I love the flavor of basil and I always plant it in my veggie garden. The problem I have is that by the end of July, my basil is looking pretty bad. It wants to go to seed and that makes the leaves get a different taste. Once a week I gather a large handful of stems to keep on my windowsill in my kitchen. After a week the stems will sometimes grown roots.
When I have a few "new" plants, I plant them in pots and set them outside near the back door. Now I have fresh basil that won't go to seed for another 6-8 weeks.
When they get too big for the pot, I'll transplant them back into the veggie garden. My favorite part of this idea is that I get basil for FREE!
When I have a few "new" plants, I plant them in pots and set them outside near the back door. Now I have fresh basil that won't go to seed for another 6-8 weeks.
When they get too big for the pot, I'll transplant them back into the veggie garden. My favorite part of this idea is that I get basil for FREE!
How do you keep the stems and leaves from wilting? Do you just put them in a vase?
ReplyDeleteHi Christine, I'm so sorry I left out that important step. Yes, you put the cut stems into water. Every couple of days, you'll need to check the water level to make sure it is covering about an inch of the stems. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great tip! I love to make pesto from the basil in my garden, and this is a great way to extend the growing season when the plants get too leggy. Thanks for sharing!
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