herb gardening in the low desert-mg interns-handouts.ppt · herb gardening in the low desert...

3/15/2011

1

Herb Gardeningin the Low Desert

Carolyn Hills

Arizona Herb Association

&

Maricopa County

Master Gardeners

What We’ll Talk About Today

• QUICK OVERVIEW– Intro to MGs & AHA– What’s an Herb?– A Little Herbal History– Where to Plant/How to Grow– Recommended Gardens to Tour– Recommended Books– Where to Buy/Botanical Names

What We’ll Talk About Today

• Herb Gardening– Propagation Methods– Fall Tasks for Established Plants– Herbs You Can Propagate in Fall– Spring Tasks for Established Plants– Herbs You Can Propagate in Spring

• Summary• Questions

Maricopa County Master Gardeners• 600 Volunteers who “help promote

environmentally responsible gardening & landscaping in the Low Desert”– Desert Garden Institute– Ambassadors– Speakers Bureau– Fall Plant Sale– Citrus Clinics– Demo Gardens– Real Gardens for Real People Tour– Diagnostic Clinics– Hotline, Website, List Serve, Publications

Arizona Herb Associationest. 1988

• 100-200 herb enthusiasts

• Meet 1st Thursday of each month (except Summer) 7:00 p.m.

• Speakers on all aspects of herbs

Arizona Herb Associationest. 1988

• Demonstration Garden

• Speakers Bureau

• Culinary Group

• Scholarships & Public Service

• www.azherb.org for location & topic

• Or 602-470-8086 ext 830

3/15/2011

2

“Herb” vs. “Erb” (and “Yerba”)

• Oxford English Dictionary

Herb


• Webster’s American Dictionary

Either pronunciation accepted


• “Yerba” is the Spanish word for Herb

Yerba Anis (Mexican Tarragon)

Yerba Mansa (Swamp Root)

Yerba Buena (Spearmint)

What is an Herb?

• An Herb is a PLANT:– Trees

– Shrubs and sub-shrubs

– Vines

– Woody-stemmed perennials

– Herbaceous plants– annual, perennial and biennual

– Ferns

– Fungi

What is an Herb?

• “In its essential spirit, in its proper garden meaning, an herb is a garden plant which has been cherished for itself and for a use and has not come down to us as a purely decorative thing.”

» Henry Boston (1935)

What Makes a Plant an Herb?

• A Herb is a USEFUL Plant:– Culinary– Medicinal– Crafting– Dyes– Religious/Cultural/Ceremonial– Beauty/Personal Care– Aroma

3/15/2011

3

What Part of the Herb is Used?

• Roots/Bulbs


• Roots/Bulbs

• Stems


• Roots/Bulbs

• Stems

• Leaves


• Roots/Bulbs

• Stems

• Leaves

• Flowers


• Roots/Bulbs

• Stems

• Leaves

• Flowers

• Fruits


• Roots/Bulbs

• Stems

• Leaves

• Flowers

• Fruits

(Seeds or Bark = Spices)

3/15/2011

4

“The Iceman Cometh”

• 5,300 year-old “naturally mummified” body was discovered in the Italian Alps in 1991

• He was discovered with 2 lumps of bracket fungus in his pouch

• Why bracket fungus??

“The Iceman Cometh”

• Bracket fungus is toxic to some bacteria and intestinal parasites

• An autopsy later showed that he had an intestinal parasite in his rectum.

• Earliest documentedexample of an herbal treatment -- around 3,300 B.C.E.

Other Historical Evidence

• Archeological sites in Iraq show that the Neanderthals used yarrow, marshmallow and other herbs some 60,000 years ago.

The Animal Herbal Connection

• Prehistoric humans were keen observers of the world around them, especially the animals (kill or be killed).

• When animals appeared ill, they sometimes ate plants they ordinarily ignored.


• Neanderthals sampled the plants and noticed curious effects:– wakefulness

– sleepiness

– laxative action

– increased urination, etc.

• Herbal healing began!


• They used strong smelling herbs to repel insects and to hide their scent from animals they were hunting.

• Fragrant herbs were used for perfumes and embalming mixtures.

3/15/2011

5


• They wrapped meats in aromatic herbs to preserve them– Those who ate these

meats suffered less illness!

– Aromatic herbs were gifts from the gods!

• Rosemary & sage are very effective food preservatives.

Chinese Herbal Tradition

• Around 3400 BCE (around the time of the Iceman), emperor Shen Nung tested herbs on himself and recorded their effects.

• He died after consuming too much of a poisonous herb!

Chinese Herbal Tradition

• Shen Nung is credited as the author of the Pen Tsao Ching (The Classic of Herbs), which listed 237 herbal prescriptions using:– Ephedra

– Rhubarb

– Opium Poppy (pictured)

– Ginseng

– Sesame

– Garlic

– Cinnamon

East Indian Herbal Tradition

• Ancient Indians called their medicine Ayurveda, from two Sanskrit words: – ayur == “life”

– veda == “knowledge”

East Indian Herbal Tradition

• The Rig Veda, a 4,500 year-old collection of Indian hymns, describes formulas for medicines using 67 medicinal herbs, including:– ginger

– cinnamon

– senna

Sumerian Herbal Tradition

• One of the world’s oldest surviving prescriptions is a Sumerian clay tablet from around 2100 BC that mentions several herbs, including:– myrrh

– cypress

– opium poppy.

3/15/2011

6

Assyrian Herbal Tradition• Archeologists have unearthed

the remains of an Assyrian pharmacy that stocked 230 herbs, including:– almond

– anise

– caraway

– coriander

– juniper

– saffron

– sesame

– turmeric

– willow

Egyptian Herbal Tradition• A 65-foot papyrus, from around 1500 BC, listed

876 herbal formulas from more than 500 plants, including:– Aloe --Caraway --Castor Bean --Chamomile

– Cinnamon --Coriander --Cardamom --Fennel

– Fenugreek --Garlic --Gentian --Ginger

– Juniper --Mint --Myrrh --Opium Poppy

– Onion --Sesame --Saffron --Sage --Thyme

Egyptian Herbal Tradition

• Egyptians were obsessed with two herbs:– Onion

– Garlic

• They believed that these two herbs strengthened the body and prevented disease (a view supported by modern science).

• Greek historian Herodotus called them “the stinking ones”.

Greek Herbal Tradition

• Homer wrote in the Iliad that Greek medicine came from Egypt.

Greek Herbal Tradition

• Hippocrates’ students compiled the Corpus Hippocraticum, which mentions 350 medicinal plants, including:– Mint -- Rosemary

– Thyme -- Anise

– Clove -- Cinnamon

– Burdock

Roman Herbal Tradition

• Roman herbalists were as likely to be killers as healers.– Poison was the most popular

way to knock off a noble or politician.

– Could be carried off from a safe distance.

– Many people sickened and died suddenly anyway, so no suspicion.

Nero gained the throne by poisoning his stepbrother

3/15/2011

7

The Role of Monasteries

• After the fall of Rome, European medicine was dominated by the Catholic Church, which believed that illness was a punishment from God and was treatable only by prayer and penitence.

The Role of Monasteries

• The Benedictine Monks were the most avid herbalists.

• Benedictine herb gardens contained– Cumin -- Fennel

– Fenugreek -- Mint

– Pennyroyal -- Rose

– Rosemary -- Rue

– Sage -- Savory

– Watercress

The Herbals

• Culpeper: Marjoram was “warming and comfortable in cold Diseases of the Head, Stomach, Sinews and other parts, taken inwardly, or outwardly applied.”

The Herbals

• Culpeper: Winter Savory and Summer Savory “both expel wind gallantly, and that (they say) is the reason why they are boyled with Pease and Beans and other such windy things”

The Herbals

• Gerard: Sweet marjoram could “comfort those given to overmuch sighing”, and for coughing and “against the swooning of the heart”.

• Dittany of Crete was a “remedie against the stinging of serpents” when drunk with wine.

The Herbals

“The sweete marjeromes are not onely much used to please the outward senses in nosegayes, and in the windows of houses, as also in sweete pouders, sweete bags, and sweete washing waters, but are also of much use in physicke.” Parkinson 1629

3/15/2011

8

Healing Herbs in Early America

• European explorers learned how to cure scurvy from Native Americans by drinking a tea brewed with yellow cedar bark and leaves.

Jacques Cartier

Homeopathy -- Herbal Medicine

• Invented by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in the eighteenth century

• Homeopathy came to U.S. in 1830’s

• In 1900, the AMA decreed that any physician caught using homeopathy would be expelled

Samuel Hahnemann

The Collapse of Herbal Medicine

• In 1805, a German chemist extracted the first drug from an herbal source, morphine from the opium poppy.

• Modern pharmacology was born.

The Collapse of Herbal Medicine

• American medical schools, modeled after German schools, dropped botany in favor of pharmacology.

• Drugs replaced herbal remedies.

• By 1940, no US medical school taught herbal healing.

The Herbal Renaissance

• In the 1960’s, many Americans began changing their attitudes about health and healing– Illness prevention

rather than treatment

• By the late 1990’s, medicinal herb sales > $3 billion/year

Echinacea

The Herbal Renaissance

• Today, 80 US medical schools teach alternative medicine.

• Mainstream doctors more willing to recommend herbal remedies– ginger for motion

sickness

– St. John’s wort for depression

3/15/2011

9

Where do Herbs Come From?Every Land Mass – Every Culture

Herbs are Easy to Grow in the Low Desert

• Many popular & common herbs originated in the Mediterranean or North Africa, places with:– hot climates– low rainfall– alkaline soils

• Just like SouthwestUSA

Green French LavenderCulinary Sage

Herbs are Easy to Grow in the Low Desert

• Many other herbs originated in tropical Southeast Asia, Equatorial Africa, or tropical South & Central America.

• Love our heat, but need additional:– organic matter

– water

– fertilizer

LemongrassBasil

Where Should You Plant Herbs?

Traditional Herb Gardenfrom “Practical Herb Garden” by J. Houdret


Cloister Gardenfrom “Practical Herb Garden” by J. Houdret


Tudor “Knot” Gardenfrom “Practical Herb Garden” by J. Houdret

3/15/2011

10


Mesquite Herb Garden


Mesquite Herb Garden


Another Mesquite Herb Garden


Aloe vera in a Xeriscape Landscape


Chaparral Sage in a Landscape


African Blue Basil on a Patio

3/15/2011

11


Apple Mint as Garden Art


Rosemary Trailing Over a Wall


Rosemary Trailing Over a Parking Garage


Rosemary at a Gas Station


Rosemary as a hedge


Rosemary as a hedge

3/15/2011

12


Breadseed (Opium) & California Poppies in a Wildflower Mix


Breadseed Poppies in a Wildflower Mix


Yerba Mansa in a Pond Environment

Where Should You Plant Herbs?Anywhere!!

Yerba Mansa in a Birdbath

Local Herb Gardens to Tour

• Desert Botanical Garden

• Boyce Thompson Arboretum

• Tucson Botanical Garden

• Arboretum at Flagstaff

• Tohono Chul Park – Tucson

• Maricopa County Extension

Beware of Most Herb Booksand Magazines

• Written in U.K. or Northeastern U.S.

• Poor guidelines for Low Desert– planting/harvesting calendars

– sunlight/water requirements

• Great for photos, uses, history, design ideas, recipes, etc.

3/15/2011

13

Recommended Gardening & Herb Books

• Low-Desert Herb Gardening Handbook(Arizona Herb Association)– Herb planting & harvesting

month by month

– Specifically written for low-desert herb gardening


• Desert Gardening for Beginners (Arizona Master Gardener Press)– How to grow vegetables,

flowers and herbs in an arid climate

– Covers all the basics for desert gardeners


• Desert Landscaping for Beginners (Arizona Master Gardener Press)– Tips and techniques for

success in an arid climate

– Ch. 12 - Rose Care

– Appendix B - Rose Varieties for the Low Desert


• Earth-Friendly Desert Gardening (Arizona Master Gardener Press)– Environmentally

responsible gardening & landscaping in the low desert

– Growing in harmony with nature saves time, money, and resources

Recommended Books

• The Arizona Low Desert Flower Garden (Kirti Mathura)– Excellent reference on

many local native wildflowers

– At-a-glance symbols indicate water requirements, along with whether the plants attract birds, butterflies, or caterpillars.

Recommended Books

• Composting for Dummies (Cathy Cromell)– Composting Basics

– Composting Location

– Composting Methods

– Building your Pile

– Beyond traditional composting

3/15/2011

14

Shopping for Herbs to Plant

• “Big Box” Stores– Good for “basic” herb plants/seeds... standard culinary

• Chain Nurseries– Nice herb selection. Shop around!

• Local Family-owned Nursery– If they don’t have it, they’ll order it! Wider selection

• Botanical Garden or Arboretum Plant Sale– Interesting “native” or “regional” herbs

• Arizona Herb Association– Hard-to-find herbs, cheap!

Shopping for Herbs to Plant

• Pinch, sniff and taste the culinary herbs!

• Won’t taste any different when growing in your garden

• Make sure you like them before you buy!

• Catalog/Internet - Caution - wrong planting season & transit damage

Botanical (Latin) Names

• Many unrelated plants have similar common names

• One plant may have multiple common names (different languages/dialects)

• Learn the botanical name to be sure you get the CORRECT PLANT

Botanical (Latin) Names• Common Names Can Be Confusing!

• “Basil Mint”

• “Cinnamon Basil”

• “Oregano Thyme”

• “Cuban Oregano” (also called “Spanish Thyme”)

– NOT Oregano

– NOT Thyme (Plectranthus amboinicus)

– NOT from Cuba

– NOT from Spain

Botanical (Latin) Names• Common Names Can Be Confusing!

• Mexican Tarragon– Rootbeer Plant

– Yerba Anis

– Winter Tarragon

– Poor Man’s Tarragon

• And…

• Aztec/Nahuatl – Tzitziqui, Teyatli

• Chinese (Cantonese)

• 甜萬壽菊 [tìhm maahn sauh gūk]

• Chinese (Mandarin)

• 甜萬壽菊 [tián wàn shòu jú]

• Danish - Mexikansk Esdragon

• German - Samtblume, Winterestragon, Mexicanischer Estragon

• French - Tagète, Estragon du Mexique

• English - Pericon, Mexican mint marigold, Winter tarragon, Mexican tarragon, Sweet mace, Spanish tarragon, Florida tarragon, Texas tarragon

• Spanish/Mexican - Yauhtli, Pericón Amarillo, Yerba Anis, Yerba Santa Maria, Anisillo

• Swedish - Mexikansk dragon

3/15/2011

15


• What plant is this?

• “I don’t know…It’s in POLISH!!”

Botanical (Latin) Names• What plant is this?• Matthiola bicornis

– Maciejka Dwuroga– Annual Stock– Perfume Plant– Night Scented Stock– Evening Scented Stock– Evening Stock Flower– Evening Stock

• Common Names Can Be Confusing!


GENUSMentha

FORML. stoechasf. leucantha

SUBSPECIESL. stoechas

subsp.pedunculata

SPECIESL. stoechas

CULTIVARL. x intermedia'Grappenhall'

CULTIVARL. x intermedia

'Seal'

HYBRIDL. x intermedia

SPECIESL. latifolia

CULTIVARL. angustifolia

'Hidcote'

CULTIVARL. angustifolia

'Munstead'

SPECIESL. angustifolia

VARIETYL. dentata

var. candicans

SPECIESL. dentata

GENUSLavandula

GENUSAchillea

FAMILYLABIATAE/LAMIACEAE

Chart Courtesy of “Practical Herb Garden” by J. Houdret

A Quick Review of Propagation Methods

• Planting from Seed– Follow directions on package, adjusting for

Arizona climate, seasons

– Make sure to find out if you should sow inside or outside


• Planting from Transplants– Break up root balls of root-bound plants

– Most plants benefit from a light fertilizing (1/2 strength) when planted


• Planting from Bulbs or Roots– Rule of Thumb: Plant twice as deep as the

bulb or root is tall

3/15/2011

16


• Layering


• Layering


• Layering


• Stem Cuttings


• Stem Cuttings


• Stem Cuttings

3/15/2011

17


• Root Division


• Root Division


• Root Division


• Root Division

How to Trap a Mint

• Start with a 5-gallon (or larger) pot.

How to Trap a Mint

• With a pair of garden shears or a tree saw, remove the bottom of the pot.

3/15/2011

18

How to Trap a Mint

• Dig a hole that is slightly wider than and almost as deep as the pot.

• Plant the pot, leaving about one to two inches above ground.

• Backfill and tamp down the soil outside of the pot.

How to Trap a Mint

• Remove the mint from its original pot by gently squeezing the sides of the pot to loosen the soil. Turn the pot upside down and encourage the plant to tumble into your hand.

• Gently scrape the sides and bottom of the root ball with your fingernails or a garden tool if the plant is root-bound (the roots have circled the pot).

How to Trap a Mint• Fill the prepared 5-gallon

pot with rich, well-composted soil.

• Plant the mint inside of the pot and gently press down the soil.

• Be sure to plant the mint in its new pot at the same level that it was in its original pot.

• Make sure that the soil inside of the pot is at the same level as the soil outside of the pot.

How to Trap a Mint

• Water well with a liquid fertilizer or starter solution at half the recommended strength.

• Make sure the soil is well-firmed around the plant. Check again after the water soaks in and add soil if necessary.

How to Trap a Mint

• Remember that mints also propagate by layering.

• Be sure to trim the stems of your mint so that they don’t lie on the ground and put out roots.

• Also, watch for and remove volunteer seedlings. Mints cross breed easily, and most of the seedlings will not taste like the original plant, or even taste very good.

How to Plant to Prevent Root Rot

• Dig a hole at least one foot deeper than the depth of the root ball of the plant you are planting, and three times as wide.

• Line the bottom of the hole at least four inches deep with medium-sized rocks (golf balls make a good substitute!).

3/15/2011

19


• To help with soil drainage, combine your native soil with compost or mulch and pumice or perlite.

• Use one-third native soil, one-third compost or mulch, and one-third pumice or perlite.


• It’s easiest to mix the soils together in a large bucket.

• Make enough to re-fill your hole, plus enough to create a mound over the hole.


• Make a mound at least 12 inches high and 18 inches in diameter.

• Press and firm the entire mound to help prevent erosion.


• Remove the plant from its original pot by gently squeezing the sides of the pot to loosen the soil. Turn the pot upside down and encourage the plant to tumble into your hand.

• Gently scrape the sides and bottom of the root ball with your fingernails or a garden tool if the plant is root-bound (the roots have circled the pot).


• Place your plant in the center of the mound and gently press down the soil.

• Be sure to place the plant in the mound at the same level that it was in its original pot.


• Water well with a liquid fertilizer or starter solution at half the recommended strength.

• Make sure the soil is well-firmed around the plant. Check again after the water soaks in and add soil and gravel if necessary.

3/15/2011

20

Fall Tasks for Established Herb Plants

• Remove Plants that Succumbed to the Summer Monsoons– Sages/Salvias– Thymes– Oreganos– Lavenders– Rosemarys

Fall Tasks for Established Herb Plants

• Prune off dead branches

• Add compost/ mulch to your garden

• Some herbs benefit from light fertilizing

Fall Tasks for Established Plants

• Water deeply to remove salts from root zone

Leaf Tip Burn

Fall Tasks for New Herb Plants

• Soil Preparation

– DRAINAGE is KEY!

– Do NOT discard your native soil

– Add organic amendments

– Only add Nitrogen fertilizers to tropical, fast-growing herbs

– Add gravel, coarse sand, pumice to increase drainage where needed

Let’s Talk About Dirt • Original source: Decomposed

ancient mountains

• Inorganic matter: ROCK

• Many different particle sizes

• Good structural basis for garden soil

• Contains many of the essential mineral components necessary for plant growth

• It is important to remember that soil in the Valley can be:

• Often compacted, resulting in poor drainage

• Sometimes so sandy that it drains quickly, resulting in no water retention

• Generally nitrogen poor

Let’s Talk About Dirt

3/15/2011

21

Let’s Talk About Dirt

• Don’t throw away your soil! – Desert soil is good… It just needs

some help!

• A good planting mix for many herbs is:– 1/3 backyard dirt

– 1/3 mulch or compost

– 1/3 pumice or perlite

Watering Considerations

• Check references to see if your herb choices are from dry or tropical areas

• Group the plants in the garden with others with similar water needs

• Dry origin herbs will thrive on drip irrigation, especially with more drainage

• Mulch around ROOTS to maintain uniform moisture - do NOT mulch stems

• Adjust watering as seasons change

What You Can Propagate in Fall

• Most herb plants are planted in Fall in the Low Desert.

• This is not an exhaustive list!

AloeAloe vera or Aloe barbadensis

Arugula - “Rocket”Eruca vesicaria subsp. Sativa

ArtemisiaArtemisia powis-castle

3/15/2011

22

Bay-Greek LaurelLaurus nobilis

Cuttings may take 6 months to root.

BorageBorago officinalis

BrittlebushEncelia farinosa

Calendula-Pot MarigoldCalendula officinalis

Photo Courtesy of Sandy Wagner

Carnation/DianthusDianthus caryophyllus

Photo Courtesy of www.thegardenhelper.com

Photo Courtesy of www.flowersandfauna.com

CatmintNepeta sibirica or Nepeta mussinii

Photo Courtesy of www.johnnyseeds.com

Photo Courtesy of www.youcanlearnseries.com

3/15/2011

23

CatnipNepeta cataria

ChamomileMatricaria recutita (German/Annual)

& Chamaemelum nobile Roman/Perennial)


Chaste Tree (Monk’s Pepper Tree)Vitex agnus-castus

ChervilAnthriscus cerefolium

ChicoryCichorium intybus

Chives-OnionAllium schoenoprasum

3/15/2011

24

Chives-GarlicAllium tuberosum

Cilantro/CorianderCoriandrum sativum

Coreopsis – Lance LeavedCoreopsis lanceolata

CreosoteLarrea tridentata

Saffron CrocusCrocus sativus

DandelionTaraxacum officinale


3/15/2011

25

Desert LavenderHyptis emoryi

This image cannot currently be displayed.

Dill (Dill Weed)Anethum graveolens

EchinaciaE. angustifolia & E. purpurea

Epasote/EpazoteChenopodium ambrosiodes

FennelFoeniculum vulgare

FeverfewTanacetum parthenium or

Chrysanthemum parthenium

3/15/2011

26

Flax-ScarletLinum grandiflorum

FleabaneErigeron karvinskianus

Fruity GermanderTeucrium cossonii 'Majoricum'

Garlic-CulinaryAllium sativum

Garlic-ElephantAllium ampeloprasum

Photo Courtesy of www.elephantgarlic.com

Garlic-SocietyTulbaghia violacea

3/15/2011

27

Globe ArtichokeCynara cardunculus scolymus

Gotu KolaHydrocotyle asiatica major

HollyhockAlthaea rosea

HorsetailEquisetum arvense

Jerusalem ArtichokeHelianthus tuberosus

JojobaSimmondsia chinensis

3/15/2011

28

Lamb’s EarStachys byzantina

LavenderLavandula spp.

Lavandula multifidaFernleaf Lavender

Lavender

Lavandula dentata-French Lavandula stoechas-SpanishPhoto Courtesy of www.mediterraneangardensociety.org

LemonCitrus limonum

Lemon Balm (aka Melissa)

Melissa officinalis

Lemon VerbenaAloysia triphylla or Aloysia citriodora

3/15/2011

29

Lion’s Tail / Lion’s EarLeonotis leonaurus

MadderRubia tinctoria

MarjoramOriganum majorana

Knot Marjoram

Mexican ElderberrySambucus mexicana

Milk ThistleSilybum marianum

Photo Courtesy of www.nwcb.wa.gov

MintMentha spp.

Pineapple Mint

3/15/2011

30

Mint

Moroccan Mint

Apple Mintvariegated

Orange Mint

Mt. Lemon MarigoldTagetes lemmonii

MulleinVerbascum thapsus

NasturtiumTropaeolum majus

Photo Courtesy www.hea.org

Onion & ShallotAllium cepa Onion & Shallot

Egyptian Walking Onion

3/15/2011

31

OreganoOriganum spp.

Dittany of CreteOriganum dictamnus

Oreganos

Syrian OreganoOriganum maru or O. syriaca

Wooly Oregano

Origanum rotundifolium x dictamnus

Oregano-Mexican BushLippia graveolens

Oregano-Native American (Beebalm/Bergamot)

Monarda spp.

Oregano-RosemarymintPoliomintha maderensis

cv. ‘Lavender Spice’

ParsleyPetroselinum crispum

3/15/2011

32

PomegranatePunica granatum

Poppy-BreadseedPapaver somniferum

Poppy-California & Mexican Gold

Eschscholzia californica

RosemaryRosemary officinalis

Sage-CulinarySalvia officinalis

Berggarten Sage

Sage-Culinary

Variegated Sage Purple Sage

Sage Blooms

3/15/2011

33

Sage-Mexican BushSalvia leucantha

This image cannot currently be displayed.

Sage-PineappleSalvia elegans

Salad BurnetPoterium sanguisorba or

Pimpinella saxifraga

Scented GeraniumPelargonium spp.

SorrelRumex acetosa

Statice-Sea LavenderStatice caroliniana or

Statice limonium

3/15/2011

34

SteviaStevia rebaudiana

Tarragon-FrenchArtemisia dracunculus var. sativa

Photo Courtesy of www.mobot.org

Tarragon-MexicanTagetes lucida

Tea TreeMelaleuca alternifolia

ThymeThymus spp.

Thyme-ConeheadCoriothymus capitalus

3/15/2011

35

Vinca-Madagascar PeriwinkleCatharanthus roseus

Viola / Pansy / Sweet VioletViola spp.

Winter SavorySatureja montana

YarrowAchillea spp.

Yellow BellsTecoma stans

Yerba Mansa – “Swamp Root”Anemopsis californica

3/15/2011

36

Spring Tasks for Established Herb Plants

• Last Recorded Frost Date in Phoenix: April 4th

(1945)• Average Last Frost

Date: February 7th

• Bring them out from under cover (but keep watching those weather forecasts!)

Spring Tasks for Established Herb Plants

• Prune off dead branches

• Add compost/ mulch to your garden

• Some herbs benefit from light fertilizing

Prepare to Say Goodbye to a Few Herb Friends

• Many herbs that thrive in our mild winters will bolt and die as soon as temps approach 100 degrees

Arugula - “Rocket”Eruca vesicaria subsp. Sativa

ChervilAnthriscus cerefolium

Photo Courtesy of www.johnnyseeds.com

Cilantro/CorianderCoriandrum sativum

3/15/2011

37

Dill (Dill Weed)Anethum graveolens

Flax-ScarletLinum grandiflorum

Milk ThistleSilybum marianum

Photo Courtesy of www.nwcb.wa.gov

NasturtiumTropaeolum majus

Photo Courtesy www.hea.org

ParsleyPetroselinum crispum

Poppy-BreadseedPapaver somniferum

3/15/2011

38

Poppy-California & Mexican Gold

Eschscholzia californica

Viola / Pansy / Sweet VioletViola spp.

Photo Courtesy of www.gardenguides.com

What You Can Propagate in Spring

• Spring is our “second” planting/propagating season. Most herb plants are planted in Fall.

• This is not an exhaustive list!

Basil Ocimum basillicum

Basil - many varieties & flavors

Magical Michael African Variegated

Mrs. Burns’ Lemon

Black-eyed SusanRudbeckia hirta

3/15/2011

39

Chili/Chile PeppersCapsicum spp.

Photos Courtesy of www.johnnyseeds.com

Ginger RootZingiber officinale

Grass-Citronella Cymbopogon nardus

Grass-LemonCymbopogon citratus

Grass-Lemon Grass-Lemon

3/15/2011

40

Grass-Rose ScentedCymbopogon martinii motia

Grass-VetiverVetivera zizanoides

Oregano-CubanPlectranthus amboinicus

Passion VinePassiflora incarnata

SesameSesamum indicum

Sweet PeaLathyrus odoratus

3/15/2011

41

SunflowerHelianthus annus What Did We Learn?

• Hundreds of herbs can easily be grown in the Low Desert landscape & garden

• Our seasons are different

• Our soils are “interesting”

• Our waters are salty

• Plant herbs in the right season & the right location for a successful garden!

Questions??

herb gardening in the low desert-mg interns-handouts.ppt · herb gardening in the low desert...

Documents