Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jul 12, 2022 11:36:47 GMT -5
I finally was able to get my herbs plants. These are all new to me (expect chives but this type is) They are planted in the left side of my Farm Basic. No nutes to start.
Hopefully all will germinate and grow.
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Post by lynnee on Jul 12, 2022 17:17:09 GMT -5
What do you use Stevia for? I only know it as a commercial powdered sweetener.  |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Jul 12, 2022 17:33:20 GMT -5
I like your choices, Shawn. They are interesting and different. I am especially interested in watching the lemon balm grow.
But what do you do with all that dill? The main thing I like it in is herb bread.
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jul 13, 2022 1:49:21 GMT -5
I really don't you dill that often. But I thought hey let me give it a try. I do put it in my cucumber salad. That's about all LOL. But I wanted to try something different.
As for the stevia, they say the leaves are good for sweetening teas and whatnot. Especially when they're dried out as well.
Again another one I have never tried so what the hay. I mean an experimental mood LOL
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maskedsonnet
AGA Farmer
Without the burden of comparison, everything is beautiful
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Post by maskedsonnet on Jul 13, 2022 8:36:31 GMT -5
Last time I grew dill it grew into an absolute MONSTER of a plant. I hope yours do well too!! I've never actually seen a stevia plant so will be fun to watch you grow one!
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jul 15, 2022 8:29:30 GMT -5
There is life in both dill pods only at this time.
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jul 27, 2022 9:49:44 GMT -5
Ugh, the dill is not liking me and neither are the chives. Both look kinda sad. If these do not improve I will ditch them and plant something else.  The Stevia and Lemon Balm are very slow but there: |
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Post by lynnee on Jul 27, 2022 15:39:07 GMT -5
More nutes, maybe, for the dill and chives? The seedlings make me wonder whether the seeds were old? FWIW, I had Curly Parsley that barely germinated, was nearly killed by a failed pump, and was almost crowded out by more robust plants. It struggled on, and finally developed into a retail-sized bunch after I removed the competing big plant. So patience may be all that your chives and dill need. Chives often don't germinate for me; dill usually grows like a weed.  |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jul 28, 2022 15:28:17 GMT -5
This is the first chives I had problems with, go figure
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Aug 4, 2022 3:03:36 GMT -5
The stevia and lemon balm are growing albeit slowly. I need to take pics here as well. Not thrilled with the dill and chives. Maybe I did not plant enough seeds for those.
I may go in and plant some basil and oregano instead. I can use a replenishment for both soon.
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Aug 9, 2022 10:45:10 GMT -5
The chives are a dud and not really growing so I will remove those. The one dill looks ok, the other not so much so I will pull the not so much one.
The Stevia is doing good
The Lemon Balm is coming along
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Aug 15, 2022 11:21:00 GMT -5
The weather cooled outside and these decided to grow...
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Post by lynnee on Aug 15, 2022 13:25:46 GMT -5
Patience is a virtue! |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Aug 25, 2022 8:51:47 GMT -5
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Post by lynnee on Aug 26, 2022 21:25:31 GMT -5
Look at that dill! They all look great.  |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Aug 27, 2022 10:32:53 GMT -5
It is exploding as is the lemon balm
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Aug 30, 2022 4:02:39 GMT -5
My dill is out of control so I took the tops off so they do not touch the lights and dehydrated them. That took 3 hours at 125 degrees. My gosh, I thought it would be a lot but it is a small container and I mean the size of a baby jar of food and it is not full. I will do more tomorrow. maskedsonnet, how did you use your lemon balm? Mine is growing nicely although still small.
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maskedsonnet
AGA Farmer
Without the burden of comparison, everything is beautiful
Posts: 1,607
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Post by maskedsonnet on Aug 30, 2022 7:00:40 GMT -5
You can use it either fresh or dried, I always brew it into a tea. When the plant got out of control I'd cut it back and dry it for later. Otherwise I would just pluck leaves here and there and brew tea with the fresh leaves, it's good both hot and iced. Sometimes I pluck leaves just to smell the nice smell, I find it a very relaxing aroma (and flavor in tea), the way most people feel about lavender. There are also several recipes I've saved from browsing around for ideas last time I grew it that I haven't had time to try, but think sound very tasty!! Next time I grow it I'm going to make sure I MAKE time for these!!
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Aug 30, 2022 7:45:56 GMT -5
These look wonderful, thank you.
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Aug 31, 2022 12:51:56 GMT -5
So today I cut a few stevia leaves and put them in a cut with a tea bag. Waiting for the water to boil so I can steep both. From what I read the sweetness will only come out with heat. So once done I will taste.
Regardless if it is good or not, at least I tried it and it does grow well in the AG's.
I will let you know if I decide to keep the plant or not. I wonder what else I can use it for? I know I can make a Stevia Extract but I will not be doing that.
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