Basil

[Clarabel]

My basil plant has a flower! Thats never happened before!

[Millie]

Woohoo!!!!!!

[hedgewitch]

Basil flowers are pretty aren't they - however I allways pinch them off before they flower ( unless I want it to go to Seed ) 'cos the plant will die as soon as it's finished flowering.

[Clarabel]

Yeah sadly I had to do that this morning. It's a shame cos they are pretty but I prefer the tastiness more!

[multiveg]

Read somewhere that basil flowers could be added to salads.

[chadspad]

Was just gonna ask what I do about my flowering Basil, then I found this thread!
More questions tho (as always!). Are the plants annuals? I have only just found them hiding behind some tomato plants. I dont want to waste them by not having used them up so can I dry them and is Basil as good dry? When I use them fresh on food, do I crush or chop or leave whole - how do I use in cooking please? And best on tomatoey things like spag bog, lasagne?

[Han&Matt]

Mmm, basil. It is just gorgeous on a fresh tomato salad or in sandwiches - very complimentary with mediterranian (excuse poor spelling) flavours (roast vegetables, tomatos and other 'italian' herbs such as oregano and thyme). Delia and Jamie agree that basil is best 'torn' rather than chopped, can't understand that one particularly but whatever they say...

Not so good dried I don't think. If you put into hot food leave till last as long periods of heating seem to make them go mushy or get lost altogether.

I have a mint basil variety (lovely purple colour) which I use with fruit salads (mango, pineapple etc).

Enjoy!

[chadspad]

Thanks for that! How much needed - tsp, tsb, handful, couple of leaves?

I did buy some cinnamon basil seeds but they didnt come up unfortunately as its supposed to be lovely.

[Hillbilly]

We grow seven kinds of Basil. Love the stuff and it goes in everything and use some of the types it to make poultices and teas and well, lots of things as well as the culinary uses. Incidentally, if you have several pots of it, put them at your doors and windows. It keeps the flies away.

BIG handful of torn leaves into a italian style tomato sauce is out of this world and so summery!

The reason you shouldn't cut the leaves is a because the ancients beleived Basil to be so sacred that it should never be touched with a weapon of war (knife!)

[hedgewizard]

If you chop it, something oxidizes or reacts or knackers or something. Either way it turns a mucky brown colour and the taste is spoilt.

Flowers - if a plant gets this far you can leave it be and wait for seeds to form, then dry them for next year!

[Hillbilly]

. Either way it turns a mucky brown colour and the taste is spoilt.

See thats because it touched it with a weapon of war

[Muddypause]

This sounds like a variation of the 'cut or tear lettuce' debate that some people like to excercise themselves on. The world cannot wait until it is finally resolved - just get on and eat it.

[Biscombe]

Mmmmm pesto and lots of it!! Nip off thoses flowers!

Pesto alla Biscombe


blend laods of basil (I'm growing mammoth basil from real seeds)
Cream Cheese
Brasil nuts
Garlic if you wish
Blend!

Keeps in the fridge for ages use it with everything!!!!

[Shirley]

right.. I've got basil in pots on the windows but STILL plagued by flies... we are surrounded by fields full of cows, we've got our own animals... and we are by the water so I guess it's inevitable... we've got a fly zapper at one side of the room and a fly paper on the other... but they seem to be clever enough to avoid these...

I tear basil too - it's delicious.

Brazil nuts in pesto... I've not tried that. It sounds yummy

[STHLMgreen]

Flowers - if a plant gets this far you can leave it be and wait for seeds to form, then dry them for next year!

So wait until all the white flowers have dieds and save them? I have a few plants that went to seed while I was away and I'd like to save the seed.

Thanks!

And brazil nuts in pesto sound amazing... gotta try that! I used walnuts the other day quite successfully.