Herb Gardener Extraordinaire

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I have picked up a new hobby these last 4-6 months. I love my new hobby. It brings me much solace and therapeutic benefits given my circumstances.

Because I spend a lot of my days and evenings in the kitchen making healthy recipes and meals for my Early Alzheimer’s Mom, that on her own she would live off of strictly potato chips, cheeses, almonds, walnuts, and cheese cakes or Blue Bell ice cream exclusively, grazing on these items all morning, afternoon, evening, and into the wee-hours of 1:00am — 3:00am, without pause, so I do this in the kitchen.

How is my herb garden coming along you ask? Well, I’d say for my very first late-summer, early-autumn seeding, rooting, and transplanting, I think pretty damn good. I have some viewers and followers (Arkenatan of A Tale Unfolds) who have been doing this sort of gardening for years and decades, and compared to them I am certainly a rookie learning as I go. For the most part, I must say that I’m fairing pretty well. And according to Mom and sister, when I use some of my various herbs in recipes for them, they are impressed and sometimes rave how good a gourmet chef I’ve become. There is nothing like super fresh herbs straight from your own garden to kitchen and table! Want to see my own home-grown herbs? Of course you do. 😉

Named from top left tier to right, middle tier L to R, and bottom tier L to R images below. My pitchers of liquid seaweed in background.
Garlic Chives
Dwarf Parsley
Bunching Evergreen Onions, had to block the glare with hand.
English Thyme
Sweet Mint.
More Bunching Onions, because they need “spreading” once 3″ — 5″ tall.
Cilantro that we use in many recipes, especially our Pico de Gallo.
More Mint (Spearmint) for my hot teas and recipes like Loin of Lamb or on crackers, as seen below.
Common Oregano, or Oraganum vulgare. New sprouts on the left.

Then not pictured from my garden, but otherwise in two pot containers, my Basil Prospera F1, also known as Genovese or Basil Valentino, as pictured here:

Though mine is F1 Organic, not “PS5.”

Back in late September I planted Rosemary seeds (Rosmarinus officinalis) which grows and thrives very well here in Central Texas. But surprisingly and to my slight dismay my one little sprout—out of 4 or 5 seed-pots—died earlier this week. Grrrrr, can’t win them all, huh? I’ll try again in the Spring 2024. They should do alright for then and rooting/growing in my pots for the full sun summer.

Two of many recipes I’ve used these home-grown herbs for are my fresh Basil Pesto, Mediterranean Veggie or Margarita pizzas, or this one below, Creamy Chicken Pesto Penne Pasta with fresh spinach and sundried tomatoes:

Creamy Chicken Pesto Penne Pasta with spinach & sundried tomatoes.

Or this smash hit today, Rosemary & Olive oil crackers with my fresh Sweet Mint leaves, Rat Trap Cheddar or Danish Bleu Cheese (from Denmark), topped with cherry tomato halves. Compliment this appetizer with a glass of—my favorite red—like Mendoza Valley (Argentina) Malbec or a bold Cabernet Sauvignon to explode the flavors and fragrance in your mouth and nose, image below:

My very fresh Sweet Mint cuttings, cherry tomato halves in container. Mom in the background in her usual spot on the couch enjoying her snack immensely!

These last several months growing my herbs from seed have been wonderfully satisfying and a bit of therapy for my otherwise full-time/overtime Caretaking of Mom. I’d say it is coming along nicely, wouldn’t you? 🌱🌿

Live Well – Love Much – Laugh Often – Learn Always – Garden Lots

The Professor’s Convatorium © 2023 by Professor Taboo is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

42 thoughts on “Herb Gardener Extraordinaire”

  2. Well done, sir! Gardening even on a small scale is well worth the time and effort. We’re trying to grow lettuce down in the basement in the little portable greenhouse we use to start seedlings with some grow lights and heating pads.

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    • Thank you Sir! 🙂

      Good on ya for your basement greenhouse. I wish I had the “space” for even a portable greenhouse in winter, but Mom living in a Senior Community we do not have the space nor the full Sun—our Live Oak trees both shade our tiny space completely all autumn & winter—and both those trees STILL have all their green leaves!!! Grrrrrrr, damn Climate Change!!! 😡 In order to keep my gorgeous, hardy Prospera Basil going every day I must carry both container pots out to the roof of our Toyota Avalon to get any full Sun. It’s worth it I suppose. 🤷‍♂️

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  3. Keeping yourself “active” is a good thing. Not a herb, but I bought a tiny Coleus this past Spring. It now hangs down about 6-feet, and in summer stood 4-feet higher than its pot — in two pots side by side. I have about 6 other Coleus plants growing in the house — after giving away about a dozen plants. I’m not sure how it will grow with only four hours of light during the winter, but we found a brand new flower today, the second time it is flowering for us.
    It seems a funny time of year to flower…

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    • I get it rawgod! As I mentioned to grouchyfarmer, this Climate Change has our Texas winters all but cornered in January thru early March now!!! 🤦‍♂️ Where it used to be back in the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s, winter pretty much began around Halloween. Nothing of the sort anymore. It’s bonkers unpredictable, and extreme everything now!!! 😑

      Congrats on all your Coleus! Well done Sir! 😊 I’ve also been (struggling) propogating the Aaron’s Caladiums given us 2-yrs ago, but in this sub-Sierra and arid climate we have, they demand a LOT of close attention! I’m surprised they’re all still alive frankly. 😄

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      • Coleus was my mother’s favourite houseplant, I remember it everywhere. She died when I was 8. I have avoided Coleus ever since. But now I see why she loved it. It is so easy to grow, though also easy to break the stems.
        Speaking of which, it is time to go water my 40+ year-old Diefenbachia. Talk to you later.

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  4. Well done, Senor.
    Before you know it you’ll be hauling cow manure, mulching hay and growing cabbage and potatoes😄

    I see your team is going along nicely.
    6-0 last night.

    Didn’t watch the game as I was in need of an early night.
    But I caught the early game – United and Galatasery. Wow. That was a game and a half.

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  5. BWAAAA! 😆 As a matter of fact, I was just discussing with Mom yesterday how I need to find the right/perfect bags of compost/manure for this tricky climate zone we’re in. You are prophetic Arkysatan! 😉

    I watched the Arsenal vs Lens game up to the fifth goal. Decided the game was said and done by halftime. Hah! Then turned my attention over to Real Madrid vs Napoli. Was cheering for Napoli of course, being a Barcelona fan. 🤭 But my support didn’t seem to matter in the end. They lost.

    Didn’t catch the Man U vs Galatasaray as I was out and about town getting gardening items, like my liquid seaweed, etc. 🙂 I’ll need to go catch the highlights of that game then.

    When do your Reds play again in the Europa League?

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    • I don’t reckon your zone has much say in what you need for compost.
      As you are only doing a herb garden at the moment a bag of two from your local nursery or hardware store should suffice.
      When you start digging up the garden for a proper veggie patch then you can start making your own from kitchen scraps, leaves , grass cuttings and what have you.

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  6. Gardening is the best! Some of those herbs will thrive throughout the winter, some will appear to die but will come back in the spring. I have numerous herb boxes & I also have beds for tomatoes, beans, peppers, squashes & next year I’m going to add corn, cucumbers & as much as I can plant in my backyard.

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  9. Now that we’re connected, Professor, a quick look at your blog has shown me how very tough these past several years have been for you. I’m so sorry.

    But the herb garden demonstrates resilience, creativity, and positivity. The photos are great—and except for the cilantro, which I am genetically disposed to abhor, as well as my sere thumb—I would love to replicate your herbaceous accomplishments.

    Cheers,
    Annie

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  10. Wow, Prof!!! Along with all your other talents and skills, who knew you had a green thumb, too?!?! Way to go! My thumb is definitely NOT green. One time my mother-in-law (long since deceased) bought me a plant that she said was so hardy that even I couldn’t kill it. Um … about 2 weeks later it went belly-up. Funny … she never bought me another plant! We grow sunflowers and other beauties in our postage-stamp yard each year, but granddaughter Natasha does all the planting and tending. I am only allowed to water them in the mornings, and that only because I get up before she does! I love your new interest … you are doing such a wonderful job taking care of your mom and … my heart goes out to you both. Love ‘n hugs

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