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Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:We've now been using new software for sending Green Thumb Times and for maintaining our subscriber list. It has been going well, and we've heard many kind comments. We think this has now solved all of our past problems. This wasn't cheap, but because of you we were able to make the investment. Thank you. This week we lead with the Herb of the Year. We hope you'll find something new and some interesting uses for a long-time favorite. Also, we have more on our easy gardening series, a palm tree follow-up, our reader mailbag, and more. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Tom Krueger Rex Gregor "Exotic & Unusual Seeds from Around the World" 2) Herb of the Year:
There are many types of sweet basil – some are large varieties and some are dwarf types. They come in green, purple or ornamental. Most are tasty. The genus Ocimum is believed to be native to Asia, but was probably first cultivated in India, and introduced in ancient times to Africa and the Mediterranean through the spice trade. Basils belong to the mint family -- they have square stems, opposite leaves, flower spikes, and oil glands typical of many members of this plant family. The ancient Greeks called basil "The Herb of Kings." Like many herbs, basil has been reputed to have medicinal properties, such as the ability to draw out poison from insect bites, as a sedative in treating digestive disorders, soothing pain, promoting perspiration, and promoting production of breast milk in nursing mothers. There are many cultivars of sweet basil, as well as several related species of Ocimum also used for cooking and for ornamental purposes. There are more than 800 varieties listed in the Modern Herbal Guide. We happen to carry 65 Garden Herbs including several varieties of basil. If Basil is the "King of Herbs" then Rosemary has to be the Queen. For your information here are a few of our favorite basils: GENOVISE BASIL: This basil is the standard to which other basils are measured. Genovise is a special Italian strain sweet without being spicy or not too much clove scent. The new leaves grow to about 3 to 4 inches long and about 2 to 3 inches wide. The plants grow to about 5 feet tall, but it is best to keep them pruned to 3 feet. The plant will thrive very well in the summer heat. AFRICAN BLUE BASIL: Sometimes known as the flowering basil. It is a sterile hybrid. The blooms do not produce seed, therefore, you do not need to worry about picking off the flowers. The stems are streaked with maroon and the small leaves have streaked maroon veins. The 12" to 16” soft plum-colored blooms have pinkish-lavender spikes covering the entire plant. An occasional trimming of the faded blooms will keep the plant bushy. This basil works very well in flavoring vinegar or used in small quantity for cooking. CINNAMON BASIL: This plant has medium-sized leaves with dark stems and blooms touched with a bronze color. The scent is the richness of most basils and is known for its spicy flavor. It is especially delicious when served with summer squash, winter squash or fresh fruit. Cinnamon Basil is excellent when used in a bouquet of zinnias because it provides greenery and a wonderful fragrance to the bouquet. This basil will go to seed and stop producing if you do not harvest the flowers. The plants may grow to three feet tall and up to three feet in width. CUBAN BASIL: This small-leaved variety has a flavor and scent making it a close second to the Genovise. The small leaves are always tender and the plant is slow to bloom. Cuban is a vigorous grower quickly reaching 3 feet, but it can be trimmed to keep it smaller No basil likes cool weather but this variety is the most tolerant to cool temperatures. If you're looking for a good candidate for the winter windowsill, this is the one for you. HOLY or SACRED BASIL: Ociumum sanctum was probably first cultivated around the Hindu Temples and considered a sacred plant. There are several different varieties often called Holy, but the Ociumum sanctum is probably the true variety. This plant is not as leafy or as bushy as most basils, but it has great fragrance. You'll most often see it grown in a mixed flower border, in pots or as a patio plant. SPICY GLOBE BASIL: We like this plant because of its compact size since it only grows to six inches tall and 12 inches across. Spicy Globe makes an excellent border plant LEMON BASIL: This basil has light green leaves and a lemony fragrance. It is often used to flavor fish dishes. One other interesting use is that it makes an excellent lemony tasting tea. SIAM QUEEN: Siam Queen produces extra large, bright green leaves on large, purple-red stemmed plants bearing violet-pink flowers. It is often used as a container plant or for edging in flower beds. You may want to grow it mixed in with cabbage or broccoli plants - the fruits will be lightly flavored by the basil. You will enjoy a great new taste. Basil is easily grown from seed. It can be sown directly in your garden after all danger of frost has passed. Germination will usually occur in five to seven days, but could take longer under cool conditions. Basil prefers full sun in well-drained drained soil. The plants will grow best if fertilized with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer or you can incorporate compost into the soil. We suggest you pinch the plants to encourage branching and to produce new growth. Remove the flower spikes to keep the plant producing leaves right up to frost. Visit our site http://rexseedco.com or Click Here and click on Herbs *** 10% savings until July 3, 2003 *** A wonderful selection of unusual and exotic fruit and
nut seeds from all around the world. Enter the Store and Click on the Sale Link The discount will not show up in your shopping cart -- we will take care of it for you before finalization of your order. (No other discounts apply.) 3) Humor for Today:At a dinner party, several of the guests were arguing whether men or women were more trustworthy. "No woman can keep a secret," said one man scornfully. "I don't know about that," answered a woman guest. "I have kept my age a secret since I was twenty-one." "You'll let it out some day," the man insisted. "I hardly think so!" responded the lady. "When a woman has kept a secret for twenty-seven years, she can keep it forever." 4) Easy Gardening: Group for Convenience
Also, place the higher maintenance plants closer to the house -- you'll not only save time, but you'll be more likely to give them the care they need. It is certainly much easier watering plants closer to the hose than it is to drag the hose across the yard and then having to reel it up again. When you consider where to plant your trees and shrubs, don't just think about their shade and view aspects. What about the debris aspect? You certainly don't want a fruit tree dropping fruit on your driveway and walkways where it can be driven over or stepped on. If you have a water feature in your garden or a pool in the yard, do you want to be constantly cleaning twigs and leaves from it in the fall? You might even consider thick ground cover under trees to help swallow up fallen fruit and leaves. With good planning, you can make your gardening experience easier. 5) The Mosquito Plant:The Mosquito Plant is a genetically engineered geranium with unique characteristics to repel mosquitoes. But besides the power to repel mosquitos, it has attractive foliage and a sweet lemony scent -- in fact, it makes an attractive plant even in the first season. It is easily grown as a potted patio plant or in window boxes. The Mosquito Plant was created by a Dutch botanist, who genetically incorporated traits of the Chinese citronella grass into a scented African Geranium. The resulting cultivars had the growth habit of the geranium but with a sweet lemony citronella scent. Citronella is the active substance in citronella candles used to deter mosquitoes. However, mosquito plants do not kill mosquitoes, it repels them because the mosquito does not like the smell of the plant. They dislike it so much that they stay fifty feet away from the plant. You can also use the plant's leaves as an effective repellant if you crush a few leaves and rub them on your skin. This releases the citronella and also gives a sweet perfume smell. Like most geraniums, the Mosquito Plant is normally potted and grown outdoors during the warm season. During the colder season the plants can be over-wintered indoors. In the warmer climates the Mosquito Plant can be grown outdoors as long as the plant does not freeze. You may want to start your plants in a 4" pot then transplant them into a larger 12"-14" container where you can grow three to four plants. The plants will grow very well in any container with regular potting soil recommended for geraniums. Like all geraniums, they prefer to be kept on the dry side and grown in full sun, but they will also do well in partial shade. In the fall you can move the plants indoors and grow them as a houseplant. It is best to use grow lights but is not absolutely necessary if you place the plant near a sunny window. Place your potted Mosquito plants near your patio or picnic tables when enjoying an evening outdoors so you aren't infested with mosquitoes. Take a leaf from your Mosquito Plant, crush it and rub it on your skin for a sweet, natural perfume and the mosquitoes will not bother you. G072 Mosquito Plant (Agastache cana) 10 Seeds per Package. $2.30 http://rexseedco.com Unusual Garden Seeds Link Click Image for Our Palm Tree
Gallery 6) Quote for Today:"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered.
But I was not pleased when I read the description in the catalogue:
'no
good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.'" 7) Reader Mailbag: Rose Bush & Mushrooms
----- The chances are the growth you see in the Mulch is probably "toad stools" or another mushroom type fungus likely caused by too much moisture. Remember to water your Rose Bush no later than early or mid-morning. This will give the mulch a chance to dry during the day while the sun is shinning on it. The "mushrooms" grow when the mulch is wet and grows best when the mulch is "wet" and cool. They are generally harmless, but many people believe they can detract from the view of the rose bed. These fungi pull very easily when you're weeding. But we do suggest you wear a pair of rubber or plastic gloves when doing it since some varieties may stain your fingers. Bottom line, do not overwater your roses; keep the soil moist but not wet; and roses grow best in full sun. Hope this helps solve the problem, or at least makes you feel more comfortable. 8) Palm Follow-up:Last week we ran a question from a reader regarding the Sabal Palmetto Palm. But do you realize there are more than 3,000 types and varieties of palms world wide and most all of these palms are native to desert and tropical environments. However, there are several varieties which will grow in cold climates. The variety most often seen on the streets and yards in Florida is generally the Sabal Palmetto Palm. It is a distinctive and different palm -- most horticulturists agree it is native to the Bahamas and surrounding islands. It is actually not generally accepted as native to Florida. This tree was adopted by the State of Florida in 1993 as the State Tree and we believe it was a great choice. It has certainly found a beautiful home with the residents of this great state. But, it has also found a second home in other surrounding states such as North Carolina who has used it in the design of their state flag. We believe it is fair to claim that the Sabal is almost native to Florida. Even the Seminole Indians started using the leaves of this palm to build their homes early on. There are several different types of the Sabal genus such as: the Texas S mexacicana which is very similar but is somewhat shorter and stouter; the Puerto Rican hat palm S causearum which looks like a super sized palmetto; the blue palm S minor and the S etonia which is often used in landscapes in Florida. However, there is really only one Sabal Palmetto Palm and Florida residents may want to feature this Palm in their plantings. P41 Sabal Palmetto Palm (Sabal palmetto) 10 Seeds per Pkg. $2.60 9) Subscribe/UnsubscribeThis newsletter, the Green Thumb Times, is sent out only to those who have requested a FREE subscription by signing up at http://rexseedco.com or specifically asked to be added, or are a valued customer of Rex's Seedco. PRIVACY: Your email address is held in the strictest of privacy. It is never traded or sold to anyone else. To subscribe to The Green Thumb Times Click Here or send email to subscribegtt@goalsmint.com To unsubscribe Click Here or send email to unsubscribegtt@goalsmint.com Tom Krueger, Editor and Publisher Rex Gregor, Contributing Editor Please feel free to forward The Green Thumb Times to a friend. Rex’s Seedco has searched the world for quality
growers of garden seeds. Many of these farmers bring together ancient
wisdom and modern science so people everywhere may have good health
and enjoyment in life. We are dedicated to providing the best wherever
they are found.
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[ Past Issues Index ] [ Rex's Seedco Home ] [ Our Seed Catalog ] [ About Us ]
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The
International Herb Society has designated basil as Herb of the Year
for 2003. Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a sun- loving plant with
highly aromatic leaves with a pleasant spicy odor and taste - somewhat
like anise or cloves. Both the leaves and their essential oils are
used as flavoring agents.
Everyone is so busy these days. You want to keep that in mind as you
plan your yard and garden. Group together plantings that have identical
or nearly identical requirements for fertilizing, watering and spraying.
This will help reduce your maintenance time.
"I mulched a rose bush with pine bark mulch...I keep seeing the
mulch sprout mushrooms. Should I take any action against the mushroom
growth. Thanks."