Basil

Hi All,

I have had some great success is with growing basil, despite not really knowing what I am doing.

I intend to make industrial quantities of pesto this year so I have lots of new plants on the go, however, I am not sure what to do with lasy years plants.

After a few harvests, I basically left them be, not really knowing what would happen next, but they are looking pretty good again. Not quite such a lush green shade as they were last year and slightly limper, but still pretty big.

Should I re-pot them into bigger containers now and hope they grow on in to huge plants or will they never be the same again??

How many seasons do you get out of basil? Any useful basil facts very greatfully received!

Many Thanks

Rich

 

I can never get mine to live through winter, where did you keep yours.? I too make pesto a lot. The pine nuts are horendous price now though

 

Hi Rich

Basil is usually described as a half-hardy annual so yours are living on borrowed time, I reckon.

The question is - do your basil plants still have worthwhile aroma and taste? If they do, it makes sense to use them. If, as I suspect, the plants are just "hanging on", you'll need the new ones.

I must admit, I've never managed to nurse a worthwhile basil plant through the winter. Come the winter, I put them in my compost bin and start again in Spring.

 

Hi,

Thanks fro your responses. I kpt them in the spare room, which does get quite warm and get a fair bit of sun, even in winter. I butchered them in Sept/Oct time to make a tonne of pesto and it has only just run out!

You're right, how do you grow pine nuts!? They're outrageously expensive!

The taste is fairly mild now so i think I'll take your advice and bin them off.

Rich