FSHL Blog

Planting Seeds

Thanks to everyone who visited our booth at Central Florida Earth Day.  It was a wild success and we are so grateful for a beautiful team to share the day with.

Did you pick up some herb seeds from our booth?  Great!  We’re excited to help you plant your garden.

Tulsi:
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) is also known as Sacred Basil or Holy Basil. It is a revered Indian plant, sacred in the Hindu religion and used in several traditions of Ayurvedic herbalism.  If you received a purplish stick with small nodes about an inch apart, these are Tulsi.
Dr. Andrew Weil proclaims Tulsi to be the most potent anti-stress herb with the fewest side effects when compared to Ginseng and Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng).
Tulsi seeds are remarkably small; take your tulsi sprig and crush each node between your fingers.  Sprinkle this into your potting soil, and lightly press into the soil.  Be sure to keep moist – this may requires a light misting of water a few times a day.  Do not drown the plant.  Tulsi prefers full sun, rich soil, and plenty of water. Thin or transplant to 1 to 2 feet apart. Tulsi does well in pots or window boxes, and is traditionally grown for good luck near the front door of the house.

Flax

If you received a small round ball in your seed bag, these are the flax pods.  You may also have received loose seeds, which are tan in color.  Lightly crush the pods between your fingers to release the seeds within.  Sprinkle into your potting soil and cover each seed with no more than 1/8 inch of soil.  Keep moist and warm during germination, by lightly misting a few times a day.  Flax plants like a rich soil so mix in some compost in the potting mixture as well.  Set each seed about a foot apart. The plants can be crowded a little bit but not much. You can plant the seeds closer initially and re-set them farther apart later in the season as well. Grow flax in full sun for best results. Keep the plants moist but do not over-water them. Put mulch around the roots to help retain moisture during the hot, dry part of the summer and to insulate from heat during the warmest humid months.
Flax seeds are an excellent source of fiber and omega fatty acids.  They must be crushed in order to break the seed coat so the body can digest them.

Happy Planting!