Flowering Basil

paddy mac fisto · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:42 am Post subject: Flowering Basil

Is it pesto time?

michael brenock · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:08 pm Post subject:

normal and natural for basil to flower. does that mean you have zero pests?
very good paddy
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

paddy mac fisto · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject: Pesto

i can't quite tell whether you're joking there Micheal but I'll bite anyways. Pesto is an Italian sauce (kind of) that you can put on pasta(or whatever you like really), made from primarily basil and paremsan cheese, olive oil and pine nuts. Usually it's a good way to harvest the whole plant in one go as you need alot of basil. I guess what I meant was since my basil is flowering, is it time for me to harvest the whole plant now? Will it produce much more foliage?

Liparis · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject:

Don't crop right down to the ground, perhaps 2/3 the way down.
Bill.

michael brenock · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:04 pm Post subject:

paddy macfisto i knew you would bite that one you are a lateral thinker. I enjoyed the blogs. Does the garden drive you crazy or help to keep you sane?
michael brenock

Liparis · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 12:05 pm Post subject:

Michael, are you suggesting sane people take up garden? Laughing

paddy mac fisto · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:05 am Post subject: Sane gardeners...?

Michael the garden doesn't drive me crazy at all. Sometimes you can get a bit frustrated if there's a problem but after 5 minutes I find I'm just even more motivated to sort it out. I'm an animator so I'm pretty much stuck starting at a computer screen all day every day so the garden/allotment is some serious therapy. I love the feeling of having done a few hours hard work, coming home filthy and wrecked tired, very rewarding seeing everything take off in these hotter months too. What drives me insane is leaving Phil bloody Vickery on well into the second half of the lions match yesterday to cost us a gazillion penalties Mad

Cheers for the comments on the basil lads, I'll chop it right back to 2 thirds Bill and sow a few more cells of it today.

michael brenock · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject:

paddy i know nothing about rugby or who was playing. I go away for a few days and when i come back i go straight for the forum before i look at the tomatoes or the strawberries. paddy i think i need a new outlet
Michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

alab1 · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject: Speaking of basil

Recently I discovered lemon basil. It is amazing in that the leaves smell just like lemons. I have added these plants to my herb garden and I was wondering if this type basil could be used in making beverages such as basil lemonade. Any suggestions?