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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Basil
Make herbal vinegar using basil; it retains the flavor and makes a great gift! See how to make herbal vinegar.
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I had never grown herbs before I got one of those commercial mini-hydroponic setups for Christmas, which included 6 different herbs to grow, including Genovese and Thai basil. The Thai basil grows like a weed, but the Genovese seems to be nearing the end of its life span. I read that it could easily be propagated, so I snipped off a piece and have started it in a mason jar, it's rooting, and I hope to never, ever have to buy basil at the store again!
My basil leaves appear to have some sunburn. Are there any remedies to help once some of the leaves are already burnt?
no
My store-bought basil plant obviously went to flowers before to leaves, and then it dried up, even though watered. Any purpose to dried flowers other than for its smell?
Hi, Susan. The flowers on a basil plant are edible. If yours are dried now, try using them in cooking.
After I have frozen my basil leaves, what is the best way to defrost them when I want to use them? Just leave them out til they thaw? Should I take the frozen leaves out of the baggie to thaw, or leave them in?
Just drop 'em right in the soup! or stew, or whatever. If you don't want whole leaves floating around in the soup, chop them finely as soon as you take them out of the freezer. There's no value in thawing them first.
Which variables affect the flavor and scent of a basil plant?
Currently I have two basil plants that smell and taste quite different. I would not be as surprised if the second plant did not come from a cutting of the first. Plant A has a sweet, very spicy smell. Plant B smells much more green and grass-like, almost like fresh pesto.
Plant A is in the shade quite a bit and has a sandy soil that has not been given mulch or compost. It is in a medium sized pot.
Plant B is in a raised bed with my peppers and tomatoes. It is in a clay soil thoroughly mixed with sand and compost, with mulch on the top. It receives much more sunlight than Plant A.
Any insight into the flavor variations is appreciated!