6: Herbs in Containers, Indoors and Out 79 in .NET framework

Generating UPC - 13 in .NET framework 6: Herbs in Containers, Indoors and Out 79

Why Containers 79 Choosing and Using Containers 80 Clay pots 81 Wood 81 Plastic 82 Resin, fiberglass, and polypropylene 82 Self-watering containers 82 Creative containers 83 Cachepots 84 Choosing Soil Mixes and Fertilizers 85 The unreal dirt 85 Mixing it up 86 A no-drainer 87 Now, the Easy Pot: Putting It All Together 88 How dry I am 88 Fertilizer: A strict diet 90 Surviving the big chill 90 Ideas for Outdoor Container Combos 91 The whiskey sour barrel 91 All in a row 93 Hang em high 93 Growing Herbs Indoors 95 What really works 96 Gimme shelter 97

Caring for Herbs Indoors 98 Moving day 98 Bright lights, big payoff 99 Air of superiority 100 Eating and drinking 100 In sickness and in health 101

7: There s No Place Like Loam: Preparing Your Soil for Planting 105

What Plants Need from Soil 105 Soils 101 106 A feel for texture 108 A sense of structure 109 It s a Jungle Down There: The Soil Ecosystem 109 Organic Matter: Rx for Soils 110 Compost Happens 111 Gathering the raw ingredients 112 Speeding up the process 112 PS pH 114 Testing your soil s pH 114 Modifying pH 115 Starting Your Garden from Scratch 116 Spade power: Clearing sod by hand 116 Shade power: Clearing sod with covers 117 Herbicides the last resort 117 Preparing Beds 118 Rototilling 118 Hand digging 119 Raised beds 120

Seeds or Plants 123 It s Seed Time 124 Planning your seed purchases 124 Seedy business 125 Starting Seeds Indoors 126 Containers, planting medium, and more 127 Sowing the seeds 128 Once Seedlings Are Up 130 Good light 130 Cool room temperature 131 Good air circulation 131

Water 131 Fertilizer 132 Room for roots 132 Potting up 132 Buying Herb Plants 133 Moving Indoor Herbs Outdoors 134 Direct Seeding Herbs Outdoors 135 Remembering What s What 136

Thyme Waits for No Gardener 140 The H (How) of H2O 140 How much water is enough 141 Water smart 141 Putting on the Feed Bag 143 The big three 143 Organic versus synthetic fertilizer 144 Keeping Weeds Under Control 145 The basic approaches 145 Herbicides: The big guns 146 Mulch: The Great Cover-Up 146 Mulch musings 147 Organic mulches 148 Inorganic mulches 150 Keeping Tidy 151 Thinning 151 Pruning 151 Cultivating 152 Cleaning up 152 Going on pest patrol 152 Stretching the Season 152 Bedtime for Borage 154

Controlling Pests and Diseases Organically 157 Start with prevention 158 Monitor the garden 159 Identify the problem 159 Decide whether control is necessary 160 Let s Get Physical 160 Beneficial barriers 161 Traps 161 Repellents 162 Using Biological Controls 163

Attracting Beneficials 164 Turning to Organic Sprays and Dusts 166 Beating bugs 167 Downing diseases 167 Playing it safe 168 Identifying Common Pests and Diseases 168 Bad bugs 169 Disturbing diseases 172 Outwitting Wildlife 173

Bringing in the Sheaves 177 Gathering leaves and stems 178 Salvaging other parts 179 Cut and Dried: Proper Drying and Storage 181 Just hanging around 182 Rack em up 183 Modern methods 185 The Big Chill: Freezing Herbs 186 Getting Crafty with Decorative Herb Parts 188 Desiccants for decorations 188 Microwave blossoms 189 Pressing business 189

Mixing It Up 191 Creating Classic Combos 192 Crafting Herbal Vinegars and Oils 193 Making flavored vinegar 193 Making flavored oils 195 Living It Up with Herbed Butters and Spreads 196 Blending Herbal Salad Dressings 198 Marinating in Style 199 Preparing Dried Herb Mixes 201 Making an Herbal Cuppa Tea 202 How Sweet It Is 204 Jolly jellies 204 Heavenly honey 205 Crystallized confections 206

Proper Use of the Herbal Pharmacy 210 Following a few simple rules 210 A word for moms (and moms-to-be) 210 Dazed and Infused: Herbal Remedies to Drink 211 Infusions 212 Decoctions 212 Tinctures 212 Syrups 213 Salved by the Bell: External Herbal Medicines 213 Poultices 214 Compresses 214 Oils 215 Who Ya Gonna Call Stress Busters 216 Stop and smell the roses 217 Perchance to dream 217