Basil
Episode: #18 18/8/07
Presenter: Judy
You have got to love the smell and taste of basil. Even though basil hates the cold as soon as the weather has warmed up you can start growing it again. A ready-to-go basil kit makes it easy and even if you are still getting cold nights you can start the seeds inside on a windowsill and then move the plants outdoors when the cold is gone for the year.
Start by pouring seed raising mix into the pot and then sprinkling the basil seeds on top. Cover lightly and water gently. Keep the pot in a warm spot and make sure it does not dry out and in a few weeks you will have small basil plants.
Basil loves lots of fertiliser so start feeding the baby plants from the very beginning with a liquid plant food that gets straight into the leaves. Feeding every two weeks will give you plenty of leaves to pick.
Just think of what you can do with them - yummy pesto, Bruschetta and basil-flavoured salads and even better: basil has been said to chase some insect pests away too.
One final tip - If you end up with so much basil you that you can not use it all just wrap some sprigs in plastic and pop them into the freezer. That way you can enjoy basil flavour all year round.
Featured Products:
Thrive Seed Raising Mix
Thrive All Purpose Liquid Fertiliser
Presenter: Judy
You have got to love the smell and taste of basil. Even though basil hates the cold as soon as the weather has warmed up you can start growing it again. A ready-to-go basil kit makes it easy and even if you are still getting cold nights you can start the seeds inside on a windowsill and then move the plants outdoors when the cold is gone for the year.
Start by pouring seed raising mix into the pot and then sprinkling the basil seeds on top. Cover lightly and water gently. Keep the pot in a warm spot and make sure it does not dry out and in a few weeks you will have small basil plants.
Basil loves lots of fertiliser so start feeding the baby plants from the very beginning with a liquid plant food that gets straight into the leaves. Feeding every two weeks will give you plenty of leaves to pick.
Just think of what you can do with them - yummy pesto, Bruschetta and basil-flavoured salads and even better: basil has been said to chase some insect pests away too.
One final tip - If you end up with so much basil you that you can not use it all just wrap some sprigs in plastic and pop them into the freezer. That way you can enjoy basil flavour all year round.
Featured Products:
Thrive Seed Raising Mix
- Ideal mix for the germination of vegetables, herbs, flower seeds and propagation of plant cuttings.
- Formulated with fine grade of Pine Park.
- Nutricote to feed seedlings and cutting until they are planted out.
Thrive All Purpose Liquid Fertiliser
- Fast acting liquid fertiliser.
- Ideal for feeding a wide range of ornamental flower, shrubs, trees as well as vegetables and herbs.
- Feeds through foliage and roots.
- Easy to measure and mix.
AS SEEN ON 
