Home-gardening expert Carol Reese shares tips on herbs that can be grown indoors in the winter, then moved outdoors in spring. Ginger is a good example. It's available at grocery stores, and the fleshy roots can be grown in containers. Ginger requires partial shade, high heat and humidity and heavy watering after growth starts. Ginger root should be planted very shallowly in a fast-draining potting mix (figure A). The foliage will resemble canna leaves. Don't expect flowers unless you have a very long growing season. Plant garlic in the fall by dividing a head into individual cloves and placing each clove in rich, sandy soil, with the tip just below the surface, pointed end up. Space cloves 3" to 5" apart in a sunny garden spot, or plant in containers indoors. Foliage should begin to emerge in a month or so, and it can be harvested and used as you would chives. Each clove will eventually grow into a head of garlic. In March, begin fertilizing lightly every month until June, when the tops should begin to dry. Once the foliage begins to turn yellow, withhold water until it's completely dry, then harvest the heads. Don't think you need a separate garden spot for growing herbs--they can be grown very effectively among your perennials or annuals. Lemon balm (figure B) is a good example of an herb that's attractive enough for the flower garden and also tasty when used in fruit drinks, salads and fish dishes. It requires full sun and fast-draining soil. Several herbs make good groundcovers too. Thyme is an excellent choice, as it's low-growing and tough and releases a wonderful fragrance when trod upon. It requires little water and grows well in full sun or partial shade.
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