My Plants for Spring/Summer 2013
Did I mention the fact that Lemon Verbena really does not like wet feet? Well, I managed to kill off my first one by not have good drainage in the pot that I planted it in. Everything else in the pot came back OK, but I was a bit upset about the Lemon Verbena. So upset, in fact, that I was scheming about taking a trip down to Sharon to see if Kraynak's still had some available. Well, I left work one day last week and decided to hit Stan's Garden Center near the office to see what they might carry. Wow, they have really expanded!
Stan's carries even more herbs and tons of flowers, bushes and trees! I was able to find the Lemon Verbena and bought two. These plants are supposed to grow up to 5 feet tall and have the most wonderful lemon scent! I also found Chocolate Mint, Peppermint, Orange Mint, Lemon Balm, Feverfew, Calendula, Sweet Fennel, Bee Balm, Globe Basil, Cinnamon Basil, and Sweet Woodruff! I couldn't believe my luck! It certainly saved me a trip to Sharon.
So, 14 plants later, I headed home. I love the smell of the Chocolate Mint, but the Peppermint has the most potent scent of all the mints. I think that I have enough mint to supply all the mint tea in Mill Village. My biggest problem now was that I ran out of pots to plant everything in! I was able to scrounge a few and get everything planted. Whew!
I have my first two tea garden tubs in about the same location on the deck. Both contain some mint, an English Lavender, one upright rosemary and one creeping rosemary. Weirdly enough, the rosemary in one of the tubs is wilting (both varieties) while the other is doing just fine. Everything else in the tub is fine as well. I am experimenting with moving the tub around to see if it is a sun issue. I water them both equally, so I am not sure what is going on. On the bright side, I have already started harvesting and drying some of the herbs! I will continuously harvest throughout the season, and hopefully Winter over the plants in the cellar for next year.
Growing Tea at Home
Although it is possible to grow your own tea at home, it takes at least three years before your tea plant is ready to harvest. If you are thinking that you can just pluck the leaves and enjoy a nice brew, think again. After harvesting, the tea leave require processing. White tea needs the least amount of processing while black tea requires the most. It is probably best for most people to purchase processed tea leaves from a supplier. My favorite supplier is Monterey Bay Spice Company (www.herbco.com) out of California.
For the brave souls who have not yet been swayed, check your local plant nursery for tea seeds, or look for them online. You will need a sandy, acidic soil that drains well in a medium-sized pot. You will also need some Sphagnum moss to mix in with the soil. If you are going to grow tea in a container this is important. Mix the moss into the soil and add your tea seeds. Place the pot in partial shade, otherwise, the tea bush will tend to grow more slowly. Make sure to give your plant plenty of water as it grows, but be careful in the beginning not to drown your seeds before they have a chance to spout. Good Luck!
