Sharing Sweet Basil

Hello friends, we are growing sweet basil along side our Italian basil this year. We haven’t grown sweet basil before, it’s a beautiful plant with wonderful ruffly leaves. The smell of basil is intoxicating. Basil is heat tolerant, it doesn’t like cold weather at all. Which is perfect since we are still having triple digit temperatures here.

If You Were Our Neighbor

I would be sharing our basil plants with you. If you have the opportunity to get a clipping from a neighbor or friend I think you will find these tips will help you to grow a beautiful and healthy basil plant (some call it a basil bush).

HOW TO GROW BASIL FROM A CUTTING

Cut a bit of basil from a healthy plant at the “v” (just below the area where the leaf meets the stem.) Don’t take a cutting from an area where there is a flower. Fill a mason jar or equivalent with water to 1 inch from the top. Put your cutting in the water, make sure only the stem is in the water (keep leaves out of the water, they will rot). Put your jar on a windowsill or where it will get plenty of sunshine. Change the water every few days, until you start to see roots forming along the bottom of the stem (it takes about two weeks.) Mist the leaves with a spritzer, every time you add fresh water for the roots.

TRANSPLANTING YOUR CUTTING

When you have a bunch of healthy-looking roots (about 2 inches long) transplant to your garden, a pot, or container. Plant in a sunny spot ( at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight ) in rich healthy soil, make sure no leaves get planted with the roots. Deep water it twice a week. If you’re growing it in a container or a pot on your windowsill it may need it daily. It will grow splendidly in well drained soil.

The goal is to keep the soil wet ( don’t let it dry out). But, don’t go bonkers, if you need a snorkel and water wings, its over watered! Giggle, seriously just water consistently and you’ll have a very happy basil plant. ” water well, keep soil moist, watch it grow and tadaa, you have a basil plant!“

KATIE’S TIDBITS

Plant these fragrant plants throughout your vegetable garden to help control pests.

Planting from a seed- plant 3-4 seeds in ¼ inch of soil, full sun, keep soil moist. 😊

Whether you plant it in you garden, in a container, or in a pot on your windowsill I hope these simple tips will help you to cultivate amazing flavors to add to your recipes.

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What are you growing in your garden? Will you try to grow basil now that you know how easy it is?

I look forward to seeing you all back here on Thursday for the TFT blog hop.