Korean Job Discussion Forums

manlyboy · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 6:06 am Post subject:

coolsage wrote:

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Carrying unauthorized plants or seeds through customs is a serious offence. Poster above is right -- some non-native species have caused irreparable harm in many parts of the world. I'd guess some common Korean species have been cleared for export though -- maybe check with a certified seed dealer.

Re: planting a tangerine tree now. Manlyboy, I think what your mother-in-law had in mind was setting a potted mandarin tree out on your balcony & calling it done. Your balcony needs to be sunny, enclosed, & at least partially heated. You can find them in plantstores but don't expect to harvest much, or anything -- they're intended to be decorative.

I'm not sure where you live in Korea but citrus is only grown outdoors in the far south. I think its a bit late to plant any kind of young tree in the ground now. They require good moisture & a bit of warmth to get established before the ground freezes. A month ago would have been okay but the rains are going to stop soon. Your internet advice is useless to Korea -- winters are cold & dry & spring/summer is the wet season.

April 5th is arbor day here & a national holiday to boot -- an excellent time to plant a tree. Planting a tree where it can thrive is a very gratifying activity. I started a few from seedlings back in Canada a few years ago & they're 40 & 50-foot specimens now.

coolsage · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:55 am Post subject:

I've had no luck growing bacon, but my spaghetti trees are thriving. Seriously, you can grow herbs indoors here all year long. A bright window is enough. If you kick out 22,000 for an 'African Violet' grow-light, you can grow more interesting herb as well.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

I found my Korn King bacon bush at Wal Mart's in Masan. It produces tasty, tasty bacon. Goes really well with pancakes, or in gumbo etc.

Corn: You should have seen my face light up the first time I went to a temple and saw corn being sold on the street. I rushed over and bought one. Then my smile collapsed like a Han River bridge. Pa-tooey! But not to give up--when I found it sold fresh and green on the street I bought some and rushed home, shucked it and tossed it in a pot, on the theory they just didn't know how to cook it. Pa-tooey again. Crying or Very sad

I'm convinced that stuff is field corn no self-respecting Mid-West mouse would eat.

I bought seeds when I was home last June. Planted it, and it started OK, but then got knocked down by typhoon after typhoon. I did get three little midget-sized ears, but they were bug-infested. I'll try it again early next spring when the Koreans plant theirs.

I've been growing sage in a pot all summer, planning on a nice turkey dressing. The other day I was looking on the internet and found this kind of sage is for smoking and putting in a sweat lodge when you have a cold. Darn. Gotta send off for the right kind of sage. A word to the wise: read the fine print when ordering seeds. Rolling Eyes

If you are a tomato soup fan, go for the Italian basil. It makes killer soup. This is the voice of experience talking.

manlyboy · Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:14 pm Post subject:

Indoor herb garden is underway. I've got sage, basel, rosemary, peppermint, apple mint, penny royal mint, lemon balm, lamb's ear, stevia, as well as a baby eucalyptus and a nasturtium flower.
My apartment is well lit, and the east side catches the morning sun well, but I'm not sure if that counts as direct sunlight. The sun has to go through the balcony window and then the living room window, and only one side of the plant catches the light. Does that still count? Is it worth it shifting the plants onto the west balcony when I get home, eventhough they only get about 30 minutes of light before sundown. How much is too much water for these plants? When are they ready to harvest, and how do I go about getting them from the plant pot to the dinner table? (I know penny royal mint is toxic, so I'll save that for the very "special" guests. Wink

)

Oh. I strongly recommend the herb garden outlet in Yatap. It's about 200 metres north of the stadium, on the west side of the river. We only went in to buy 5 or 6 plants, and the old guy just kept giving us free stuff! Half the plants, a nicely ornamented, three-tiered plant rack, a box of home made herbal tea, a bottle of home made air freshener, as well as some produce from the garden at the back of their house! Then he got his son to load it all up in the truck and drive us home! Coolest halaboji I've ever met!

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

Anyone know where I can get some herb starts and planters in Gwangju?

All I ever see at the little plant shops is rosemary and some weird variety of peppermint. I have a nice big window that I want to set some long & narrow planters in and I would love to have fresh herbs to cook with all winter.