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FULCHINO
VINEYARD & NURSERY
Serving
Landscapers,
Garden Centers and Homeowners
"A
family tradition has made its way into your hands"
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| Herbs |
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Basil
- Greek
Ocimum basilicum var.minimum
6-9 in.
Definitely the cutest basil, this
compact, umbrella-shaped plant
has a stong, sweet basil scent.
Typically grown in Greek homes
and restaurants in pots and window
boxes. Great in borders and kitchen
gardens. .25-.5 in. leaves, it grows
to 6-9 in. |
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Basil - Boxwood
Tight mounds of small basil leaves that resemble boxwood plants.
8 to 14" full Sun
Discovered in a friend's garden on one of the hottest days of August where the plants remained in perfect form, extremely bushy and productive. Tight mounds of small leaves that resemble boxwood plants make a highly ornamental edging for the patio or for a container by the kitchen door. Bred in France for a highly flavorful pesto ingredient. A beautiful new basil that makes a fine garden companion to a large-leaved variety like ‘Genovese'.
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Basil
- Siam Queen
a beautiful form of basil that grows about
2 1/2 feet high and around. The scent and taste are different
from sweet basil with more licorice flavor. Thai basil is
used in all types of Thai cooking as well as other Asian and
middle eastern cultures. It has large flowers that form in
a cluster as opposed to the long spikes on the other basils.
One of the most beautiful and delicious basil varieties. |
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Basil,
Sweet Nufar
Sweet basil is the summit, the standard by which all other
basils are judged.
A Genovese-type Basil, it will provide you with months of
large, flavorful leaves for cooking. You can also use Basil
in the garden as a companion plant to repel aphids, mites,
and tomato hornworms. Nufar grows 18 to 24 inches high and
12 to 15 inches wide. The dark green, shiny leaves grow up
to 2 inches long on a tall, erect plant that is slow to bolt.
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Garlic Chives
Height 12"
Perennial zones 3 to 11
Moist well drained soil
Culinary uses - Use tender, mild chives leaves to season cream cheese and butter, and in salads, soups, vegetables, sauces, egg dishes, meat and poultry, and seafood -especially salmon, caviar, and oysters.
Garnish salads, entrees, and hot and cold soups with a sprinkling of freshly snipped chives.
When cooking with chives, add it to your dish during the last 5 to 10 minutes, as prolonged heat destroys the flavor.
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Cilantro
Delfino
Height: About 20 inches
Garden spacing: 10 - 20 inches
Unique qualities: Fine fern-like foliage - later to bolt
'Delfino' is an aromatic, edible herb, and unlike other coriander
has unique, fine fern-like foliage. 'Delfino,' like all cilantro,
offers gardeners two distinctly different flavors in one handsome
plant. 'Delfino' is easily grown, preferring a full sun location.
The branching plant produces more leaves, resulting in a higher
yield of this edible herb. The leaf flavor is similar to a
strong parsley taste with citrus. |
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Fennel, Trevi
Fennel are tall perennial plants that form
clumps, with deep roots, hollow stems and glossy, feathery
leaves (looks like threads).Tiny, dull, yellow flowers appear
in umbels in summer, followed by oval brown seeds
Fennel may damage neighboring plants, including bush beans,
tomatoes, caraway and kohlrabi. Also, if coriander seeds are
planted nearby, Fennel won't fruit.
Fennel is a sweet,
aromatic, diuretic herb that relieves digestive problems,
increases lactation, relaxes spasms and reduces inflammation
with expectorant, carminative and aromatic properties.
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Parsley
Dark Italian
Parsley is a biennial that is grown as an annual,
because the flavor is best in the first year. Italian Dark
Green Flat parsley has superior flavor |
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Greek Oregano
Full Sun
Height: 12 to 24"
Hardy Zones 3 to 9
Origanum vulgare subsp hirtum is native to Greece and Turkey and grows throughout the Mediterranean to central Asia. The Greeks and Romans used oregano but exactly which one is unclear. It was brought to North America by the colonists and is now naturalized throughout the eastern United States. Most herb lovers agree that Greek oregano is the most flavorful, but until recently, it was used mainly as a medicinal.
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Parsley Triple Curled
Closely curled dark green leaves. Fast growing uniform strain. High in vitamins and minerals. Holds for a long time at harvesting stage even in warm weather. Biennial in zones 5 to 9 |
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Rosemary
Huntington Carpet
Perennial in Zone 6-8
Glossy dark green foliage is topped with abundant
deep blue flowers. Full sun and well-drained soil create the
perfect environment for this plant. A valuable culinary herb
throughout Europe, this rosemary is as attractive as it is
fragrant, and is used in fresh and dried floral arrangements,
potpourris, topiaries, wreaths and bath salts. Pinching
back the leaves will encourage continual growth throughout
the season. In
the kitchen, it is a wonderful seasoning for potatoes, lamb
and other roasted meats, and tomato-based sauces. It takes
very little to add a lot of flavor! |
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Lavendula
Elegance
Height: 12" Spread: 18-24"
Zone: 5 Foliage: gray
Bloom Months: 6-8
Flowers: purple-blue
Light Requirement: full sunAn
award-winning new lavender, selected
for its abundant purple-blue flowers.
Grows 12" tall with full sun.
Rich dark purple/blue flowers
midsummer through fall. Silver gray foliage reaches 12".
Zones 5-9.
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Savory Summer
Height : 12 - 20" (30 - 51cm)
Exposure : Sun
Grower Information : The peppery-tasting leaves keep coming as fast as you can pick them from the prolific plants! Terrific used fresh or dried to season beans, meats and stuffing, and a great salt substitute, Summer Savory is one of the essential ingredients in Herbs de Provence (along with rosemary, thyme and oregano). Whorls of light purple flowers add a touch of color to the green-leafed plants in the Summer.
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Stevia Sweet Leaf
Sweeter Than Sugar
Height: 18 to 24" Spread 18 to 24"
Annual except in zones 8 & higher.
A natural sweetener with a delicious nectar-like flavor. Sweeter than sugar with no calories. Dried leaves are approximately 10 times sweeter than an equivalent weight of sugar. It has been consumed for centuries by people in Japan, Brazil and Paraguay.1/4 teaspoon of ground stevia leaves equals 1 teaspoon of sugar. For best foliage harvest, it is best to keep cut back to prevent flowering.
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Lavender
is a tough plant and is extremely drought resistant, once
established.
Special Considerations
It is dampness, more than cold, that is responsible
for killing lavender plants. Dampness can come in the form
of wet roots during the winter months or high humidity in
the summer. If humidity is a problem, make sure you have plenty
of space between your plants for air flow and always plant
in a sunny location. Areas where the ground routinely freezes
and thaws throughout the winter will benefit from a layer
of mulch applied after the ground initially freezes. Also
protect your lavender plants from harsh winter winds. Planting
next to a stone or brick wall will provide additional heat
and protection.
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Lavender
is such a romantic flower that every gardener
sooner or later succumbs to the urge to grow it. Undeterred
by the fact that it is a native of the Mediterranean and a
lover of dry, sunny, rocky habitats, we give it a try anyway,
hoping it will adapt. After all, England can hardly be considered
dry or particularly sunny, yet English gardeners are renowned
for their lavender plants. |
Pruning
Although lavender plants get regularly pruned
simply by harvesting the flowers, to keep them well shaped
and to encourage new growth, a bit of spring pruning is in
order. The taller varieties can be cut back by approximately
one-third their height. Lower growing varieties can either
be pruned back by a couple of inches or cut down to new growth.
If you live in an area where lavender suffers some winter
die-back, don't even think about pruning your plants until
you see some new green growth at the base of the plant. If
you disturb the plants too soon in the season, they give up
trying. |
Growing fresh vegetables & herbs in 5 easy steps
Fresh-grown vegetables and herbs are tastier, crisper and even healthier than what you find at the store. There’s also an amazing sense of accomplishment you feel when serving your friends and family homegrown veggies and herbs.
Like any project, growing a vegetable garden requires work, but by learning a few basic skills and techniques, you can really make it a fun experience. Here are five tips and tricks to help create a garden that’s uniquely yours.
1. Start small and sunny.
One of the biggest mistakes first-time gardeners make is planning an area that’s way too large to maintain. When you have success in your first attempt with a small garden, it’s easy to expand from year to year. Start with an area about 6 feet by 8 feet and build from there.
With that in mind, pick a spot with as much sun as possible (at least 6 hours each day). Remember that you will have to water your vegetable and herb garden so keep that in mind when choosing the location. Close proximity to a water spigot is ideal, whether you use a hose or watering can.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a yard! Many vegetables and herbs are excellent in large containers and patio pots. You still need plenty of light, though, so choose a balcony or porch that’s bright and sunny.
2. Dig in! Creating your garden space.
Once you’ve selected the location, it’s time to dig in - literally. Use a garden spade or metal pitchfork to dig into the ground and break up the soil. Be sure to remove as many stones as possible, as well as all grass and weeds so you are starting with a clean slate. Break up any large clumps of earth so your plant roots start strong. Adding compost and other organic materials will enhance your soil and increase harvests.
Here’s a list of some handy TOOLS that will help you create your garden space.
3. Pick plants and supplies.
 When selecting plants for your vegetable garden, consider how large they will get and choose veggies and herbs you will actually use in recipes. Here’s a list of great vegetables for easy gardening success:
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Peppers
- Lettuce
- Basil
- Sage
- Thyme
It’s always a good idea to grab a bag of potting soil to add when planting. Compost and peat moss are available at most garden centers and also provide an organic boost when planting. Apply an all-purpose slow-release fertilizer twice – once when planting and again halfway through the summer. This will provide enough feed for a great harvest.
4. Watch ’em grow.
The key to growing a successful vegetable garden is keeping an eye on it. Watch for signs of disease like discoloring, wilting, and insect damage. Stake large plants as needed and keep air flowing around the lower leaves. Pick fruit when ripe to ensure continuous production. If you have animal friends like deer, rabbits and other hungry neighbors, a light-gauge wire mesh that’s tall enough to discourage jumping is usually all you need.
Most importantly, keep your veggies and herbs (in gardens or patio pots) watered well. Because your ideal garden is in full sun, your plants will need plenty of water. Water when the soil an inch below the surface is dry – every two or three days in summer. The easiest way to tell if your plants need water is to stick your finger into the soil; if it feels dry, it’s time to water.
5. Harvest and enjoy.
To get the full flavor and health benefits from your vegetables and herbs, harvest them when ripe, use when fresh or dry as recommended and don’t overcook them in recipes. Don’t be shy about picking your produce!
Use a sharp pruner to remove fruit from vegetable plants and shear herbs as cleanly as possible to keep your plants healthy and productive. The general rule is: if it looks good enough to eat, it probably is. |
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Thanks to Ball Seed
& Proven Winners for contributing some of the photos for our website. |
