Never ending Basil

About 3 years ago, we were talking to a friend who had an allotment and having a conversation about cooking pizza outdoors and at some point, the conversation got onto the “Margherita” and fresh Basil. Our friend then described the below process to us and to our amazement, it worked really well. Needless to say, we have perpetual Basil growth and haven’t bought fresh Basil since.

Give it go! I’m sure you’ll be equally as amazed as us at how well this works.

Growing fresh basil from a supermarket packet is a rewarding and straightforward process. It’ s easy to do and with a bit of looking after, it just keeps growing:

Step 1: Choose Your Basil

Select a packet of fresh basil from the supermarket. Look for healthy stems with vibrant green leaves. You can use the entire bunch or just a few sprigs.

Step 2: Prepare for Planting

1. “Trim the Stems”: Use clean scissors to cut the stems just below a leaf node (where the leaves meet the stem). Each cutting should be about 4-6 inches long.

2. “Remove the Lower Leaves”: Strip off the leaves from the bottom half of the stems, leaving a few leaves at the top.

Step 3: Rooting the Cuttings

You can root your basil cuttings in either water or soil. We used water and found that easiest.

“In Water:”

1. Place the cuttings in a glass or jar with enough water to submerge the lower nodes.

2. Keep the jar in a sunny spot but out of direct sunlight.

3. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.

4. After about 1-2 weeks, roots should start to develop.

“In Soil:”

1. Fill a small pot with potting soil.

2. Make small holes and insert the cuttings, gently pressing the soil around them.

3. Water lightly to settle the soil, then place the pot in a sunny area.

Step 4: Transplanting

Once the roots are a few inches long (if rooted in water) or if the cuttings in soil are established, you can transplant them:

1. If rooted in water, gently remove the cuttings and plant them in a pot filled with potting soil.

2. If you started in soil, you can keep them in their pot or transfer them to a larger container.

Step 5: Ongoing Care

1. “Light”: Basil loves sunlight, so place it in a sunny spot where it can get 6-8 hours of light a day.

2. “Watering”: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water when the top inch feels dry.

3. “Fertilizing”: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every few weeks to promote healthy growth.

Step 6: Harvesting

As your basil grows, you can start harvesting leaves. Pinch off the tops of the stems to encourage bushier growth. Always leave enough leaves on the plant to keep it healthy.

Step 7: Continuous Growth

To keep your basil growing perpetually:

- Regularly pinch back the leaves to prevent flowering, which can make the leaves taste bitter.

- Consider taking new cuttings from your established plant to start more plants, ensuring you always have fresh basil on hand.

With a little care, you’ll have a continuous supply of fresh basil, perfect for cooking your fresh pizza, making pesto or garnishing dishes!

Enjoy

Andy