Help! I think my herbs CROAKED!

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We never have winters like this one and I am afraid that my herbs have bitten the dust!! My goldfish pond has been frozen for about 2 months now and they are still swimming around in the bottom. That might be a good sign for my herbs, but I just don't know. How can I tell what I need to replant? I really want my thyme to make it! Never have enough thyme?! ha ha! Thanks for any help you can give!!! So far I have planted chives, thyme, oregano, rhubarb, basil(yep I know it's annual), and I am loving the smell of the herbs in the spring. My quiet spot is out there with the goldfish, the herbs and the sunshine! So any advice would be great!!!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), January 17, 2001

Answers

Everything you mentioned should come back except the basil. At least they do here.

-- Cindy (SE IN.) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), January 17, 2001.

Thanks! I feel better already!!! I will go tell my goldfish immediately! It sure looks barren out there without the green of the plants!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), January 17, 2001.

Not exactly on topic, but have you considered putting a stock tank deicer in your goldfish pond? I'm overwintering 2 goldfish and some hardy water lilies in a tub that held cattle protein supplement and keep the water thawed with a deicer. My outside dogs and cats drink from it plus the wild birds that eat at our feeders also drink there, including mourning doves. They are as much fun to watch there as at the feeder.

Good luck with your herbs considering what weather we've had. I'm anxious to see what has survived around here. What kind of oregano do you have? I always thought of it as a tender perennial. Thanks.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), January 17, 2001.


Don't laugh, but I bought all of my seeds from the hardware store. Ya' know the ones that are 10 cents a package. All it says is Oregano. It is definitely the spreading sort. It took over the back of the herb bed this summer.

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), January 17, 2001.

Oops, forgot to say, we have a stock tank deicer, but it is the sinking kind and I have black plastic lining the pond. I was afraid that it would melt it.

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), January 17, 2001.


Nan next time put a piece of plastic pipe with some holes a little way off the bottom so your fishes can get some air. Bob in se.ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), January 17, 2001.

You are all so great to help me! Thanks for the good ideas. I am going to go search for a piece of pvc tomorrow. I know we have an extra in the barn. It is starting to thaw a little and I think that I can put it in. That sure beats going out there every few hours with the canning kettle full of hot water!!!!!! I just love those little orange critters!!!! Oh...they have babies too! I saw some through the ice, so I know they are still alive. If I can keep the cat from bobbing for goldfish I have it made Huh?! So far she has only been getting drinks..but she has been looking mighty interested!!!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), January 17, 2001.

Another trick I have heard of for keeping your pond from getting fish kill due to lack of oxygen is to float some large inflatable balls in the pond. When it freezes up, you can pop the balls out and let oxygen in, or that's the theory anyway. I've also heard of some people using air compressors with garden hose under water to keep the water open and circulating if it's not too cold and the ice too thick. We use floating tank heaters on the horse tanks to keep them open for drinking and it doesn't heat the water much more than keeping it from freezing in a 110 gallon tank. One of those would be very helpful in keeping the water open and oxygenated. We have to worry about the horses grabbing the cord and hauling it out, but I don't think your goldfish would be much of a problem :-D

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), January 20, 2001.

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