Re: Gardening help...!!!
Afia, the mint plant can be placed outside if its not too cold ie above say about 5 degrees. keep it in a sunny position in a and pick the tips of each plants ie the top three or for leaves, this will make it nice and bushy and grow more...if you dont, in a few months it will grow flowers and after that lose its leaves.
if you plant in a larger container afer a couple of years youll have a big bush.
coriander (can be put outside when the weather is warmer) feel the soil if it feels dry and podery , you should water.... growing plants need damp NOT WATERLOGGED soil.
once the leaves reach about ten to fifteen cm tall just cut and use in your cooking, if you dont theleaves will eventually grow taller the leaves will become thin and feathery (wont be able to use them for food) and then it will have small white flowers which will turn into green coriander seeds which are very fragrant and can be used in cooking
after this they (seeds) turn brown and are the ordinary coriander seeds that you buy to grind and use in curries.
I grow coriander (dont bother buying the plants because its SO easy to grow your own)
by just
sprinkling the coriander seed (the type ie cook with) in a grow bag or large seed tray filled with soil, and cover with about 1cm soil,water when the every other day until the leaves grow and then water when the soil gets a bit dry (soil sould always be damp-ish not soggy)and put in a sunny place.
you'll have lots of cheap coriander for chutney and cooking etc.