Kitchen Garden Forum

Apparently herbs grown under cover or indoors love a good tickle!

http://your.asda.com/2011/7/1/asda-herb ... ng-machine

Actually the quality of their herbs was excellent, I purchased a small leaved basil last time I was in there,to see if I like that type of basil, repotted it is still going strong and there is a reward for tickling it, the aroma is divine, and I can almost hear it giggle!

Do you Tickle your Herbs ?

Er, no!

If any ladies feel like tickling, i won't be in the least offended.

Well ... you are Old Herb acious ! Tickle tickle t....

Sorry to bring this discussion back to earth
I was just going to add to NB's initial comment. A few years ago, I remember reading a nurseryman say that they always ran a hand over the growing tips of all their plants each day.

They noticed that the ones they did this to generally grew more strongly and vigorously than ones that hadn't had this treatment. Obviously this isn't a scientific experiment, but interesting nevertheless.

I often "tickle" my herbs, just to release the beautiful aromas, particularly the mints, fennel and basils.

It's such a natural thing to do Monika. The nurse who visited Mum this morning trailed her hand over my apple mint as she was leaving.

The Wonderful old boy who lived next door, "sadly passed away now" would always do that as he walked pass his lavendar.

Hi OH, at the moment I am concentrating my efforts on producing veg, but when I have time to develop the front garden I will plant the lavender and fragrant plants where they are accessible to touch, like your neighbour did.

Dear Nature's Babe, i'm re-doing my front garden over the next year, i'm trying to aim for a scented garden all year.
Not as easy as i had first thought.....

I am lucky in that it is in full sun and light cottage soil.

Include a "curry plant".

Don't forget the climbers OH , honeysuckle Lonicera 'Belgica', and
Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’, and Jasmine too.
and some Lilacs are beautifully perfumed.

Just a question about this 'tickling'. Is it meant to replicate heavy wind and therefore produce stronger roots?

Hi Smurfy, it is supposed to mimic wind and rain, and produces sturdier and more compact plants, did you watch the video? I guess being undercover is not very stimulating for plants.