The Sacred Hearth

Calendula likes a full sun position, but doesn't like too much heatl. It will grow readily from seed and will reseed if allowed to do so in mild climates. Those who live in colder climates should gather the seeds in autumn and replant the following year. Seeds should be planted right in the garden as soon as the danger of frost has passed and barely covered. Thin to 12 inches apart. Although they are tolerant of poor soils, calendula prefers to be planted in a nice bed of compost and some mulch around its roots once it gets going in the summer.

They do well in pots and window boxes too. However, many people find their aroma to be too overpowering for indoors.

Calendula are attractive to aphids which makes them a good diversion plant for more delicate plants. They are also susceptible to mildew if it is too hot and humid. Use a soap spray to get rid of aphids and a gentle fungacide will take care of the mildew.

Jerusalem artichokes are very hardy, vigorous growers. Tubors, or chunks of tubors can be planted in spring or autumn in fertile soil in a sunny spot or dappled shade and they will grow like weeds. Mine are planted in a row with part of the row in mostly shade and the other in in part sun. The ones in the shade are considerably shorter than the ones in the sun, but they are all taller than I am and I have to stand on tiptoe to reach the flowers in the part sun plants.

Don't worry if they take awhile to sprout in the spring. They generally make their first appearance in late spring to early summer and look like little baby sunflowers. They should be heavily mulched every autumn. Lack of proper fertilization will result in loss of flavor. That being said, the plants themselves are not picky and will grow in just about any soil. They do not like to grow in places where there aren't significantly defined seasons, however.

Don't be afraid to harvest the first year as each plant produces about 75 tubers. Wait till after the first frost to begin harvesting. If you are going to grow sunchokes, make sure to harvest every year to prevent them from going crazy. Don't worry, it's almost impossible to dig up every tuber, even when you want to. Seeds ripen in November. Best not to let the plant reseed itself (although the birds and squirrels like them). It will spread just fine by tubers, you don't want it in the neighbor's yard too!

Sunchokes don't play nice with other plants. They aren't bothered by weeds and will smother out bedmates. This year I planted sunflowers with them and they seemed to do well as they were in full bloom before the sunchokes were even thinking about blooming and it was a nice affect. Then the squirrels mowed down the sunflowers and that was the end of that. (The Japanese Beetles like the sunchokes but not enough to cause any serious damage) Next year I am thinking of planting more sunflowers and maybe some beans with them so the beans can climb the Sunchokes and sunflowers, though I have been warned against this because all three are susceptable to the same Sclerotina or white mold disease.

Be careful! These plants can be highly invasive. In fact, it is listed as a noxious weed in Minnesota.

Baby sunchokes are susceptable to slug damage.

Plants can also be started from seeds but will be very delicate their first year. They take up to 17 days to sprout.

Eyebright prefers alkoline soil and does not do well in perfect well-tended beds. It prefers to grow weedlike in the shadow of other plants. It doesn't transplant well, so scatter the seeds randomly among your other plants in your herb garden. It is notoriously difficult to grow in the garden and prefers to the wild grasslands. You could try growing it in your lawn if you have a section you won't be mowing. Good luck!

Eyebright is best harvested in late summer when it is in full bloom. Cut the full herb and hang upside down to dry. Use within one year. The leaves and flowers are all used together.

Most crocuses like full sun and well drained soil, though there is quite a bit of variation between species. Be sure to do your research for the specific species you have.

Crocuses grow from corms, which are planted in autumn about 2-3 inches deep. They will pop up from beneath the snow like daisies (why do they say pop up like daisies- they don't pop. Crocuses do!) in the early spring. They can be killed by a late frost though.

Squirrels like to eat crocus corms.

In areas colder than zone 6, autumn crocuses may not do well in cold winters. After the first couple of frosts, but before winter has really set in, they should be dug up and stored covered with sand or peat moss in a cool dry place, about 50 degrees until after the danger of frost has passed in the spring.

After about 4 to 6 years, your crocuses will need to be divided. Do this by digging up the corms right after the foliage has faded and replanting them right away or storing them in a box of sand or peat moss until autumn planting time.

Roman chamomile is usually propagated by division.
German chamomile is usually grown from seed. Sow directly into soil in the spring. It will reseed itself each year if you allow the heads to go to seed.

Chamomile prefers sandy, slightly acidic soil and direct sunlight, but likes a bit of shade if it gets too hot on a regular basis.