Module 2

Growing Herbs For Beginners

8 Easy Weeks To Growing Your Own Herbs!

By Rhonda Daniels The Relaxed Herb Grower

www.GrowingHerbsForBeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Its the Legalese Stuff: You Do Not Have the Right to Reprint or Resell this Course, Nor May You Give Away, Sell, or Share the Content of This Course! Do Feel Free to Print One Copy For Yourself !
If you obtained this report from anywhere other than http://www.GrowingHerbsForBeginners.com, you have a pirated copy. Please help us stop Internet crime by reporting this to: support@growingherbsforbeginners.com
2009 Copyright BahHumbug!LLC-Growing Herbs For Beginners -Rhonda Daniels ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: No part of this publication or any in the course shall be reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or recording means, or otherwise, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written, dated and signed permission of the author. Illegal sharing of this material may result in a fine up to $150,000 as stated in Title 17, Chapter Five of US Code Collection 504. DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES: The information presented herein represents the view of the author as of the date of publication. Because of the rate with which new information emerges, the author reserves the right to alter and update her opinions. The course is for educational purposes only. While every attempt has been made to verify the information provided, the author and her affiliates/partners assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. Any perceived slights of people or products are unintentional. If advice concerning legal or related matters is needed, the services of a fully qualified professional should be sought. This course is not intended for use as a source of professional or commercial growing advice. You should be aware of any laws in your county and state which govern the use of any chemicals or pesticides you may wish to use. Any reference to any persons, products, or businesses is coincidental.

Foreword Welcome to Module 2

Were back! Have you got your garden area ready, or did you decide to grow in pots ? Either way, I hope you have all your seeds, pots, planting mix, and/or purchased plants ready to go for this weeks lesson! Well be covering seed starting and planting methods in this module! Soils and potting mixes How to plant seeds the right way Three great ways to plant tiny seeds Proper seed planting depths How to read a seed packet Planting store bought herbs And much more

OK, Lets roll!

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Where are you growing?

Whether youll grow your herbs in the garden or in a pot, starting them from seed works pretty much the same! Plan for size That tiny little plant or seedling will get bigger, and some can get enormous! Make sure you know the approximate size of your adult plant. Remember: Herbs grown in smaller pots may not reach their full size potential.

Reading Your Seed Packet

Some things to look for :

the name of the plant, including the Latin name - if it is listed the size of the adult plant the planting depth of the seeds the light and watering requirements

Some seeds require light to germinate!

They dont like to be planted deeply and wont sprout if you plant them too far down. These types of seeds are usually just pressed into, or laid on the top of damp soil.

Tip: Save the seed packet or write the planting information down. It is very easy to forget which seeds needed what type of care, especially if you planted more than one kind of seeds. If you save the information you can always refer to it later!

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Some seed packets will give you more planting information like:
Start after soil has warmed Stratify seeds Scarify seeds This information is important if your seeds are to grow well for you!

Some seeds-like Basil- will not germinate and grow in very cool, or cold soil. These seeds like to grow in warm soil. Start them after the soil is warm, or start them inside in a warm area.

Other seeds need a cold period before they will sprout

When the packet says stratify seeds, it means that those seeds require a cold period before they will sprout. Storing your seeds in the freezer for a month or two will usually do the trick. This simulates winter for the seeds. If you do live in a cold climate, you can plant your seeds outdoors in the fall and they will sprout in the spring!

Some seeds like to roughed up

Some seeds have very hard outer coatings. In order for them to germinate, water must penetrate the seed coat. When you are asked to scarify seeds it means you will need to scratch the surface of the seed a little bit. You can do this by rubbing the seeds back and forth lightly on a nail file, or a small piece of fine grade sandpaper. Remember: Be gentle so you do not smash or harm the inner parts of the seeds!

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Starting Your Seeds

Planting Small Seeds

Its so easy to dump too many seeds at once! Some folks recommend adding the tiny seeds to a bit of dry sand. You sprinkle the sand/seed mixture over the soil which helps to spread the seeds more evenly . Unfortunately the grains of sand are sometimes bigger than your seeds and the tiny seeds still dont get spread evenly. The sand method works better for seeds that are about the same size as the grains of sand.

So how DO you plant itty-bitty seeds?

The String Trick Where I live in the Midwest there is a trick we use. Moisten a small piece of string or thread. Dump a few seeds out in your hand, on a plate, or in a bowl. Drag the damp string slowly through the seeds. The string will pick up seeds as you pull it along. Take the string, gently blow off any extra seeds, and lay it on damp soil. The Toilet Paper Trick Take a strip of facial tissue, or toilet paper and lay it down. Mist lightly and sprinkle seeds down the middle of it. Fold the tissue over to cover the seeds and place it on moist soil. Water gently. As the seeds sprout and the roots begin to grow, the tissue will disintegrate. The Hole Trick Poke a tiny hole in one corner of your seed packet with a needle or pin. Mark that corner with a pencil or pen so you know where the hole is. Carefully sprinkle a few seeds onto the soil. Remember to fold the packet up and seal the hole when you are done! Remember: There will always be some extra little seeds that clump together. Dont worry about it, you can always thin out the seedlings later on.

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Planting Medium and Large seeds

Check your seed packet for seed planting depths. If the packet tells you how deep to plant the seeds, follow the directions! If no planting depth is mentioned, plant the seeds at a depth twice the size of the seed. Example: If your seed is about an 1/8 tall (or around) you would plant it 1/4 deep. Remember, these are just guidelines. You do not actually need to measure your seeds!

Watering Your Seeds

You will want to keep your seeds moist, but do not drown them. Small seeds tend to pool together, so water carefully. If you have a sprayer or mister, you can lightly mist the seeds without disturbing them.

If you dont have a small watering can or plant mister, you can wiggle a few fingers beneath the flow of water will to help disperse it.

Heat
Some seeds prefer a bit of heat and wont germinate unless the soil is warm. You can place your seeds in a warm spot the top of the fridge, a warm sunny window-or on a seedling heat mat. NEVER use a heating pad! They are NOT waterproof, and electrocution is a real threat.

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Seed Starting Basics

Starting your Seeds in pots or flats

Lots of gardeners start seeds indoors. They start their seeds in the winter, or in the very early spring. They know that by getting a jump start on the growing season they will have nice sized plants much sooner than they would by starting seeds in the garden. When you start seeds indoors, you can begin enjoying your fresh herbs earlier in the season! Getting Started You dont need fancy equipment to start seeds. Feel free to recycle tubs, cups, and milk jugs. They can all be used. You really just need something to hold soil. First Moisten Your Seed Starting Mix or Potting Mix Pour the potting soil in a container and pour in some water. Start with 1 part water to three parts potting mix and add more water, a little at a time, as you need it. You can mix with a trowel, but to really get the job done, mix it with your hands. Its messy, but kind of fun! The mixture is right and will hold together in a loose ball when you squeeze a handful of it. You want it wet, but not drippy! Place some of your seed starting or potting mix in your containers. A few inches of damp mix is plenty for seed starting in a flat tray. If you are using a cup or small pot, you will want to fill the cup to within 1/2 to 3/4 inch of the rim. Plant your seeds according to the package directions, or follow the planting depth guidelines in Module 1. Mist or water gently. If your seedlings require warm soil, make sure they have a warm spot. Most seeds will like a warm place to germinate anyway. Provide light with either a sunny window or a grow light. Now sit back and wait like an expectant parent for your little green babies to show up! Remember: The starting pots and flats are temporary. Your little plants will either be moved to larger pots, or placed out in the garden after they have grown up a bit!

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Starting Your Seeds in the Garden

Whether you start your garden in the ground or use raised beds, you will Need a sunny, weed free spot to start your herb seeds. Make sure the area gets at least 6 hours of sunshine a day. Earlier we said that little herb plants are no match for aggressive weeds. Besides crowding and taking nourishment from your seedlings, your herbs need light. If they are overshadowed by weeds they wont get any!

Loosen the top few inches of soil

You can rake, till or turn the soil.

Tip: Since Im lazy, I usually just loosen with a garden fork, then rake the top few
inches of my chosen garden spot. Easy!

Remove any grass and weeds

Make sure any other plant material is removed from the area. Plant the seeds according to the directions on the package, or follow the seed planting depth guidelines. Cover and water your seeds gently! Mark the area so you know where to look for your seedlings.

Tip: Some seed packets have a picture of what the seedlings will look like.
This is really helpful when distinguishing the seedlings from weed-lings!

I can almost guarantee that the weeds will grow faster than your seedlings!

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Congratulations! Youve planted your seeds.

Your next mission:
Keep the area well weeded Water when the soil looks dry. If you arent sure whether your soil needs watering, stick a finger in it! Yep, just poke your finger in the soil up to the first knuckle. If it feels dry, water it.

Be patient if the seeds dont pop right up!

Remember that some seeds like the soil nice and warm before they will sprout. Some seeds germinate much faster than others. Some seeds take a very long time to germinate...years in some cases! Remember to keep the area moist while you are waiting for your seeds to sprout. Once the seedlings begin to appear you will get to watch them grow and develop those second and third pairs of leaves. See if the adult leaves look different from the first pair of leaves. Many do!

Tip:

In warm weather seedlings dry our super FAST.

Their tiny little roots dont reach down very far yet, so they need moisture in the top inch or two of the soil. If its hot, windy (or both) you may have to water them twice a day until they get established.

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Growing Purchased plants

Have you already bought herb plants? If so, they will need to be repotted into a bigger container, or planted in the garden. Dig it?

If you are planting your herbs in the garden: Dig a hole slightly bigger and a little bit deeper than the pot your plant is already in. Your plant just needs enough room to spread its roots a bit and get established in its new home.

Squeeze the bottom of the pot all the way around to loosen the roots. Dont worry, it really doesnt hurt the plant. Turn the pot upside down and tap the bottom of the pot. You will be holding the plant around the base of the stem and tapping with the other hand. Unless the roots are really tangled the plant should plop out of the pot. If it seems stuck, just tug gently on the plant near the base of the stem. Make sure you Tease the roots, but no name calling! Teasing just means to untangle any tangled roots. If there are some roots that seem to be falling apart, you can pull off the loose and broken roots without harming the plant. Put the plant in the hole you made, and make sure to tuck soil in around the plant. Be sure to cover the roots and firm the soil in around them.

Make sure to give your plant a drink afterward!

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com

Growing Herbs For Beginners

Tip: Mark your plants so you will know what youve planted! You can make your own plant markers using wood shims or tongue depressors (available at craft stores or the pharmacy) Use fine tipped fabric paints to write the plant names on them. The fabric paint holds up well out in the weather. These markers will usually last a few years in the garden.

If you are repotting your herbs into a larger pot

After you have your container you will need to moisten your dry potting mix . Remember, if you try to use the dry stuff as is, it will not hold any moisture. To recap: Pour the potting mix in a container and add some water. Start with about 1 part water to three parts potting mix. Add more water, a little at a time, as you need to. You can mix with a trowel, but to really get the job done, mix it with your hands. Its messy, but its kind of fun! The mixture is right and will hold together in a loose ball when you squeeze a handful of it. You want it wet, but not drippy. Fill your container to nearly half full with the dampened soil mix. Now set your plant in the pot, being careful to gently spread out the roots. Cover the roots gently with more potting mix, then press the mix all around the roots. Keep adding more soil-and press it down lightly. Make sure to leave 1/2 to 1 of space at the top of the pot for watering.

Well done, Dirt Digger!

2009 Growing Herbs For Beginners

BahHumbug! LLC

http://www.growingherbsforbeginners.com