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Cormous Herbs That: Montebretias (Cmcosmia x crvcosmiiflora), 36 by 3 inches, hardy with protection in Zone 6, and without in warmer spots.' are cormous herbs that belong to the iris family. Brilliantly orang funnel-shaped flowers are spectacular in bloom and today, cultivars are available. Plant them out in early spring, 3 inches ap and cover with 2 inches of soil. Dig up and store the corms in a i place over the winter where temperatures average 40°F.
Gladiolus (Gladiolus xhortulanus), 24 by 60 inches, are ten< corms from Africa. They are available in a bewildering variety of colors and sizes. To follow this garden plan, shop for gladiolus that reach about 3 feet in height when in bloom. Plant the corms 6 inches apart and 6 inches deep at intervals of 15 days, starting with the last spring frost. This will give you all-summer bloom and plenty of flowers to cut. Today's plants are top-heavy with flowers and easily fall over with only a minor disturbance. When plants are about a foot tall, hill a little earth around the stems to hold them up, or put in network of stakes. Store corms over winter in a temperature of 50°F. after pulling up the plants, cutting off the tops, and the corms for a few weeks.
Care and Storage. The tongue can tell whether a substance is sweet, sour, salt, or bitter. It cannot detect aroma, which comes to us through the sense of smell. The volatility that gives herbs and spices their distinctive taste and aroma also makes them perishable. Once volatility is lost through age or careless storage, the product has little, if anything, to offer.
One should date the labels of new spices as they are purchased. They should be kept handy but should not be stored over oven heat or in direct sunlight. Containers should be closed immediately after use. At least once a year the shelf should be checked and all "fainthearted" herbs and spices discarded. Cooking time is too valuable to waste on tired spices. See also articles on individual herbs and spices.
An attractive and novel way of growing herbs is to construct an herb "wheel" using either brick, which tends to look rather formal, or stone, which is more natural in appearance. The individual compartments between the "spokes" help to confine the more invasive herbs.
First, mark out a circle by hammering in a peg in the center of the site and marking the circumference with a stick and length of string. |
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