What can you tell me about basil?

[purstrength]

So I have basil growing and it seems to be growing well. :yes

What do I do with it now? Any good links to learn how to care for it and keep it growing well? :giggle

[Marielle]

all I know is that you want to pinch off the flowers to keep it growing. And if you whiz it in a blender or food processor with enough good olive oil it will freeze in ice cubes without turning black.

[purstrength]

all I know is that you want to pinch off the flowers to keep it growing. And if you whiz it in a blender or food processor with enough good olive oil it will freeze in ice cubes without turning black.


Thanks! :heart

[canadiyank]

I just learned this month in Organic Gardening to *really* pinch it back when flowering, 6 leaf sets down, to make it branch out again instead of setting more flowers. I use it fresh but want to make pesto and stuff, too. Yum.

[mamaKristin]

I can tell you that I seem to kill it annually. :( I love basil.

[Thia]

My favorite way to eat it is to slice it up with sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, onion and dress it all with some balsamic vinegar and a splash of olive oil. Of course, since tomatoes are on the "no no" list right now, second place would be cut up into a fresh green salad.
I have never made pesto, but my mom has and it comes out super yum. Slice it fresh into spaghetti sauce. Put a couple of leaves right on any meat you're grilling.
I'm hungry.

[purstrength]

I'm hungry.


:hug2 :giggle

[purstrength]

Could you help explain "pinch it back" for me? :O

[Hermana Linda]

Could you help explain "pinch it back" for me? :O


It's a nice way of saying to rip off the part where the new leaves are growing. It's kind of a pinching motion. It's basically a way of pruning, but using your hands.

[purstrength]

Thanks, Linda! :heart

I also found a book I have, it had a picture, that helped me picture what's needed too. :rockon

[ArmsOfLove]

make pesto :yum

[purstrength]

make pesto :yum


LOL! I plan on it! :yum

[righteous mama]

Linda, I want you to come over and teach my all your ways. ;)

btw, basil keeps mosquitos away...so even if you just let it grow...

[purstrength]

btw, basil keeps mosquitos away...so even if you just let it grow...


I didn't know that...I've heard that about lemonbalm, so that's why I'm growing that.

Unfortunately, my cat peed in one of my pepper plants and it is dying. :( I feel bad for the cat too, the balcony was his safe place out of the bathroom, but I can't have him killing all my plants. :no2 :(

[Hermana Linda]

Linda, I want you to come over and teach my all your ways. ;)


Tell you what. You come here and I'll show you my garden and teach you everything I can think of. :heart

[Macky]

There isn't enough lemon balm in the world to keep all of our mosquitoes away! :lol

I'm not a great fan of basil (oregano lover here), but I have grown it a few times. I've never had much success growing a bushy plant, even pinching the way you're supposed to, so I tend to grow a few of them and harvest the whole plant at once.

This was my favourite to grow, but I couldn't find appropriate recipes to use it in the kitchen. When you crushed the leaves, though, gosh... what a beautiful scent! http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/herbs/basila/siamqueenthai

[purstrength]

Oh, well someone told me that about mosquitoes. :shrug However, when I researched it online and didn't see it mentioned anywhere, I wondered how true it was. :giggle

[Macky]

No, you're right... I've read it somewhere, too. It must just be that some mosquitoes are wimpier than others. :lol How's it going with the basil?

[purstrength]

No, you're right... I've read it somewhere, too. It must just be that some mosquitoes are wimpier than others. :lol How's it going with the basil?


:giggle The basil is doing great! Dh is loving it! He uses it every time he cooks! :yum

We're starting to get some little peppers too!