Basil
Basil is mostly used for cooking and eating. It has a unique flavor that goes well with tomatoes and pastas.
There are many different types of basil, even a purple one! Each different one has a different flavor and look to it.
There are many different types of basil, even a purple one! Each different one has a different flavor and look to it.
So lets jump nose first into this plant.
So vibrant !!!!
All you have to do to get the smell is touch it, Crazy good smell. These little babies were started 3 weeks ago.
Some how all of them came up. I did not plan for that to happen, but thats ok we eat a lot of it anyway. So I trans planted them right in front of my tomatoes!
Its a very simple plant, I tossed in a bunch of seeds and sprinkled soil on top. I kept the soil moist by watering at night and let it dry during the day. It was that easy!
Other helpful ways to keep basil healthy are - make sure you have well draining soil and a good amout of sun light. Water regularly unless its so pose to rain then let nature do it for you. To cut down on watering, mulch around the plants. I used horse poo thats been composted, works great.
What other useful tips can I find, lets see -- if you want lots of leaves on the plant keep pinching the flowers off when they appear. That helps keep the plant well rounded and it will keep making new leaves. Basil is a good companion plant too keep bad bugs off other plants like tomatoes. Something I didn't know, harvest the leaves late in the day as possible its less stressful for the plant. You can harvest leaves through out the summer once the plant is a good size.
There are many ways to keep the basil, I like drying but freezing seems to be the best way to keep the flavor. Here are some ideas.
- freezing them in oil like olive oil so you can throw into a dish when cooking.
- you can make vinegar dressing with basil
- you can use basil in drinks with straw berries !
references - really good ones check them out!!!!
http://www.almanac.com/plant/basil
Some how all of them came up. I did not plan for that to happen, but thats ok we eat a lot of it anyway. So I trans planted them right in front of my tomatoes!
Its a very simple plant, I tossed in a bunch of seeds and sprinkled soil on top. I kept the soil moist by watering at night and let it dry during the day. It was that easy!
This type of basil is sweet basil incase you were wondering.
What other useful tips can I find, lets see -- if you want lots of leaves on the plant keep pinching the flowers off when they appear. That helps keep the plant well rounded and it will keep making new leaves. Basil is a good companion plant too keep bad bugs off other plants like tomatoes. Something I didn't know, harvest the leaves late in the day as possible its less stressful for the plant. You can harvest leaves through out the summer once the plant is a good size.
There are many ways to keep the basil, I like drying but freezing seems to be the best way to keep the flavor. Here are some ideas.
- freezing them in oil like olive oil so you can throw into a dish when cooking.
- you can make vinegar dressing with basil
- you can use basil in drinks with straw berries !
references - really good ones check them out!!!!
http://www.almanac.com/plant/basil
http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/basil-growing-guide
http://www.thekitchn.com/pitcher-perfect-supereasy-stra-151952
http://www.thejoykitchen.com/ingredients-techniques/basil-harvesting-storing-and-preserving
http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/04/avant-yard-20-basil-harvesting-and-storage-tips/
http://www.thekitchn.com/pitcher-perfect-supereasy-stra-151952
http://www.thejoykitchen.com/ingredients-techniques/basil-harvesting-storing-and-preserving
http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/04/avant-yard-20-basil-harvesting-and-storage-tips/
Yummmm.
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