It’s finally time to plant out the herbs… after long weeks sprouting on the warming mat in my bathroom propagation area and then torture of ‘hardening off’ outside during a Melbourne winter – its time to plant out the herbs!

Like most of my plants, these guys started life on top of a warming mat in my bathroom, and then the windowsill while they germinated and grew a few leaves.

Its not an ideal setup, but with such limited space, you have to get creative. (I think it is Abutilon/Chinese Lantern cuttings that I’m trying to strike in the picture above)

After the plants have a couple of ‘true’ leaves they get moved outside to the ‘Kiddy Corner’ to weather off.

Last week, i gifted a few to my friends Souraya and Aaron, and it was definitely time to plant out the rest.

I wanted to be able to share the herbs with the other residents of the flats and had it in my mind that i would be able to use a window box and hang it in the window of the main stair well. There is already a pot of Linaria and a pot of Bellis hanging there, but they have not been doing so well. After some contemplation (and of course a good chat with my cat) I realised that i might be able to hang them on the outside – if i could get the window open more.

After a spray of olive oil spray (worked a treat!) on the stuck hinges, i was able to get the window open a few more inches…. Success!

Time to plant out

‘pricking’ apart seedlings is tedious

Dibber at work

ready to go

i have to try so hard not to be too heavy handed when i plant

Yay… got the window open a bit more.

Now they should get enough light

The view coming down stairs from the upper floors

Hope the grow well!