of corn, sweet peas, and scarlet runner peas. All from seeds sew in the yard — so I am excited each morning to go out and see if anything has sprouted. Would love to add to my basil collection, I also LOVE trying all different kinds.

  181. I just planted lemon basil, which is new for me. But my big goal is an entire raised bed of green beans this summer.

  182. Found a lovely little gourd called “Nest Egg” and it looks just like a white egg! I thought it might be fun to paint them next year.

  183. I have started inside a new chipotle pepper & another one named ‘Chocolate Pepper’, both organic from Salt Spring Seeds on Vancouver Island. Most things are up inside under my fluorescent lights , florence fennel, onions, leeks, eggplant, different kinds of brocolli etc. And outside my peas, broadbeans are up & leeks, onions, garlic, kale over wintered.

  185. Count me in! I’m going to try growing some tomatoes from seeds I saved from last year’s harvest!

  186. I’m trying many new things from seed, but especially some new herbs — rue, mugwort, shiso, dyer’s chamomile, hyssop, anise hyssop, stridolo, lovage, oh gosh. There’s just too many, and then I dig around your blog looking for other oddities to try!

    I love Horizon Herbs so much, and am planning a trip down to Williams this summer to visit friends, but I also really want to visit their farm!

  187. I’m trying beets and green onions from seed this year! And I’m so thrilled because we now have a house with a yard for a GARDEN!!!

  188. It’s so fun to read what everyone is trying this year.
    We want to try to start a meadow, so wildflowers will be a big deal. And I also have some San Marzano tomatoes and Genovese Basil. I got some purple Tai basil at the asian store. I may try some cuttings from those.

  189. Atomic Red carrots, Cherokee Trail of Tears bush beans and I’m going to try Silver Sage for a second season this year.

    Yay for seedlings!

  191. I am trying two different kinds of tomatoes that have been developed for growing in Hawaii /tropics. Had great success making tea with a handful of lemon balm leaves and some sprigs of lime basil – I like it best over ice. I have two huge stands of lemon grass but the tea from the leaves tastes so “grassy”! Being a basil addict also, I am trying some blue spice basil seeds from Ramona’s Garden and also some clary sage.

  192. I live in Southern California, and I am going to try growing Orange Jing Okra! It looks like it will be pretty and I hope tasty!

  194. I live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. New to me this year will be a Cossack pineapple plant.

  195. New to my garden this year is black beauty eggplant and zuccini squash! I’m very excited and can’t wait to taste them fresh from my own garden. gar

  196. I am growing some seeds of the loofah gourd plant, which is a vine. It is edible, while young, then becomes the loofah sponge, when left to really mature and become very dry.

  197. Basil is one of my favorite plants. I am trying all kinds of new tomatoes, I tried the multi – colored cherries tomatoes last year and most turned out the usual color, lol. I am going with a few old fashioned this year along with lemon cherries.

  198. I will try to grow some hollyhocks… again! They were my mom’s favorite. Also I may try some of that grass that is for your dogs and cats to snack on. Can’t remember the name but the rabbits in my neighborhood loved it! They even left their foot prints in the pot!

  200. Count Me In!! This year I’m going to grow onions from seed. I normally buy onions sets and have already planted them . Would love to try some different types of Basil.

  201. I found some volunteer strawberry plants while cleaning out the rooftop garden plots where I work. The plan is to tuck them in among the other plants in the hanging baskets on my balcony and see how they fare! I’m also experimenting with onions started from seed, but I don’t have super high expectations from those, yield-wise.

  202. I am moving to a new apartment with a backyard all set up to garden. I am in heaven. I can neither confirm nor deny that was the big selling point for the apartment.
    This year, the new-to-me thing I will be growing is tomatillos. I should clarify: I’ve actually grown them before but, thinking they were never going to flower, I cut the plant down. Only when it was in the pile did I notice it had flowered overnight!!!!!! AAAHHHHGGG! So, this year, I’m going to try again with the patience of Job. I meant to only grow basil this year (but every kind of basil I could get my hands on) but already I’ve made room for a few tomatoes, jalapenos, a small tea garden and, of course, the tomatillo. I fell asleep last night reading ‘You Grow Girl’. It’s going to be a great year!

  203. I’m a new gardener, but have loads of support at the community garden. This year I’m experimenting with black
    ornimentals. I’m most excited for my Black Turkish Poppy!

  204. Almost everything will be new to me! Moved into a new house on 1/2 an acre that already has a HUGE to me (30ft x 15ft) raised garden bed. Can’t wait for all of the veggies to start popping up! I typically plant patio tomatoes and a potted herb garden. Still am going to do the potted herb garden on the deck, but I am going nuts in the garden!

  205. I am planning to grow comfrey this year because it can survive in wet clay soil (or so I have heard) and is a great plant for composting, making compost tea, and useful to pollinators and as a medicinal herb. Also new this year: common milkweed, swamp milkweed, joe pye weed and butterfly weed for the monarchs!

  206. I added Trinidad Perfume to my pepper line-up this year based on your recommendation. I’m excited about making a milder hot sauce with them.

  207. I am going to try strawberry spinach (Chenopodium capitatum) as soon as it’s stops snowing!!!!

  208. Trying out jalepenos, ornamental peppers and cucumbers this year. My kids are excited about the cucumbers.

  209. I am growing from seed: CA Poppies (at two leaf stage already) radishes, arugula (almost harvest time!) calendula, anise hyssop, cilantro, globe amaranth, dandelion, field peas and oats. Will be sowing nasturtium, cosmos, borage tomorrow.

  211. This is my first year of gardening, so everything I am growing is new! I have spinach, lettuce, red, sweet and green onion, spaghetti squash, bell peppers, and tomatoes growing in a raised bed. Some things are doing wonderfully, others not so much. But your website is an inspiration, thanks for all you do :)

    I’m looking to start an indoor herb garden, so I would love to try some Basil!

  214. I’m growing Padron peppers from seed because I heard they are good and I saw them at my Farmer’s Market last year for an outrageous $7.99 a pound!

  216. I found a book on how to create an edible flower garden just the other day, so I guess I have some of that in my planting-from-seed future.

    I live in Montreal and see seeds from Jardins de l’Écoumène (ecoumene.com) in organic stores. Have you ever tried them?

  217. This is my forst year starting plants from seed in the basement. I planted tomatoes, english daisies, alyssum and lobelia. Everything except the lobelia is doing great!

  219. I am growing 5 basils from seed this year. also trying some italian frying peppers and hot peppers I have never grown before. looking to be a great garden this year!

  220. Getting in just under the wire! I am trying a few new things this year (including adding flowers to my veggie gardens), but the one I’m most excited about is Lemon Boy cucumbers. I really, really hope I can produce a few cucumbers this year – I haven’t had much luck with them so far.

  222. Growing loads of new things from seed this year. Anchusa, ground cherries, purslane, calendulas, Ceratotheca triloba, two kinds of sage, millet, artichokes….

  225. Mostly new things this year… broccoli, cauliflower, chinese cabbage, brussels sprouts, onions, shallots, leeks, garlic, orach, cornsalad, mini lettuce, artichokes, sunflowers, carrots, celery, arugula, tomatillo, lovage. I’m sure it will be a learning year!

  226. I’m not sure yet, wanting a wild yard instead of stupid lawn. Like orto (sp?) How did you do that in less than a year????? Loving it! Wanting more food and herbs in my space!
    :-)

  227. Just opened my package from a seed house – looking forward to red beet sprouts, a crispy bush bean “Banga”, French style, and some pink peony poppies! This is just for starters.

  231. Lavender seeds are in the freezer, already spread wild flower seeds, amaranth, burdocks, st. John’s wort, meadowsweet, and all kinds of kales, beets, chives, salad greens out in the raised bed. After danger of frost, will plant sunflowers, Corn, water spinach directly in the garden as well. Lots of dreams and hope for this year, would like to feed my family with more variety of home grown food!

  232. Tulsi! I’ve got Kapoor tulsi mostly because I’ve read it’s incredibly medicinal and delicious!

  233. This is my first year to start a garden. So, for the time being, I am sticking to purchasing young plants and attempting to keep them alive and well.

  235. There are so many items we would like to grow. This year I’m going to try tackling brussel sprouts!!

  236. I’ve grown Mountain Mint for some years now and every year it attracts huge, colourful wasps. I look forward to seeing them every year. In fact, this year I am going to try and get some pictures so I can identify them. I love my bugs.

    • Hi Ron,

      Were you at the talk today? The book I wanted to tell you about is called “Bees, Wasps, and Ants: The Indispensable Role of Hymenoptera in Gardens” by Eric Grissell. It was recommended by a reader here and I love it. Not really for identification, although it does have lots of photos… but is just generally interesting if you want to develop a deeper appreciation and knowledge of these insects.

  237. Using lots of seeds this year. Mache, brocolli rabe, lettuces, spinach, kale, chard, basil, mint, thyme, oregano, chives, and some flowers. I’m excited:)

  238. Japanese cucumbers and some Filinipo tomatoes!

    On the not so new side, I’m doing a summer onion from seed again, since last year they didn’t survive a windstorm.

    Also: rosemary from seed.

  239. Mountain mint too. It is supposed to be good sautéed with mushrooms. And used a lot in Tuscany. Can’t wait to make cocktails with it.

    And the funniest, happiest cabbage: filderkraut.

  241. Planning to have a rooftop kitchen garden in which little space for every useful herbs which can be used as a medicine or in kitchen

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