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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Mrs Ava on September 01, 2006, 12:17:46

Title: Basil
Post by: Mrs Ava on September 01, 2006, 12:17:46
I have some in pots in the garden and greenhouse, which I will be bringing in today to ensure I have plenty over the autumn, however, it is already a little ropey.  I have lots of new seeds (thanks to wyvales bargains) - I plan to sow a pot full today.  Do you think it will immediately bolt or as it is going to be grown indoors, will it provide me with lovely aromatic leaves all winter long? ;D
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: calendula on September 01, 2006, 13:08:51
never even knew basil bolted, I knew Sybil did  ;D you can but try
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: triffid on September 01, 2006, 13:14:33
Oh crumbs...

Quotenever even knew basil bolted, I knew Sybil did

"Ba--a-zILL?!"

Dunno about "all winter" but basil's always behaved pretty well for me as an indoor pot plant (on a windowsill in our single-glazed laundry-utility-room-thing.) Mind you, it never really gets a chance to bolt --  just kept pinching out the tips...
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: cleo on September 01, 2006, 13:20:15
Basil never grows after 31/8-far too tricky-guess who made  a delivery to a whole food shop today?
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: Mrs Ava on September 01, 2006, 14:09:09
Really Cleo....shame.....in that case I will put the seeds away and give my scruffy plants a good hair cut and feed!
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: wattapain on September 01, 2006, 14:53:18
Emma, I did this a couple of weeks ago - have about 10 pots in the greenhouse which were all looking scruffy & in desperate need of a lot of TLC.
I cut them back ( quite drastically with some of them), repotted and watered and they now look almost as good as they did in June - you know all bright and fresh. I usually have one on the go on the kitchen windowsill and swop them around when they get a bit bare - but they really are going strong again and I'm hoopeful they will keeep me going for a good few weeks (months :-\) yet.
Terri
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: Mrs Ava on September 01, 2006, 17:04:27
Marvelous Terri, you know what I am about to go do then!
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: flossie on September 01, 2006, 17:41:38
Thanks Terri, I will have a go at that too
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: mc55 on September 01, 2006, 19:02:30
my basil has been disappointingly tough and bitter - not at all like the delicious leaves you get in the supermarkets.  Not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if I've got the wrong variety.
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: sally_cinnamon on September 04, 2006, 12:50:25
Quote from: wattapain on September 01, 2006, 14:53:18
I cut them back ( quite drastically with some of them), repotted and watered

So does it all grow back if you cut it back?  I have some in the kitchen that I have just brought in as it was looking a bit weary, but would be worried that if I chopped it all down then it would just die.  It's lemon basil and I only have a weeny bit and no more seeds!
;)
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: katynewbie on September 04, 2006, 15:42:22
 :-\

I thought I might sow some more basil, as I get through loads of it. Anyone know if it will be ok to sow it now? Se EJ's original q?!!

;)
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: sally_cinnamon on September 04, 2006, 15:59:52
Quote from: katynewbie on September 04, 2006, 15:42:22
:-\

I thought I might sow some more basil, as I get through loads of it. Anyone know if it will be ok to sow it now? Se EJ's original q?!!

;)

I've got some Genovese left over so will start some off tonight and let you know how it gets on - worth a try at least!?!
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: katynewbie on September 04, 2006, 16:07:13
 ;D

I have some "basic basil" (that means I can't remember the variety) and will sow it tomorrow, we can compare notes!
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: sally_cinnamon on September 04, 2006, 16:13:32
Excellent!  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.... ;D
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: wattapain on September 04, 2006, 16:28:58
Quote from: sally_cinnamon on September 04, 2006, 12:50:25
[So does it all grow back if you cut it back?  I have some in the kitchen that I have just brought in as it was looking a bit weary, but would be worried that if I chopped it all down then it would just die.  It's lemon basil and I only have a weeny bit and no more seeds!
;)

Well if you cut it down to a bit where there is new growth - a bit like pinching out only mopre so - then you may be lucky, Give it a go - it worked for me and they came back fine.
Terri :)
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: sally_cinnamon on September 04, 2006, 16:33:50
Okey cokey, will give that a go tonight also, maybe just on a bit to see what happens first!  Thanks!   ;)
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: valmarg on September 04, 2006, 19:29:30
Should any of you (heaven forbid) need to buy pots of basil from the supermarket, if you cut the tops out of them, and put the 'cuttings' in a jug of water, they will root.  Thereby the parent plants will be encouraged to bush out, and you will have several new plants to pot up to keep you going through the winter.

valmarg
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: tim on September 04, 2006, 19:37:07
Strange, but so many of our seedlings, & larger plants, get 'mould' & die off.

Other times, all is fine.
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: STHLMgreen on September 06, 2006, 10:29:49
Quote from: valmarg on September 04, 2006, 19:29:30
Should any of you (heaven forbid) need to buy pots of basil from the supermarket, if you cut the tops out of them, and put the 'cuttings' in a jug of water, they will root.  Thereby the parent plants will be encouraged to bush out, and you will have several new plants to pot up to keep you going through the winter.

valmarg


I didn't know you could grow basil from cuttings. This is good because I have few plants that were supermarket plants a year ago (I know, I know, but thats what got me into growing things!) and have been going ever since. They're more like basil bushes really and I never let them flower. Now the stems are going a bit woody.

So I may try to cut the green bits off and root them in water.
Thanks!
Title: Re: Basil
Post by: Barnowl on September 06, 2006, 17:35:30
Cuttings in water definitely work - I was keeping some (home-grown) basil fresh in a glass of water in the kitchen (light and warm) and roots started appearing almost at once.