Herb Gardening

January 2007

By Gene Joyner, Extension Agent
Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service

This month many herbs aren’t growing real fast because of the cooler temperatures, but one pest that’s still around in large numbers this time of year is the spider mite. Spider mites build up during the winter and accelerate populations during the hot dry spring months. If you see plants getting light green in color, often it means they are getting attacked by spider mites which through their feeding cause a bleaching out of the foliage.

Frequent hosts for mites include all types of basils, mints, parsley, oregano and many others. Many people like to avoid using pesticides and simply syringe the plants with a strong stream of water to wash off mites and this will work to some degree. Use of insecticidal soap products can also be used since these also wash off herbs easily before they are prepared for consumption.

Most people are not doing a lot of planting this time of year preferring to wait another 4 to 6 weeks until after our winter is through and plants won’t run the risk of getting cold damage. If you have an outside garden that is threatened by low temperatures, you can cover plants with sheets, bedspreads, towels or other materials to provide temporary protection. If they are container grown plants, simply take them inside for a night or two until after the cold temperatures pass.

If you have questions about herb care this time of year, check with fellow members at monthly meetings or contact your local county Extension office.