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Herbs, to feed or not to feed

FlowerPowerPamFlowerPowerPam Posts: 14
in Problem solving
Afternoon All,

Would you recommend feeding herbs or not? Mine always seem to fall victim to leafhopper damage and i'm wondering if thats because i just leave them to do their own thing, watering when necessary instead of the occasional feed.

Thanks

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree with @philippa smith2 -they aren't all the same  :)
    Having said that, I occasionally give my potted rosemary a liquid feed of seaweed. I can't grow Med herbs in the ground, although some thymes survive.
    Chives grow by themselves.
     
    That's about it for herbs for me. Sage doesn't survive the winter here, although I could stick it in the greenhouse with the rosemary I suppose. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    You don't say where you are either FlowerPowerPam?  The majority of my herbs are in the ground and apart from a layer of compost in the winter or when I split the mint pots they are left to their own devices.

    The ones in pots (Basil and chives from overwinter) get potted into fresh compost around now and might get some seaweed if they last 'til the end of autumn and I remember 
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • FlowerPowerPamFlowerPowerPam Posts: 14
    Oops sorry, i'm in north London. I have mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary & a (just about hanging on) tarragon all in pots in multipurpose compost with added john innes.
    Thanks 
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Well mint doesn't care about being given food as long as it is moist and in the shade but it does need thinning out. I split mine every 2/3 years depending on the variety, at which point it does get some fresh compost.

    Oregano will manage on it's own as well, needs to be in a sheltered but sunny spot with a good dose of water every week (maybe more at the moment). I grow marjoram which is not quite so robust but I never feed it.

    Thyme and rosemary just need lots of sun, good drainage and a few litres of water every so often - never feed mine.  I do take cuttings each year about this time just in case but mostly end up giving them away.

    Last year was the first year I successfully grew French Tarragon which was massacred by a squirrel and a fox, I managed to save some roots and they are doing fine in a 50/50 mix of soil and compost. They are in a pot at the moment for safety! I won't be feeding those either.

    That was a long answer to your question, sorry, but essentially no  :)
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    I have no experience of dealing with leafhopper infestations I have to say although they are attracted to aromatic plants like herbs. I have no idea whether it is because mine are in the ground and fairly robust.

    I hope you win FlowerPowerPam!
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
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