I just put in my spring herbs

[China_cat]

and found a really lovely plant I'd never heard of before...pineapple sage. Anyone else growing it?

[BOSSHOG]

1. Are you

using seeds or plants? I'm south of you but I'm waiting another week or so to avoid a freak frost. Pineapple sage is a beautiful plant; although I'm not growing it this year. We'll have tomatoes, Okra and Squash in containers. Also some hot peppers and a hodge podge of herbs, all from seeds.

[China_cat]

4. Plants. We're on the coast so we get about the same

temps as Jacksonville. Just a lot higher humidity. It's been in the 70's for about a week now.

Sorry, I just can't abide okra. My husband loves it and I'll cook it for him but if it gets grown, he's going to have to do it. That'll happen about the time it snows on the equator.

What hot peppers are you growing? And what would you recommend? I've put in bells but I'd like some more spice.

[BOSSHOG]

5. I like

Okra. My Mom and Grandmom spoiled me. Love it fried up nice and crisp but my wife hates fooling with it as well. But I grow the plant for the blooms. They are very Hibiscus like and make a nice visual even if you don't eat the pods. If you want spice, may I recommend Habanero (there are several different kinds), tabasco and Cayenne. They do a nice job of setting your head on fire but they are also very visually pleasing, so you don't have to eat them either. Our favorite for eating is Pepperoncini - hot but not too hot and very tasty. Last year I found a seedpack (don't know where I got it) and it had six different types of pepper seeds. I just put them all in one pot and we had a nice hodge podge of peppers. Very colorful display.

If ya ever make it to Louisiana, you might want to check out:

http://www.tabasco.com/main.cfm

Its located about 100 miles west of New Orleans. Disneyland for Pepper Lovers.

[sazemisery]

2. Pineapple sage - annual or perennial?

I had a pineapple sage that came back for many years and took over the bed. Not seed reproduction but new growth from woody base. It smells so wonderful and the butterflies and hummingbirds love the small red flowers.

[China_cat]

3. Perennial in this area (coastal SC)

[Gormy Cuss]

6. I've grown pineapple sage. It did very well for about 3 years then petered out.

It's a pretty plant and smells wonderful. I had it in an ornamental herb garden with the caraway thyme, curry plants, etcetera. I can't recall if it has any culinary use.

[China_cat]

7. I've found several recipes

One calls for loosening the skin on a chicken, placing the leaves between the skin and the meat and roasting the whole thing. It sounds great. I've also seen where it's good with pork and for tea and the flowers are supposed to be good in both salads and ice cream...of all things. I'll be trying those to find out.

[BOSSHOG]

8. I went to the feed and seed this morning

and perused the tons of new plants that got in. I got a pineapple sage and some lemon herb plants. I'm gonna put the sage in the middle of a tub and surround it with the herbs. I just have too many pots to fill. But I do amuse my wife this time of year. Also got some creole tomato plants and one tidal wave petunia to stick in an old wheelbarrow. I look forward to the growing season.