basil!

[flupmakintosh]

I have a new basil plant, a bigger one this time (I over harvested the last one). I have already re-poted it because it was pot bound when I got it from tesco (on sale) but it looks very healthy. I just wondered if anyone has any tips on keeping basil on a windowsill. I didn't know where to put this at all.

[Rosefriend]

It's fine where it is Flup...

Must admit that I don't have much luck keeping Basil for the simple reason (well, I think) that Basil needs to be on a sunny windowsill and my kitchen is north facing...
They need a lot of water but it needs to drain off very quickly. I tend to water from the bottom after the lower leaves kept going rotten.

Flub - how do you feed yours??

Has anyone tried the African Blue or Thai perennial Basil's?? They carry on producing good leaves - well supposed to anyway.

RF

[isabella]

I grow African Blue basil Rosefriend - only for decorative purposes- I haven't used it in cooking.
Bees love it ;D
I have bought some seeds of Thai basil to try this year.
I love growing different varieties - about 8 this year

[Rosefriend]

Keep us up to date Isabella - I would love to see some pics later if possible.... I really am not very god with basil - or it doesn't like me very much..

I have decided to have a little herb corner on the terrace this year and was hoping to add Basil to it...not sure what I should go for though.

RF

[Barbara]

I want to plant lots of herbs this year, but they like hot, and that means the front garden I'll have to try and find a spare spot for a pot. a big pot mind.

[Rosefriend]

I have a 110litre container at the back of the garden that I have had full of herbs for years and there is always one that seems to take over.
This year I have decided to have a corner of the terrace with maybe half a dozen smaller pots on a sort of steps type of thing....in theory it must work better than the large pot..and... I don't get wet and dirty shoes each time I want a bit of parsley!!

RF

[Ladygardener]

I'm going to try a red basil this year too, Dark Opal it's called, I got the seeds yesterday.

[Rosefriend]

Just googled it LG - it looks very nice - it also says that it freezes well. Bet that would brighten a winter salad up.

RF

[Ladygardener]

Hopefully it'll taste nice too.

[isabella]

I like the Red Basil LG

Here are some of the basils I grew a couple of years ago

Sweet basil


Lime basil


Purple basil


African Blue basil


A variegated basil


This year I am hoping to grow
Sweet Genovese
Lemon
Thai(Siam Queen)
Red
Cinnamon
Fine Verde
Leaf Lettuce
Purple Ruffles
Bush

[Ladygardener]

That's a right list of basil, sounds great Isabella. I tried lemon basil a couple of years but they always turned out really weak and weedy.

[Rosefriend]

Isabella - how many times do you pinch out as mine tend to get leggy and weak as well.... yours are so bushy??

Also what do you feed them on??

RF

[isabella]

Over the years through trial and error I have found the best way for me to grow Basil is not to sow too early - never before April!
I sow a few seeds in 3" pots - i don't prick them out singly but when the seedlings are about 2" tall pot the whole pot into a 4" - 5" pot then when they are about 6 " tall into a 6" - 7" pot - this is where they stay for the whole summer I have some pots that are not quite as deep as normal e.g like the ones Xanth houseplants are sold in- I find these are good.
The main rule with watering is to water in the morning never the evening.Keep the plants in a nice warm bright place - my live in the tomato greenhouse .Pinch the tops to use as and when
I give an occasional feed of a general plant food like Maxicrop. They don't need high potash food.

[Ladygardener]

Thanks for that Isabella, will try this year to get nice bushy healthy plants.

[Rosefriend]

Ditto Isabella - thanks for the good tips....

RF

[Ladygardener]

I lost a lot of my basil this year to whitefly. I've sown purple basil twice and this time I've got 2 lots of healthy small seedlings. Fingers crossed for them. I've also got some seedlings of normal green again but had to buy basil in the supermarket the other day.
Anyone else had any problems this year?

[Missredhead]

This is my basil...I need to re-pot it.




I got it free with Lurpack..it started off like this

[Dutchy]

That looks like funny chocolate chip cookies ;D
Gosh there is loads of seeds in one little hole.

[Missredhead]

I know..my daughter thought that they were cookies at first.

[Tig]

I chucked mine in with my toms Missy, and spread the seeds out a bit - they are growing OK

x Tig

[isabella]

I have had trouble with the Lettuce Leaf basil - something ate it all i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/cheesy.gif
The Lemon basil looks a bit weedy and is struggling a bit i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/sad.gif
All the rest seem o.k - and I managed to buy another variegated one - love it i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif

[Ladygardener]

Your basil has done well Missy, considering it does look just like a couple of muffins.
Isabella when I tried to grow the lemon Basil it grew very weedy too. Would'nt grow it again.