Basil advice

Hi, I've just re-potted some basil and now have lots of pots and I'm not sure what to do with them all ! Could anyone advise whether I would be better leaving it outside or maybe putting it in my poly tunnel ? I know you can leave it outside but bearing in mind I'm in North Cumbria is it likely to grow better inside ?

Thanks !

 

It'll grow much better on the window cill, plus the slugs would have it straight away outside.
If you got too much you could make pesto or freeze some in ice cubes or just dry it.

For drying, pick early in the morn, before the sun drives the essential oils off, hang it in a paper bag.

 

Your basil will do much better inside than out Fretters.
But what are you going to do with it all ?
My only advice is EAT IT! Or freeze it for later use or make Pesto.
The stuff's not much of an ornament.

 

How do you freeze it? Do you put it in ice cube trays with water - I read this in a magazine. When you defrost it, do you drain it, leave it to dry a little bit and then it's as good as new?

 

Best thing to preserve the taste is either preserve the leaves under (completely under) olive oil or olive oil+salt in a sterilised jar or in the freezer. Freezer: you wash , dry and cut the leaves in stripes and put them in ice cube trays (no water) or a plastic bag.
Of course like all leaves which frost, they will loose shape and colour after a few minutes, but the taste remains.
For myself I would make tomato sauce and keep it in a jar.

 

Thanks for the advice, I've moved most of it inside now, some in my poly-tunnel, some on window sills ! I have lots of plans for it, but I'm hoping it will get bigger first ! Pesto, tomato sauce, basil olive oil, tomato/mozzarella and basil salads, can't wait ! Thanks for the tips though, I've never tried drying it before, so will try that this year !

Thanks again !

 

Hi Butterfield. To freeze Basil, or any other herb, just chop it, spread it out on a tray, put it in the freezer until frozen then scrape it all into a freezer box and return to the freezer.
To use it - just take the amount you want from the feezer box and use from frozen - don't defrost it. It won't come out like fresh basil leaves but the flavour is the same and much better than dried herbs.