Basil – Herb Garden Care Guide
- enriqueenterprisestt
- Oct 16, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 18, 2020
Basil is one of the most useful and beautiful herbs you can grow. It is a perennial herb with a subtle peppery flavour that evolves into a slightly sweet, aromatic flavour. When cooking with basil it should be added at the end of cooking, as heat removes the flavour.
Uses: Basil pairs exquisitely with lemon, tomato, garlic, chives, dill, oregano, rosemary, thyme and pepper. Basil is an essential ingredient in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, and loves being added to pasta, pizza, creamy sauces, dressings, soups, and salads. It also dries and freezes well. You can make the classic basil pesto and enjoy fresh or you can freeze in jars, or ice cube trays for later use. You can also make a slurry by blending basil with a little olive oil, which you can then make into ice cubes.
Sunlight: Basil needs a warm and sunny spot to thrive. Six to eight hours of sunlight is perfect, but you may want to give your basil some afternoon shade.
Humidity: Basil likes room, so you do not want to crowd your plants. Basil is prone to fungus, so keeping airflow between plants is important.
Soil: Our herb garden contains well drain soil which is ideal for growth. Once per week lightly till the soil around the plant. This achieves aeration which allows air, water and nutrients to penetrate the roots. This helps the roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous herb garden.
Water: Basil is picky about water. It does not like to be too dry or too wet. You want to keep your soil moist, not soggy. Make sure not to let your soil dry out because if you do, your basil may be toast. To know if you should add water to your pot, stick your finger down into the soil. If the soil feels dryish, add water doing your best to water the plant at its base and not all over its leaves. The best time of day to water basil is early in the morning.
Nutrients: Initially, our Basil Herb Garden does not require any nutrients, as our potting soil already contains a slow-release plant food that can feed the plant up to 6 months. When needed, or if the plant shows signs of stress like yellowing foliage, you can use an organic liquid plant food or a weak solution of an all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer. Add this every couple of weeks.
Harvest: Basil isn't harvested at a specific time – you generally just grab a few leaves as you need them. However, harvesting regularly will keep your basil rounded and less leggy. It will also help keep your plant from going to seed. Pinch leaves from the tips of your basil as soon as the plant has two sets of true leaves. Even if you do not need it, keep harvesting consistently. Aim for removing 1/3 of the leaves each month to encourage new growth.
Enrique Enterprises TT
Your Online Home Gardening Store!
Follow Us
Commenti