Browsing Tag

herb


Lifestyle

Growing Basil & Rosemary In Malaysia

From my first time tinkering with rosemary back in 2008, I’ve definitely come a long way with growing herbs. Plenty of failure along the way and now over 4 years on since my last herbs planting post, I can tell you one thing. Both my basil and rosemary survived! BUT the rest of the herbs were not so lucky. The rosemary and basil are not the first generation because they’ve been propagated many times (especially basil).

As for the rest of the herbs like thyme, oregano, mint, dill, etc… I ain’t giving them up. Right now, I’m busy playing experimenting on growing fruit and vegetable from seeds. This will be on another post.

My tips on growing basil & rosemary successfully in Malaysia

Note: The basil I have is called sweet basil

Basil and rosemary love full sun. You can plant them all year round in Malaysia and they will thrive. They grow really slow in sheltered or shaded area. I water them once a day in the morning or if I forget/lazy, evening will do too. If the soil is really dry, I might water twice a day but mostly once a day is enough as both basil and rosemary are hardy plants. If it has been raining, I don’t water them. I use organic soil or organic compost soil. And I dig the soil (to loosen them) every 1-2 months for better air and water circulation. I rarely fertilize my basil and rosemary plants and when I do, I use organic fertilizer.

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Lifestyle

New Dill Plant

I bought a new dill plant over the weekend. And nope I didn’t go to Sungai Buloh this time. I bought this potted herb at the most unlikely place… at a shopping mall. Jusco to be precised! Saw rosemary, oregano, thyme, mint at Jusco’s gardening section. They are from Baba.

My 1st dill plant has dried up. Only one small bunch of leaves are still green but wilting. And now I know why it died on me. Because… because I didn’t provide enough water. I watered once every 2 days because I read it’s drought resistant ma. Hahahahaha

For this new plant I water twice a day, morning and evening. Let’s see whether it’ll grow or ahem ahem… die.


As you can see, some of the leaves aren’t looking great. It’s showing some wilting and yellowing sign. Hopefully this is just a temporary shock. Oh yeah I read dill plant can go to shock if you change its environment… in this case from an air-conditioned mall to warm porch.

The first dill plant bought at Lot 43, Sungai Buloh cost RM10. This one at Jusco cost RM10.90. Okay la.

So now you know where to go if you need to buy ’emergency’ potted herbs.

p/s: My oregano and mint aren’t looking great either. Oregano I think is getting old so I need to re-pot. Mint… hmm its leaves is so small and dried very easily. I should water more. Haha


Lifestyle

My Herbs & Roselle Plant

It’s been 2.5 weeks since I bought several potted herbs from Sungai Buloh. Let’s see how my herbs fair after nearly 3 weeks with me. LOL I didn’t re-potted the herbs into new pots unlike last time because I thought it’s better not to disturb them in their comfortable home (pots). This way is smarter I think especially for inexperience gardener like me.

I’ve bought a total of 6 herbs plus 1 more which is my mom’s but under my care. Place all of ’em beside my basil in shady area. I sun-bath them from morning till evening on the bricks fence except on rainy days.

All photos below will show a comparison on the day I bought the plants home and today’s condition.


Rosemary looking good so far but I think for a healthy rosemary, its leaves will grow upward. Mine sometime will be a horizontal and a bit droopy. As for lavender, it has grew taller. Yipee! Can’t wait till it flowers.

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Lifestyle

Herbs Hunting & Plants Photos @ Sungai Buloh

If you have no idea where to buy potted herbs in Klang Valley, you’ve come to the right place. I can give you a tip or two on herbs hunting in Sungai Buloh. My 1st visit to Sungai Buloh after many many years ago happened last August. That time I found a nursery at Lot 43 that sells all kinds of herbs. It was quite a hunt back then because I stopped at quite a few nurseries along Jalan Sungai Buloh without any results until I almost gave up.

Fast forward 2 weeks ago, I visited Sungai Buloh again hunting for a new rosemary plant (since mine died quite a while ago). This time I knew where to go since I did my homework online. My plan was to visit Yeap Nursery which I heard sell rosemary and other herbs as well. If that fails then only I’ll visit Lot 43. Reason is I wanted to find more herbs selling nursery and because it’s fun. It’s like striking gold. Haha

Update: 2nd Feb 2014 – I visited Sungai Buloh yesterday. Yeap Nursery no longer sell herbs. The good news is its neighbor is selling herbs. Facing Yeap Nursery, the nursery on the right sells herbs like oregano, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, parsely, etc. I think its called Sister Nursery.

Yeap Nursery is located just in front of Sungai Buloh Hospital (not directly). And when I finally found that place… wah la… I realized the nurseries I visited along Jalan Sungai Buloh wasn’t the ‘real ones’. These nurseries here in front of the hospital is the real deal. The fact that it’s near to Sungai Buloh Leprosy Control Center and also my mom finally confirmed this place was the one we visited many years ago. HAPPY! HAPPY!


After we found Yeap Nursery (with yellow signage), I mistakenly went to the neighboring nursery (facing Yeap on the left). It was there that I saw and bought a Roselle plant.

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Lifestyle

My Healthy Basil, Skinny & Fatty Roselle Plant

It’s been hmmm… about 4-5 months since I update my plants condition here.

Sad to say I wasn’t able to save the rosemary plant. I tried propagating it by cutting and it survived for awhile but one fine day I accidentally pulled it out (there were tiny roots even!) and then hor I lost it!!! I was pulling weeds ma since CNY was coming but somehow I lost that tiny rosemary plant. Searched high and low but it just disappeared. Sigh. Yeah that’s the most saddest thing.

As for the basil, I propagated it by cutting too and now it has grown much taller and healthier. So happy! My secret is not to bother with it, pinch some bottom leaves off (if yellowing) and water every 2-3 days or if the soil is dried.


Looking ok right? πŸ˜›

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