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Herbs/Questions Answered by Expert Leroy J. Wilton
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Fungus on and around Basil | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: We survived a bug infestation and two pot relocations to have a much bigger basil plant than anyone ... A: Matthew: It has a fungus. My memory just went blank on the name. I believe it can be too much water ... | |
| Mint | 11/8/2011 |
| Q: I live in in New York City and have successfully grown culinary herbs in window boxes in my south ... A: Ron: Normally the mints will return each year. Do not bring indoors,it is a death sentence for mints ... | |
| Stevia | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: I'm very new to Stevia. It's harvest time in the garden, and I read a little bit on your site. What ... A: Jan: I have taken my website down this year, but will replace it later in 2012. I have the info of ... | |
| Passion Flowers | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: I found that the property that we just bought has a field of nothing but Passion Flowers. Is there ... A: Frank: There are a few varieties of passionflowers. The 1 that I know more about is the "passion ... | |
| armco | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: did you also work at armco steel A: Debbie: Yes!!! Are you who I think you are? We work together in the melt shop. I wondered if you ... | |
| rue | 8/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a small pot of garden rue. I think it's a herb... because that's what google says. I kinda ... A: Soely: Rue does need well drained soil, but it do need need to be water daily.Too much moisture is1 ... | |
| Repotting cilantro plants + temperature and bolting | 7/26/2011 |
| Q: So i have 4 cilantro plants and a in a week or so, i will repot them. right now they are in a very ... A: Selena: Cilantro is a special herb for growing. It needs morning sun and filter sun the rest of the ... | |
| Watering Sage | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering how often does sage have to be watered? I live in Hawaii and I notice it does very ... A: John: The regular sage only need water once a week. If rain comes that week, good no water needed. ... | |
| Lavendar and Basil Plants In Ohio | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: My issue is this, I live in NE Ohio and just bought 5 Basil plants and 2 Herb Lavender Plants ( One ... A: Stephanie: Both plants should receive morning sun first, especially the basil. Locate to receive ... | |
| Summer Savory, something is eating it, no me! | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: I have grown summer savory for years, I never had an issue with pests, just like Basil, little or ... A: Keith: Since there are no footprints, I suggest that bird(s) may be the culprit(s). I can only ... | |
| established rosemary plants are dying | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: we bought a house in the South Plains area of Texas one year ago. There are established 3-foot tall ... A: Bryce: Normally rosemary this old and start dying usually can be from being water logged for any ... | |
| Rosemary bush | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: I am visiting my mother in New Mexico and have seen a lot of Rosemary bushes every were. I would ... A: LeeAnn: "Hardy Hill" or "hill hardy" and "Arp" Rosemary These Rosemary's will with-stand -10 below ... | |
| rosemary | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a rosemary plant approx 4 years old in my small herb plot. I want to keep it fairly small due ... A: Patricia: You can wait until you see new growth starting and start pruning from the top down on each ... | |
| Rosemary and Basil growth | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Wilton, I live in a zone 10-11 area and am growing rosemary and basil in pots. The problem is ... A: Sean: Both plants need morning sun first. Basil definitely need the sun all day. The root system of ... | |
| Herbs and fertilizer | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Wilton, Thanks for answering my previous question so quickly. I've read that herbs don't need ... A: Sean: True, you can have poor soil, but need some nutrients to have the plant absorb to give maximum ... | |
| Slugs and herbs | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: I've read that there are some herbs that slugs don't like, rosemary being one of them. ... A: Sho: I don't know of any particular herbs that deter the slug. I do know they hate anything that ... | |
| Sweet Basil | 11/20/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Wilton, I've been growing basil for a few months and the herb was growing plenty of leaves ... A: Sean: I am sorry to say that the basil is about to give up it's life. Once the sun & heat starts to ... | |
| Rosemary Bush flowering | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: I have two large Rosemary bushes. They seem very healthy and are regularly trimmed. However I have ... A: Maggi: The only thing that may be why they are not blooming, is that they are pruned too early or ... | |
| saving herbs I grew outside this past summer | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: I used to know a lot, but it's been years and years. I live in an apartment, but managed to grow ... A: Ruth: Rosemary seed is difficult to grow. You can take cutting during spring and do the sand bit & ... | |
| Mint | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: I grow culinary herbs in pots on my window sills (city dweller). I have a 7 1/2" wide terra cotta ... A: Ron: It may be root bound and/or not fed with anorganic fertilizer. I would cut the whole plant into ... | |
| herbs-fall cutting/prunning | 8/24/2010 |
| Q: when do i trim herbs for winter. i have french tarragon and i have been told not to prune or cut ... A: Barbara: You may cut back by 1/3 on each branch of tarragon, thyme,mint,sage & dill. Hold back on ... | |
| everlasting life | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: Can I trouble you for your handout on the everlasting life plant. It has been growing quite well ... A: Noni: Here is some extra stuff on it. The plant has a high level of calcium and cloride. It also ... | |
| rosemary | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: what is the foamy substance on my rosemary bush A: Den: I believe the white foamy stuff is from the spittle bug. I don't know anything about it, but ... | |
| mint plant | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 large healthy mint plants and within the past week the leaves are staring to get holes in ... A: Barbara: The mint usually gets root bound if they have been growing in a container for some time. ... | |
| Basil in AZ summer | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I read your advice to a grower in Tucson, AZ, about using a perforated plastic milk jug to ... A: Kim: Your pot must be large enough to hold the gal. milk jug. You can use any size container that ... | |
| Herb legislation | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: I would like to ask you regarding legislation about distribution and wholesales of different kind of ... A: Rania: The best web site is "herb world.com". The contact person is Maureen Rogers. The other site ... | |
| stunted basil | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I have numerous basil plants. I have noticed some of them have stunted internodes, which make the ... A: Ingrid: I am not familiar with basil doing this. Basil must have morning sun all day It must have ... | |
| Growing herbs in mason jar containers | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I recently planted few different herbs in some old mason jars that I have. I bought and planted ... A: Angie: Jars are not good starting containers for seeds. Even if you have rocks in the bottom for ... | |
| herb use | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: What can I use Santolina for in cooking? What are its usual uses? Thankyou A: Roger: The latest info on using it for cooking is NO!!It was used at one time for cooking & ... | |
| Lavandula 'Grosso' | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I have grown lots of lavenders, in different gardens, under different conditions, all in Santa Cruz ... A: Lesley: If your plants are a few years old, I would use 1 cup per plant. I am not sure about the ... | |
| Lavandula 'Grosso' | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I have grown lots of lavenders, in different gardens, under different conditions, all in Santa Cruz ... A: Lesley: I have grown Grosso & Provence. I found that they do well with lime added to soil and worked ... | |
| Herbs to grow | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in the Pacific Northwest-45 miles north of Seattle Washington. I would like to grow mostly ... A: Brenda: The first suggestion is to contact State extension service dept. for soil conditions needed ... | |
| insect repelling herbs | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I have read that there are several herbs that I can grow in the garden that will repel different ... A: James: I have heard about catnip for the mosquitos, but no testimonies. I have a list that I have ... | |
| School Science Fair Questions | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I am a middle school student and I go to a magnet school. I am about to begin conducting my first ... A: Abigail: I wish I could tell about the different light on basil. I do know that basil in the summer ... | |
| freezing herbs | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: Please could you tell me which herbs out of the daily used herbs / vegetables (mint, basil, ... A: Nasreen: I can only give you of a few herbs that I have frozen and did well. Mint,ginger, parsley, ... | |
| Shadow Benny/ Culantro | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I want to grow culantro but cannot find the seeds or a starter in Maryland any suggestions on where ... A: Najla: I have the shadow bennie plants.I have never tried shipping them yet.They are small & slow ... | |
| Kitchen Bay | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a kitchen bay in a pot in the garden, it is approximately 2 foot tall but it doesn't look ... A: Alison: I can only say that it likes to be root bounded a little. When re-potting the roots must be ... | |
| cutting herbs | 7/25/2009 |
| Q: could you tell me how to cut basil, rosemary and thyme?this is the first time I am growing my own ... A: Debbie: Here is how I prune my herbs How & When to Prune Your Herbs There seems to be very little ... | |
| Rosemary | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I just bought a house in Las Vegas. We have a beautiful rosemary bush in the front ... A: Dottie: The rosemary should do well with the drip irrigation. It hates to much water, so don't water ... | |
| Bugs eating basil | 7/2/2009 |
| Q: I have two pots of basil on my porch (screened in 3rd floor balcony). This is the 4th year I've done ... A: Rosemary: I have a home made spray that I use sometime. 1 qt. of water,1 tablespoon hot sauce, 1 ... | |
| bay tree /bush | 6/19/2009 |
| Q: I would be very grateful if you could help. We have a bay and over the last three or four weeks we ... A: Tony: Bay will sometime get this sooty stuff on them. I use rubbing alcohol & cotton balls to hand ... | |
| cilantro | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: my cilantro has green worms that actually blend in with the cilantro, what can I do to get rid of ... A: Darla: This worm also attacks dill,fennel, parsley. There is an organic pesticide at gardens ... | |
| rosemary bush dying | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I have had a rosemary bush planted in a LARGE pot for two years or more and it was doing wonderful, ... A: Krista: The weather most likely made the change in your rosemary. Sometimes when it doesn't receive ... | |
| Basil | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I bought a basil plant and planted it in a clay pot to grow indoors. I had it in north light but not ... A: Linda: Your clay pot should be at least 10"-12" deep. Take outdoors to full sun on east or south ... | |
| Basil plant | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: my sis gave me a basil plant and I'm making sure that it gets plenty of sunlight and water it every ... A: Tanya Joy: It may be a few things. Too much water,change to twice a week if no rain. It should get ... | |
| brown spots on Lemon Verbena | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I bought a small, young Lemon Verbena (grown from a cutting) 2 weeks ago. I immediately potted it ... A: Rebecca: The powdery should be powdery mildew. The brown spots could be watering schedule, which may ... | |
| Thyme plant not doing so well | 5/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in an apartment and i thought i would be nice to get a little window type box for my balcony ... A: Dawn: It sounds like you are doing everything well. It could be the 90 degree heat or not enough ... | |
| Dill plant - pruning and drying | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: I have never grown an herb before, but I bought a dill plant at a chain store and no on there knew ... A: Kathryn: This may be the regular dill which sometimes go to seed quickly. Cut 1/3 at a time and ... | |
| Basil | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I am growing basil (three plants in a large pot) outdoors. The plant receives direct sunlight all ... A: Damon: Water every 3 days. Do not get it soggy. Feed with liquid fish fertilizer every 3 weeks. When ... | |
| seeds | 4/11/2009 |
| Q: I want to grow padron peppers beefsteak plants. Where can I get the seeds? A: Robert: I did not see it in my catalogs, but you may try contacting the list below. johnny'selected ... | |
| white stuff on dill plants | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: After a couple of weeks of planting my dill seedlings, they are covered by white stuff. I can rub ... A: Ichiyo: I would try a homemade formula. 1 tblsp. of rubbing alcohol, 1 tblsp. hot sauce to 1 qt. of ... | |
| organic garden | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: Before I purchase your book, I want to make sure I'll need it.So here is my question, " Can I have ... A: Esther: I must tell you that you may not need my book. It does not give anything special about ... | |
| Harvesting grass and herbs | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: I grow misc. grasses indoor for my cats and birds to eat. It is usually sold on the market as "cat ... A: Kayla: I never had the desire to grow catgrass. I have only heard of it. You may try to harvest ... | |
| Growing catnip indoors. | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: I don't know if you have any knowledge of growing catnip, but I hope you can help. I plan on ... A: Andrew: Catnip is a hardy herb and do best outdoors. When the seeds sprout to about 2-3", seperate ... | |
| moving herbs, non blooming iris | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I am moving my herb garden to another area in my yard and want to know the best time of the year to ... A: Kris: Be sure to locate them in an eastern or south-east location when the night temps are in the ... | |
| White blobs on Rosemary bush | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: It looks like someone took a shotgun full of marshmallow cream and shot it all over my rosemary ... A: Teresa: I believe it comes from the spittle bug. I don't remember what recipe that I used for this, ... | |
| Growing Basil Indoors | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I live in an apartment w/o a balcony so all plants need to be grown inside. I do have a good ... A: Deborah: Basil hates the indoors. It needs an eastern location with early morning sun all day. It is ... | |
| indoor herb garder | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I live in a townhome with no outside garden. I would like to grow a few herbs in my kichen window. ... A: Marilyn: Indoor herb growing take some special growing. You need a east or south location.Bottom ... | |
| mint | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a mint plant and have just noticed white mushy balls growing the entire length of the stem. ... A: Amber: Mint must be placed outdoors to return next year. Indoor growing is not good for mint.Go to ... | |
| picking basil | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: My basil plant has been wonderful for a long time, now it seems like a lot of the plant has really ... A: Diane: Basil do like the sun & warm conditions, however it grows with the season best. Since it is ... | |
| parsley, curled | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I grew parsley in my raised bed this year, and I really enjoyed it. A few days ago, I transplanted ... A: Tamara: I can only say that some transplanting shock has taken place. Fertilizez with organic liquid ... | |
| Novocaine plant | 11/14/2008 |
| Q: I recently purchased a plant that I was told was a novocaine plant. I did chew on a leaf and it did ... A: Rebecca: I have only grown the toothache or novocain plant called spilanthes acmella. It has yellow ... | |
| Help save my Rosemary Tree | 11/8/2008 |
| Q: I bought a beautiful healthy topiary Rosemary plant in the shape of a Christmas tree about 3 weeks ... A: Marie: The rosemary is probably pot bound. Try re-potting it to a next size larger pot. Cut 1/3 off ... | |
| Basil under attack! | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: I've recently planted a group of herbs in a terracotta pot on my patio. within the first 24hours ... A: Amy-lea: There are night raiders that do the most attacking. Worms & beetles. My home remedy is 1 ... | |
| Tulsi Plant | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: What is this plant could it be consumed or injested. It is said to be from India. Please help A: Pat: This is a tender basil. It can be over wintered indoors. It may loose it's leaves, but will ... | |
| rosemary bread | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: I recently moved. In my old place, I had an abundant bush of rosemary, and I used it in a bread of ... A: Andrew: The rosemary varieties are many. You would have to select the names if possible. There are ... | |
| Un-Companion Planting | 10/10/2008 |
| Q: How far is far enough to plant Rue and Basil without having a problem. I know they do not like each ... A: Donna: True about distance between them. The bees & butterflies will go to any flower. So they will ... | |
| growing herbs indoors | 10/1/2008 |
| Q: I am looking to grow some herbs in my kitchen and I am a little weary of doing any indoor gardening ... A: Jamie: Hardy herbs do not like the indoors unless you have an eastern/southeast exposure. They like ... | |
| Italian Parsley | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: I am growing Italian Parsley in my vegetable garden outside. It has done very well and is full of ... A: Amy: The white finding may be the swallow tail butterfly. It loves parsley & dill. Harvest affected ... | |
| rosemary browning | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: I had a potted rosemary tree for 3 years and never had any problems. It is in a sunny spot in our ... A: Barbara: The white stuff was powdery mildew. The heavy winter pruning could cause it to die: ... | |
| Herbs cilantro and dill | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: Can cilantro and dill affect one another if planted next to one another; especially in succeeding ... A: Jon: I have never heard or seen anything about their growth together. You could change sections and ... | |
| Growing herbs in plant troughs | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: Wilton, soon I'll be moving to a new apartment with a little balcony. I'd like to grow some herbs ... A: Rob: I will give you basic info. All herbs needs morning sun from the east or southeast. Mint must ... | |
| drying wild lavender | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: I have lots of a blue/gray plant that smells like lavender when you crush the leaves. This is ... A: Sharon: I can't say if this is lavender, but do a small amount of this first. If fragrance is still ... | |
| lavender and rosemary | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: What can be done to help lavender and rosemary? What kind of soil do they need? How should I prepare ... A: Annette: You can help yours clay soil by adding a mineral call "greensand". It is sold at the ... | |
| mint/ cutting various herbs like mint, basil, rosemary | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: i have 2 mint plant inside and they both have mold looking stuff on the leaves, white-ish. it ... A: michele: Put all plants outside. The mints need outside climate. The basil needs an eastern or ... | |
| Basil | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: I am house sitting for a neighbor, and all his plants are doing great except for the little potted ... A: Nicole: The pot is too small. It has to be re-potted in a larger(12" deep or more).When re=potting, ... | |
| Tuscan Blue Rosemary | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: I have just planted a Tuscan Blue Rosemary, (lovely thing) according to the instructions on the ... A: Patty: Yes! you may cut off branches that are touching ground. Take from pot now and plant. Mulch ... | |
| grooming herbs | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: ..both my dill & oregano plants are growing like crazy; however each of these plants have flowers ... A: Sheri: Yes, do start pruning. Take off all flowers on the dill. Leave at least 1 or more pair of ... | |
| Rosemary bush | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a small (about 2 ft tall) rosemary bush - shaped like a small tree. It looks very ... A: D: Your rosemary is probably the tender one. If it is not called "Arp or "hardy hill"), which will ... | |
| texas tarragon | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: Good Morning I bought this herb @ home depot,it looked Great when I brought it home,however now ... A: Rheba: The texas tarragon, mexican mint marigold,summer tarragon, florida tarragon, needs to receive ... | |
| french lavender | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: I bought six french lavender planets from the nursery. Everything I have read say plant in zone 8. ... A: Barbara: Normally french lavender will not grow thru winters outdoors. They have to be inside in a ... | |
| Cutting herbs | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a container that I am growing basil and cilantro. They are doing wonderful and I am ready to ... A: Perry: From the top of each branch, come don 1/3 & cut 1/4" above next set of leaves. This will ... | |
| Growing Basil | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: I am growing basil in a pot outside. (I live in Florida) I also planted mint and lavender in the ... A: Betty: First thing is to remove mint from pot. It will choke out others for soil & nutrients. There ... | |
| my new herb garden | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: I just recently purchased some herbs to plant, I am short on space, so only have two large tubs to ... A: Malanie: Assuming your tubs are 36" in diameter, you may plant french & lemon thyme together. The ... | |
| bay tree | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: I have recently potted a bay tree about 2 ft height in new compost, using organic slug pellets on ... A: Stuart: I can't say for sure,it may be in the new soil mix,too much water or other.Bay loves to be ... | |
| Herb expiration | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: I have a LARGE assorted collection of herbs that I ordered from Ebay. Chamomile, basil, rosemary, ... A: Andrew: You can search web site for local herb shops. Good shops can give you some info on how long ... | |
| rosemary | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: I noticed some very wiggly tiny white worms on my rosemary last night. This morning they aren't ... A: Lucinda: I can't call what this worm is, but it will destroy the plant. It has laid it's larvae on ... | |
| Harvesting and drying Stevia and Lavendar | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: I am new to growing herbs and want to know how I can use them, such as the fragrance of lavendar and ... A: Lisa: Start to cut branches when they are over 12" long. Place in a bag to dry or place in nylon ... | |
| Growing Lavender indoors | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: I bought a Lavender plant two weeks ago. I think it's French Lavender, in a 9 inch (or thereabouts) ... A: Lauren: Normally this is a tender lavender. They love the outdoors in the spring. They know when the ... | |
| Growing basil and thyme in Arizona | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I just bought 2 small basil plants and 1 small thyme. I live in Tucson, Arizona where the summers ... A: Diane: I have heard about the Arizona heat. Your pots should be at least 12"-18" deep. Use good ... | |
| Splitting a mint plant | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: I would like to know how to split a mint plant to make three or four smaller plants - do i just ... A: mel: You may divide the plant a few ways. If it is old it has roots spreading, so cut each section ... | |
| Dying Rosemary | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: I bought a rosemary plant from my local Lowes 3 weeks ago. The day after I bought it I transplanted ... A: Kate: It may have been root bound. If you don't spread the roots at the bottom, they will become ... | |
| diseased basil | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: I am growing basil from seed. It has been about three months and for the most part they are doing ... A: Karen: It could be a few things. Basil need 16 hours of sunlight. Fresh air circulating, bottom heat ... | |
| True Lavender | 4/13/2008 |
| Q: I live in North Carolina. I'm surrounded by flat woods, as well as a valley that has a creek. ... A: Joe: I couldn't tell you where to find wild lavender, but if you find purple flowers and the smell ... | |
| Bay leaf Plants | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: It stands approx 4 feet tall. I got it summer 2007. Did well but then in February discovered sticky ... A: Gelerie: Bay normally like to be a little root bound. Lay it on its side and pull out. Look at root ... | |
| Rosemary | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: I am so desperate to have a rosemary plant as I often use it for cooking. I have one in a pot and it ... A: Gigie: I don't know how long you have it in a pot. So I will start with some info on rosemary. It is ... | |
| Dying Rosemary bush | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: I have rosemary bushes aprox 3' x 2' planted outside in direct sun at the beach. They have been ... A: Marie: The bush that has turned brown is normally dead. The causes could be many. Too much water; ... | |
| Rosemary | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: My question about rosemary is..... I planted a new plant late spring of last year and it took off ... A: Karyn: I am pretty sure it has gone to rosemary heaven. Once it has reached the brown stalks, it has ... | |
| Herbs in the tropics? | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: How strange that herbs only has a category in food and drink and not in gardening! I have recently ... A: Katie: Sorry! I have taken so long to answer.I hope my info can help you, since I have no experience ... | |
| the herbs sage and basil | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: How can I stop basil plants growing thin and weedy and dying before getting bushy? How can I keep a ... A: David: Your basil must be grown in heat of 70 degrees at night. Locate it on the east.If using ... | |
| Lavender | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: I am attempting to plant lavender seed in peat pellets. I planted about 25 of them on the 25th of ... A: Terry: The lavender seeds have a very low germination rate. They do need bottom heat around 70 ... | |
| Rosemary | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: My rosemary has a pale powder on the leaves. What is it and how do I get rid of it? A: Susan: This is normally called "powdery mildew" and it comes on the rosemary when too much moisture ... | |
| my sick rosemary | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: i have a rosemary that is twelve years old now and was quite massive in its 30 gallon container ... A: Chip: You are right to hold the water, mother nature will do that.It is hard to say about rosemary's ... | |
| Caring for Rosemary in Texas | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: I was given a rosemary bush this past Christmas. It has done very well so far but I want to know how ... A: Todd: The rosemary is finicky indoors at times. Too much water,not enough water, water too late etc. ... | |
| plant infestation | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: We have a bay laurel tree in our garden it is about 7 meters tall, but its leaves are being totaly ... A: Stuart: I have never seen any pest on the bay tree except scale. Try the cooperative extension ... | |
| droopy lamb's ear | 12/15/2007 |
| Q: My lamb's ear did extremely well in a 10" pot on our shady front porch all summer. Now that it's ... A: Lala: The lamb's ears is a over winter guy and should be outdoors, or sunny cool location in the ... | |
| Winter protection for rosemary plant in Zone 6a | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I adore rosemary. I live in Northwest NJ. I have a beloved plant that I put in the ground this ... A: Ellen: The hardiest rosemarys are called "Arp & hardy hill. They will take -10 below. The others may ... | |
| rosemary | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: I would like to make soap, aftershave, parfume from my rosemary clippings, any recipes ? Thanks for ... A: Ginny: I have seen products made with rosemary. Check for soap making with rosemary or do the ... | |
| rosemary | 10/14/2007 |
| Q: I am growing a small rosemary plant in my dorm room at university.. it is sitting right beside a ... A: Andrea: Depending on your area climate it should receive outdoor climate. If the variety is called ... | |
| lavendar | 9/22/2007 |
| Q: I have a beautiful stand of lavendar. I would like to know when to harvet the lavendar for drying ... A: nancy: It is said to stop pruning lavendar in Sept. So, if you still want to harvest it then cut 1/3 ... | |
| pruning | 9/13/2007 |
| Q: I live north of Baltimore, MD. I have an herb garden in the back of my house with several perennial ... A: Billie: Rosemary & lavender should be pruned every 3 weeks. Do this now until the end of Sept. Prune ... | |
| basil in winter | 9/12/2007 |
| Q: I have a basil plant outside doing very well and now that fall is approaching (I live in NY) I am ... A: Pat: This is the first herb that goes at the first sign of frost. To keep in doors you must locate ... | |
| herbs | 9/2/2007 |
| Q: i have planted some lemon balm and it is growing like crazy. when should it be pruned, how do i dry ... A: Kellie: Pruned each branch by 1/3 from the tip. Do this every 3 weeks. Blend a cup full of leaves ... | |
| Hi Leroy | 8/2/2007 |
| Q: Not sure if you remember me; I worked at Smile about 13 years ago?...oh my goodness! I bought a 4" ... A: Denise: I came there in Aug., 95', so you were there when I came. I have lost some of my memory with ... | |
| Rosemary bush | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: I have a rosemary bush that was a Christmas plant and transplanted very successfully into a pot. It ... A: Angela: It sounds like you did the change well. Rosemary does like to be pot bound a little. It ... | |
| planting & cutting herbs | 7/22/2007 |
| Q: My wife and I planted cilantro; Margam; Dill; Rosemary; Thyme; sage; basil & jalopenos and tomatoes ... A: Bud: You planted at a good time, but mother nature was not in agreement with the weather. I would ... | |
| cutting back herbs | 7/15/2007 |
| Q: I planted an herb garden early in June and the herbs grew beautifully. the only problem is, I did ... A: Mary Beth: Yes! they need pruning. The dill can be cut back to the youngest leaves. They will ... | |
| rosemary | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: In early spring I planted a small rosemary in my flower bed. It gets full sun, and is growing ... A: Pat: It looks like it is in a happy location. Yes! pinching it back is very important. Below is my ... | |
| Patio Herbs | 7/1/2007 |
| Q: Leroy, Stumbled across your site while searching for answers to my patio herb garden problems. A ... A: Joshua: The cilantro & dill love sunny & cool weather. They will go to seed as soon as it into high ... | |
| Caring for Basil | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: I have recently purchased fresh herbs and all are doing well except for the basil. What are your ... A: Sandy: Basil must be outside and receiving full morning sun all day. Water about twice a week ... | |
| my oregano is turning yellow | 6/24/2007 |
| Q: i just recently started growing a few herbs. rosemary, thyme and oregano i bought as ... A: Joshua: Those pots are cute, but not for growing herbs well. The oregano is aggressive and will take ... | |
| growing basil, mint and oregano from seeds | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: I am attempting to grow basil mint and oregano from seeds. I planted them in clay pots last Monday ... A: Katie: Basil is best started in sterile soil with no fertilizer. Seeds must be placed on top of soil ... | |
| Lavendar | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: I live in MI and have a few lavendar plants in my flower beds that are 2 years old. Not sure what ... A: Judy: If your weather is not in the 90's go ahead. Wet the ground around the plant, on the night ... | |
| Dill and Corriander | 6/19/2007 |
| Q: Leroy. I've planted both dill and cilantro for the first time this year. Could you please tell me ... A: Sarah: The cilantro wants to go to seed as soon as 80 degree temps arrive. To have a daily harvest, ... | |
| Rosemary bushes | 6/12/2007 |
| Q: Our Rosemary bushes are to large in diameter, what is the best way to cut them in. A: Linda: I believe the best way is to prune 1/3 growth off each branch every 3 weeks. This will ... | |
| Growing Herbs in Containers on Balcony | 6/10/2007 |
| Q: I'm organically growing four types of mint in a windowbox on a 28th floor balcony. I transplanted ... A: GiGi: It sounds like you need more growing containers for your herbs. Mint will take over any ... | |
| Organic herbs | 5/28/2007 |
| Q: I live in South Florida and bought a few herbs on a whim a while ago. (Rosemary, mint, basil, ... A: Annie: Now you are hooked!! I have been growing them organically for 26 years and will not change. ... | |
| SEVEN SPRAY ON HERBS | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I ACCIDENTALLY SPRAYED SEVEN SPRAY ON MY BASIL,OREGANO AND SAGE. DO I NEED TO DISCARD AND START ... A: Sylvia: I do not know what the seven spray is? Keep an watchful eye on each plant for curling of the ... | |
| Rosemary Bushes Turning Brown | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: I have 3 large rosemary bushes in my yard. They are located in different areas. Parts of them are ... A: Jenean: The plants can have a few problems. Sometimes the soil has been depleted of what rosemary ... | |
| herbs | 5/1/2007 |
| Q: what herbs can i grow in the same pot out side on the deck lots of light on one and part shae on the ... A: Kathy: Most any herb can be grown in pots if receiving early morning sun from the east. I recommend ... | |
| Herbs | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: I am attempting to grow parsley and lavender from seeds. I planted them about a month ago and ... A: Melissa: Yes! do place the parsley outdoors. Stop the watering, until soil is almost dry. If your ... | |
| bay tree | 4/8/2007 |
| Q: my bay tree is covered in black spots. what is it & what is the remedy? A: Peter: I believe the black spots is called "smut". Contact this web site called "gardensalive.com. ... | |
| Tagetes | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: I recently put an image on Tramil website of what i thought was Tagetes lucida. however it appears ... A: Roger: There are a few more tagetes. The lucida is called texas tarragon,winter tarragon,mexican ... | |
| Lemon balm | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: I have a bush of lemon balm growing on my side yard, and it's doing fine. It receives part-sun. Is ... A: Marcia: Yes! it loves that kind of light. Early sun to afternoon & evening shade. Take some 6" ... | |
| Mint | 3/27/2007 |
| Q: Well a couple of years ago i started noticing this herb growing and i thaught ah its ok its only ... A: Mike: That is one plant that should never be allowed to run freely. The best way without using ... | |
| bay tree | 2/1/2007 |
| Q: my bay tree has small shoots coming off the base .can i grow new trees off these and if so ,how ... A: Ralph: I have never tried this before. I know you can take cutting from branch and dip in a rooting ... | |
| picking basil leaves | 1/10/2007 |
| Q: i started some basil seeds a few weeks ago and they have done awesome! i am very excited that they ... A: Sharon: You must be in sunny california or florida to have basil doing so well.It loves full sun and ... | |
| rosemary bush | 12/22/2006 |
| Q: I have purchased 3 rosemary bushes in 1 gallon pots, one for me and 2 as gifts. I use the rosemary ... A: Dorothy: I have found that winter grown rosemary, grown in pots don"t do well when they are ... | |
| QUESTION ABOUT HERB | 12/21/2006 |
| Q: This may be out of your expertise. I got a small piece of my neighbor's rosemary bush, with a small ... A: Patrica: At this time of year, the rosemary is going dormant. You can plant it in a pot with sterile ... | |
| Growing Oregano at home | 12/13/2006 |
| Q: I am trying to grow oregano at home and have been unsuccessful. Could you give me some tips and ... A: Vanessa: Oregano likes to be grown outdoors, go dormant for the winter and return in the spring. It ... | |
| rosemary | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: I bought a small rosemary bush, the instructions said to water everyday. I have done this but now ... A: Debby: I am sorry for the watering directions. Rosemary does not like to watered every day. Unless ... | |
| Rosemary | 12/4/2006 |
| Q: We planted a rosemary bush mum and me because we thought it would be fun (I am only 11), we use it ... A: Remi: It could be a combination of them all. Rosemary hates too much water,not enough water and ... | |
| rosemary plant | 11/30/2006 |
| Q: Rosemary plant fragance smell just when you are so close? or is there many types of rosemary? thank ... A: Liliana: You can smell the rosemary by touching it. There are many names on the rosemary's. But I ... | |
| basil | 11/28/2006 |
| Q: My plant is cold. What should I do. A: John: If you are not in the southern states, just say good-by until next year. Basil at this time ... | |
| Rosemary Dying | 11/21/2006 |
| Q: i live in Victoria in Australia. i have crecently moved house so threw into the ground all my herbs ... A: Karlie: Rosemary is tempermental. It doesn't like to be moved. The yellowing could be that or soil ... | |
| Rosemary Bush | 11/14/2006 |
| Q: I was given a beautiful rosemary bush that was planted in a very large pot and was healthy until it ... A: Ramona: Bringing rosemary indoors is a death sentence without certain conditions. It needs a cool ... | |
| Mint | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: So I can keep it in the plastic pot outside? Or do I need to actually try to plant this in the ... A: Cindy The mint has reached it's boundary in the pot. When it becomes too pot bound, it doesn't grow ... | |
| drying fresh herbs | 11/4/2006 |
| Q: I have a large and very healthy parsley plant and would like to dry the leaves and use them this ... A: Barbara: This is my favorite drying herb. I place the fresh leaves with or without stems, in a brown ... | |
| Mint | 11/3/2006 |
| Q: My sister-in-law gave me a mint plant over the summer. Since I really didn't have a garden bed, I ... A: Cindy: The mint must stay outdoors all winter to go dormant and return in the spring. You may cut it ... | |
| Liquid fish fertz - no longer conscionable? | 10/31/2006 |
| Q: Under "Rosemary" was the advice, "Use a seaweed and/or liquid fish fertilizer." I live in Chile, ... A: Bill: I have been using the fish/seaweed fertilizer for 23 years+. I am told the fish is from the ... | |
| rosemary | 10/29/2006 |
| Q: i have a rosemary bush about 3 feet tall...what will happen if i cut off the growing tip A: Rocky: Depending on your climate. If it's getting below freezing in your ares, I would not prune any ... | |
| what plant should I start with that this time? | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: I Live in Greenville, SC. I just moved in a new house. I want to buy some plant to decorate the ... A: Lena: I can only tell you about herb plants. The aloe vera plant is good for your area. It takes ... | |
| herbs | 10/23/2006 |
| Q: I LIVE IS SOUTH CAROLINA AND I AM STARTING TO GROW SOME HERBS WHAT DO I NEED TO DO WITH THEM WHEN ... A: Virginia: If both herbs are in the same pot,re-place the mint in it's own pot. It will eventually ... | |
| how do i get rig of un wanted basil | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: I have what i think to be Basil growing in my garden, I planted it last year, but this year it has ... A: Elsa: The basil you have sounds like green or red perilla(shiso). It returns each year and looks ... | |
| Coriander (herb) | 10/13/2006 |
| Q: My daughter is doing a science project on herbs and she has found fantastic websites but none of ... A: Nicole: If it is grown in soil,the soil should be kept moist, but not soggy. About every 3-5 days. ... | |
| Basil herb plants indoors | 10/12/2006 |
| Q: i have been growing Basil from seeds & they were doing great, but lately the bottom of most of the ... A: June: Basil hates to be grown indoors. At this time of year the plant will become woody and turn ... | |
| Rosemary bush | 10/2/2006 |
| Q: I have some very large rosemary bushes in my back patio. Aside for trimming them once a year, I ... A: Andrea: I think it is an insect that causes this. Try your state agriculture service plant dept. for ... | |
| basil leaves turning black and falling off | 9/18/2006 |
| Q: I just brought a basil plant inside and the leaves are turning black and falling off. How come. ... A: KO: You have just given your basil a death sentence. It hates indoor growing unless it has 16 hours ... | |
| Insects on my indoor herbs | 9/13/2006 |
| Q: I had a small, indoor herb garden with basil, thyme, rosemary, cilantro, parsely, oregano, and ... A: Roxanne: Indoor herb growing is a challenge.They all hate indoor growing if they don't have full ... | |
| Dying Rosemary bush | 9/2/2006 |
| Q: I planted 2 rosemary bushes together in my front yard flower bed 15 months ago. About a month ago, ... A: Nancy: The one with the white substance has powdery mildew. Air circulation is usually the problem ... | |
| Bay laurel trees | 8/27/2006 |
| Q: My bay laurel tree I got this spring has new growth on it and browning, falling leaves. I read ... A: Jean: It is true that water,light and fertilizer has a lot to do with growing bay. To check for root ... | |
| My curry leaf plant is drying after i repotted it | 8/27/2006 |
| Q: I have a curry leaf plat(we call curry pata in India)more like bay leaf but soft and not rubbery in ... A: Saswati: I have grown this plant once and I found that it did not like a lot of water. Also ... | |
| growing herbs in containers | 8/16/2006 |
| Q: I'm a novice when it comes to growing herbs. I have a strawberry pot with rosemary growing in the ... A: Maeve: The rosemary may last thru out the season if it does not get too much water and egts ... | |
| lighting | 8/8/2006 |
| Q: what kind of light should i use for indoor growing ? light bulbs that say plant light are they good ... A: Mary: The little I know about using lights is that regular light bulbs is not good. The best is ... | |
| growing herbs indoor, in a not very much sunny flat | 8/5/2006 |
| Q: I recently bought 3 tipes of herbs: Salvia, Winter Savory and Moroccan Mint. Unfortunatly my place ... A: Mal: All of the herbs need full morning sun from the east or south. Savia need a deep pot 12" and 6" ... | |
| Basil | 7/31/2006 |
| Q: Can you tell me if its safe to use basil in cooking when it is flowering? Thanks Kate A: Kate: I have not heard of any bad news about cooking with the flowers. The flowers do give a ... | |
| potted plants | 7/30/2006 |
| Q: I live in a major city appartment with no access to a yard of any kind. I also would like to grow ... A: Kelly: Sorry to say, yes! THEY WILL DIE. The 3 plants are outdoor and can't stand the indoor ... | |
| Rosemary Dying | 7/25/2006 |
| Q: I am a novice gardener and bought a rosemary bush. I have it in a container outside on my deck next ... A: Chris: It sounds like powdery mildew has attacked the plant. It needs full morning sun and air ... | |
| ailing rosemary plant | 7/23/2006 |
| Q: we planted 3 plants together some 20 yrs ago they flourished and grew. then this yr stated to die ... A: Joan: This is the first time I have heard of a 20 year old rosemary. I can only think of a few ... | |
| Pruning and drying herbs | 7/15/2006 |
| Q: I've read some your responses but I'm still confused. I have oregano, basil, and peppermint in my ... A: Fay: The 1/3 branch is included with the leaves. I dry them by placing in a paper bag. Place in a ... | |
| Bay Leaves | 7/10/2006 |
| Q: My wife love her organic garden and she keeps expanding every year, this year she wanted a Laurel ... A: James: True, James very hard to find organically grown bay. They are hard to grow and find. Most are ... | |
| cilantro | 7/7/2006 |
| Q: this plant confuses me. this is the first year i have grown cilantro and it is going well. however ... A: Jenifer: Cilantro will do that, look pretty green and soon as the heat comes it goes to seed. You ... | |
| Propagating Chocolate Mint | 7/6/2006 |
| Q: I have a heavenly chocolate mint plant that I have successfully progapaged merely by making a ... A: Rose: I have done this at times and it rooted too! The other way is to take a 6" cutting,strip the ... | |
| Rosemary | 7/4/2006 |
| Q: Mine is so big, how do I cut it or prune it , with out damaging it? A: Maria: If your rosemary has never been pruned,it may get a little shock when pruning it. Start by ... | |
| Yellow herbs | 7/3/2006 |
| Q: I'm a novice gardener. In the past I've grown tomatoes and herbs and had pretty good luck with them. ... A: Michele: It may be the feeding of the plants. Try liquid fish fertilizer. It is sold at home depot & ... | |
| 'Texas' tarragon | 6/27/2006 |
| Q: A number of years ago I bought this 'herb' called Texas tarragon. The label said it wasn't a ... A: Carol: These are the names it is called. The one you have is called sweet marigold and it is the ... | |
| Spanish Lavender | 6/26/2006 |
| Q: I have 3 Spanish Lavender plants I planted this spring, I live in Oregon. The blooms on 2 of the ... A: Kerri: Lavender loves powdered lime. Add a handful around each plant & blend into the top 2" of ... | |
| thyme insecticide | 6/26/2006 |
| Q: The leaves of sprouted French thyme grown in a terracotta pot are decimated by unseen insects. ... A: Steve: It sounds like a worm may be the bandit. Go to this web site www.gardensalive.com. They have ... | |
| basil turning yellow | 6/24/2006 |
| Q: Can you tell me why my basil is turning yellow and not thriving? I live in a cold climate- coastal ... A: Lali: I think you have to go back to the cold frame. Basil is a light and heat lover and will not ... | |
| More herb questions/basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, coriandar | 6/20/2006 |
| Q: Leroy: First, can you recommend a good book about herb gardening? When to plant, when to harvest? I ... A: Ken: I recomend any book by the organic gardeners. Try the herbworld.com web site for literature. ... | |
| Herbs | 6/16/2006 |
| Q: This is my first herb garden.I started with plants i have Rosemary-Parsley - Thyme Basil and ... A: Mark: If it rains twice a week, that is all they need. If it doesn't,water twice a week. Fertilize ... | |
| Cilantro | 6/15/2006 |
| Q: Leroy: I have a question I hope you can answer. I have a huge cilantro plant growing in a windown ... A: Ken: To have fresh cilantro weekly,you must sow seeds about every 3 weeks. Since the brazilian ... | |
| holes in basil | 6/15/2006 |
| Q: What pest could be causing swiss cheese like holes in my young basil plants? What can be done about ... A: Adrienne: This sounds like a worm or beetle. The web site 'gardens alive.com have a lot of organic ... | |
| herb troubleshooting | 6/3/2006 |
| Q: I have two cilantro plants. One is fine, the other has issues. The leaves are curling up. It has no ... A: Joy: It could be a few things wrong. Is it outdoors? Receiving morning sun? Not being watered too ... | |
| Help my oregano is turning black | 6/2/2006 |
| Q: I noticed my herbs the other day having some brown spots on some of the leaves. I inspected the ... A: Kim: I am sure it is because oregano is an outdoor herb, Italian or greek. It must receive all of ... | |
| Caring for an ailing Rosemary bush | 6/2/2006 |
| Q: I have two beautiful rosemary bushs growing in planter boxes. The bushes are both 2 plus years old ... A: Pat: Rosemary are very finicky of not enough water and too much water. Once a week would be fine and ... | |
| indoor herb growth | 5/15/2006 |
| Q: will the rate of growth for herb plants under grow light be the same as it would be outdoors in ... A: Robert: I have started herbs under lights, but only until they have reached the transferable state ... | |
| Purple Basil | 5/10/2006 |
| Q: I recently purchased a ruffled purple basil plant, mainly because I thought it was so pretty and ... A: Sandie: Yes! basil will repel flies and some other pests. Cut branches 12" and place in vase with ... | |
| Rosemary Bush - trimming it | 5/7/2006 |
| Q: When I moved into my current house there is a very well established rosemary bush at the back of the ... A: Karen: Now is the time to start cutting. Since it is so large,do 1/2 on each branch and every 3 ... | |
| Rosemary Bush - trimming it | 5/6/2006 |
| Q: When I moved into my current house there is a very well established rosemary bush at the back of the ... A: Karen: Start at the bottom and trim 1/3 off each branch. Do this every 3 weeks. When new shoots ... | |
| cilantro | 5/3/2006 |
| Q: Can cilantro be grown only from seeds, or can it reproduce by vegetative propagation (reproduce ... A: Aaliya: In my 23 years of growing cilanto. I have never heard of or seen cilantro grown from a ... | |
| Buying plants online | 4/21/2006 |
| Q: G'day Leroy, I am keen to start a new herb garden having just moved house. Touble is I live in ... A: Peter: I know of none at the moment. Try Richters.com. They ship around the world. Their info is: ... | |
| when, where to cut my herbs | 4/21/2006 |
| Q: I'm not sure how to cut the herbs when I'm ready to use them. Top, bottom? Help please A: Heather: Use this chart to prune your herbs. Start at lower branches first. How & When to Prune Your ... | |
| Container Herbs | 4/5/2006 |
| Q: Which herbs can be planted together in a container? A: Robin: Many herbs can be planted in containers, but they need the room as they grow. They will ... | |
| first herb garden | 3/21/2006 |
| Q: would like recommendations for size of bed and what style of herbs would be good forr a first time ... A: Brandon: First, I must say that you have to want to grow herbs for pleasure and use. You will have ... | |
Leroy J. Wilton
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I have been growing herbs organically for 27 years. I have also written and self-published a book, "Herbman`s Journal".144+ pages of herbs that I have grown. Photo & short profile at the Smile Herb Shop on "you tube".Sign in "The healing herbs part 3A & 3B". My face book "the Herbman" You can request it from my e-mail.It is $24.95 with free shipping. 5517 Nome Ave., Balto..Md.21215. It is loose -leaf, 151 pg. A free "Herbman" t-shirt included while they last(large,X-large).It covers many names of herbs that I have grown, such as culantro,shadow bennie, recao de monte & 97 other names.
Experience
I have been growing herbs organically for 27 years. I have also written and self-published, loose leaf binder, "Herbmans Journal". 2008 is my last year at Smile Herb Shop. I plan to grow herbs in my small back yard and sell at David's Natural Store in Columbia, Md. on saturdays. I also will return to the Baltimore Herb Festival in May 2009(memorial day weekend).I used the word organically grown, but the state came into the picture and stated that I could not use the word unless I become certified & paid a $300.00 fee. I decided to add to my name (99% chemical-free) since nothing on this planet is 100%, except Jesus Christ, taxes & death. My customers were satisfied with this instead of paying a large fee and raising my prices,with no guarantee that it is organic except for a label.Their belief was in my word.
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