Harvesting And Storing Basil Leaves And Seeds
Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009
by Lisa Summerfield
http://herbgardensolutions.com
Basil is one of the best known and useful herbs. It grows in a warm climate and requires lots of water as well as sunlight. It is a cold sensitive plant and needs a proper environment for flowering, which leads to seed formation and subsequently these seeds can be collected and used for further cultivation.
Harvesting and storing basil leaves and seeds is not difficult but it requires some attention. The best time to pick basil is in the morning after the dew has dried out, and before noon. One day before the harvest, the plant needs to be well watered in order to remove all the dust and particles. Harvesting can be done in two ways - firstly by plucking the leaves from the plant whenever required and secondly by harvesting the entire plant and storing the basil bunch upside down in a cool and ventilated place.
Another method of storing basil is to place it directly in the oven at a low temperature on cookie sheets for drying. The oven temperature should be kept below 90 degree Celsius in order to avoid burning of the leaves. Once dry, it is easy to crumble the leaves and store them in glass jars.
Storing basil seeds instead requires taking the cuttings of flowers and hanging them upside-down in a bunch until they become dry and become crispy and brown. They are then put on a baking sheet and rolled over to take out the seeds from their casings.
Storing basil seeds is done by placing them in a paper envelope and most important keeping them in a dry and dark place. On the onset of the spring season the seeds can be taken out and sowed in a container or in the garden.
Another method of storing basil seeds is to collect the heads, dry them by hanging the bunch inside a paper bag till the heads turn to a brown color, then just store the paper bag away. It takes around three weeks for this type of drying process.
As you can see, harvesting and storing basil leaves and seeds does not have to involve difficult techniques and it is a wonderful practice if you want to taste this favorite herb for the coming months and years.
Lisa Summerfield is the author of "Secrets To A Successful Home Herb Garden" - compulsory reading for anyone considering to grow a thriving herb garden. Her website contains valuable information on growing and storing basil... Even if you have never grown a garden before!
For a FREE 10 part mini-course on "The Secrets To Growing Delicious Herbs at Home!" go to http://herbgardensolutions.com
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More commentsI bet I am the only one who chuckles all the way through your basil articles (I am allergic and used to get swollen glands and sore throat that lasted 5-7 days from eating something with basil in it - stayed away for years and now can tolerate tiny amounts) Thanks for a well written article. MarijoI chuckle too, you must be a unique case! Have a wonderful day Marjo!
Thanks for the advice, Lisa. I didn't think I liked basil, then had pesto. Yum! Who'd thought basil could be so good? Maybe someday I will grow my own to make great food instead of relying on restaurants.
There are some great ideas here for working with Basil. I didn't know about the idea of freezing basil leaves for storage, that is a great idea. You may want to go back and check your paragraph breaks, some of them break in the middle, which makes it a little harder to read, but otherwise, you've got a great article here.thanks Anonymus for letting me know re the breaks!
I've never thought about growing my own seed plants...I've always just bought seeds...thanks for the info.when you grow you plants year after year they start taking up the quality of your soil and your vibrations!
What a fabulous last name God has given you that illustrates and underlines your interests and destiny;there are no accidents with last names.
Thanks for writing about this. I've got to know a lot about basil.
Hi Lisa, Thank you for sharing these helpful hints. Your instructions are easy to follow. Nice Work! Blessings to you! Teresa
Lisa, great article. Very well written and organized. My fiance just started growing fresh herbs I'm going to have to pass this information on to her!Hello Greg, I'm glad you enjoy the article. Your fiance will love the 10 day free mini-course, it's loaded with great info.
Hi Lisa. Last summer I planted basil at the kitchen's backyard. I was excited to see it grow and made use of it. Thanks for the great ideas and thanks for sharing a well-written article. Happy Holidays! ~Nenita~
Hi Lisa. I am reading your article again via the Reader's Club and still finds it very informative. My sister loves to cook and I will pass on to her this information. Thanks again. ~Nenita~
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