Activity Centre

Method:

• Partially fill the container with the pre-mixed potting mixture. Do not use common mud as it will not be resistant to bugs and insects.
• To keep soil from leaking out of the bottom of your container, you can cover the drain hole with a paper coffee filter.
• Carefully remove the plant from its original container and examine the roots. If the roots are matted or badly entwined, you’ll need to gently loosen them to promote healthy growth after planting. Place the plant in the pot to its correct planting depth, which is the same depth it grew in its original container.
• If you are using seeds, let them sprout and then use them in the same way as you use a sapling.
• Finish adding soil to the container and firmly pack it in around the edges of the plant,leaving 1 to 2 inches from the rim. This allows you to water heavily without washing soil out of the pot.
• Top off your container with a layer of Spanish moss to help keep the potting mix moist.

Did You Know?
Tips: To encourage parsley to sprout more rapidly, soften the seeds by soaking them overnight in warm water. Thyme plants should be started from seed every two to three years. Older plants are poor in quality for cooking and other uses.Mint needs more water than most herbs. It requires fairly moist but not soggy soils. Harvest mint often to encourage vigorous growth, but grow it in a container or it will take over your garden.The best time to harvest herbs is early in the morning on a sunny day. Many herbs like dill and sage self-sow if the flowers are not removed. In general, collect herbs for cooking right before they flower.This is when they have the most flavor. Collecting Seeds: Seeds often take longer to dry than leaves—up to two weeks for larger seeds. Place seed heads on a dry paper or cloth. When they really start to dry out, rub the seeds gently between your palms to remove the dirt and hull. Then spread the clean seeds in thin layers on cloth or paper until they dry completely. Another way you can dry herb seeds is by hanging a plant upside down inside a paper bag. The bag will catch the seeds as they dry and fall from the pod.