Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - Which of these Herbs should NOT go to seed??

habitat_gardener · June 5, 2009

I've been harvesting my oregano just as the stems start elongating, before it blooms. I read some years ago that the flavor is stronger before it blooms. It also keeps the mound tidier -- similar to cutting back perennials early to have better blooms later, as advocated in The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Traci DiSabato-Aust. Without cutting back, the stems get too long (a consideration in my overplanted garden!) and flop into the garlic chives and yarrow. When I do cut them back (to just above the lowest node that has leaf buds), the stems stay more upright.

I like the little flavor buds on chives and garlic chives! A big burst of oniony flavor while I'm working in the garden.

I've had tons of parsley volunteers ever since I let one plant go to seed a couple years ago. I never plant it, and let it decide where to grow.

June 5, 2009	#6
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,540	I've been harvesting my oregano just as the stems start elongating, before it blooms. I read some years ago that the flavor is stronger before it blooms. It also keeps the mound tidier -- similar to cutting back perennials early to have better blooms later, as advocated in The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Traci DiSabato-Aust. Without cutting back, the stems get too long (a consideration in my overplanted garden!) and flop into the garlic chives and yarrow. When I do cut them back (to just above the lowest node that has leaf buds), the stems stay more upright. I like the little flavor buds on chives and garlic chives! A big burst of oniony flavor while I'm working in the garden. I've had tons of parsley volunteers ever since I let one plant go to seed a couple years ago. I never plant it, and let it decide where to grow.