The word “Almanac” is probably not the best choice for this Garden Shed hodge-podge of garden experiences and observations I’ve collected this past year. The OED confirms that a real almanac should be an “annual table, or (more usually) a book of tables, containing a calendar of months and days, with astronomical data and calculations, ecclesiastical and other anniversaries, and other information, including astrological and meteorological forecasts.” My almanac is mostly backward looking–rather than a forecast of the future–and it includes no real calendar or astronomical/ astrological/meteorological predictions. The OED, however, does offer a second definition of an almanac as a “handbook . . . containing information and statistics of general interest or on a particular subject, esp. a sport or pastime.” That comes closer to what I had in mind. My parents were not avid book-buyers, but every year my Dad would purchase an annual World Almanac, loaded with detailed information about a vast array of topics. In my personal library I still have the last World Almanac he purchased while I was living at home: the 1963 issue with invaluable data and historical information from that pre-Google era.
As for this personal garden almanac, it is in no way comprehensive on any topic. It is more a “commonplace” site where I have assembled stuff I encountered or thought about or wanted to record for future reference. I have sorted items into a dozen groups, labeled by the months of the year, but there is rarely any rhyme or reason for the assignment of any items to any given month. Although I might have originally sought something more comprehensive, this almanac is just a compendium of random memories, observations, notes, quotations–items that for whatever reason didn’t get lost. ~Bob
The first two pages of the Almanac are copied below; the complete text of 20 pages can be obtained by opening the attached pdf: Garden Almanac for 2019.
January
"Antisthenes says that in a certain faraway land the cold is so intense that words freeze
as soon as they are uttered, and after some time then thaw and become audible,
so that words spoken in winter go unheard until the next summer." ~Plutarch, Moralia
Nine Herbs for Container Gardening in the Winter
Much of the information on the first seven herbs is derived from an information sheet by Nikki Jabbour posted to the Savy Gardening website.
(1) Basil.
• Recommended varieties: Genovese, Nufar, Dolce Fresca, Spicy Globe.
• Requires well-drained soil and ample sunshine.
• Responds well to frequenting harvesting, which stimulates new growth.
• Remove flower buds; flowering reduces leaf flavor.
(2) Greek Oregano:
• Among the variety options, Greek oregano offers the best flavor for culinary use; another option is Syrian Oregano, often called Zaatar, which has attractive silvery leaves.
3) Rosemary:
• Rosemary is a woody shrub with aromatic, needle-like foliage; excellent with roasted potatoes and chicken dishes.
• In Alum Garden, the two rosemary plants spend six months outside in the herb garden and six months in the greenhouse. They usually don’t like being brought inside, and it can be difficult to provide the right amount of moisture–not too much, not too little.
• The Savvy Gardener website recommends two cultivars: Gorizia and Arp. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden website 'Gorizia' was discovered in and named for Gorizia, Italy. It was introduced in l986 by herb expert Thomas DeBaggio of Arlington, Virginia. It is an upright, evergreen shrub with thick, rigid, reddish brown stems and long, broad, fat leaves. The leaves, which are twice the size of the leaves of other rosemary cultivars, have a mild sweet aroma and a flavor that is a bit gingery. The thick stems make good skewers for grilling. In summer, it will have light blue flowers in clusters along the stems. It grows 3 to 5 ft. tall and wide. As for the Arp rosemary, according to the High Country Gardens website, it is a relatively new cultivar that should be hardy in zone 6–which means that in a well-protected location, it might survive a mild Iowa winter. Hill’s Hardy is another new rosemary cultivar from High Country Gardens that can supposedly handle temperatures that go below zero.
(4) Thyme:
• Low maintenance, drought-tolerant, can survive occasional neglect.
• Give it full sun and don’t overwater; thyme prefers its soil on the dry side. For culinary use, try English thyme or Lemon thyme, which has variegated yellow and green leaves and a bold lemon scent and flavor.
(5) Mint:
• Because mint can be an aggressive spreader, it’s much easier to control the mint by growing in pots.
• Desirable varieties include peppermint, chocolate mint, mojito, strawberry mint, spearmint; several varieties can be grown together in the same large pot.
• Mint appreciates ample moisture and rich soil (Jabbour recommends 1/3 compost with 2/3 potting soil).
(6) Parsley
• Makes sense to grow two types: curly and flat-leaved parsley.
• Similar to mint, it likes moisture and rich soil; can incorporate a slow-release organizc fertilizer.
• Likes full sun but can handle partial shade.
(7) Lemon Balm
• A mint cousin that shares mint’s aggressive growth habit.
• Will overwinter in Iowa but growing in container in winter ensures year-round supply of fresh leaves.
• Same soil and moisture needs as mint.
(8) Cilantro
• A cool-weather herb that can grow very quickly (perhaps six weeks from seed to harvest) and will often bolt quickly.
• Cilantro is in the same plant family as carrots, has a similar deep taproot, and does not like to be transplanted; best grown in a pot at least 12 inches deep.
• Cilantro prefers moist, well-drained soil; can mix vermiculite or sand in potting soil to improve drainage.
• Spread several seeds (perhaps 6-8) over the top of your potting mix in the pot; barely cover seeds with soil.
• To ensure fresh supply, sew a succession of new seeds every few weeks.
(9) Chives
• The easiest to grow of all these herbs.
• Not picky with regard to soil, moisture; can handle frequent neglect.
• Winter hardy, but growing in container in winter provides fresh supply while outdoor chives are dormant.
To read the remaining 18 pages of Bob's 2019 Garden Almanac, please click on this link: Garden Almanac for 2019.