Basil

[StripyPixieSocks]

What do I do with it during Winter?

It's been out all summer and it's still out but looking a tad... unhappy... do I have to bring it in or will it just re-grow next spring?

[gdb]

I think Basil is an annual - at least in the Northern Europe - so it'll die.

The best thing to do is to take all the leaves off it and dry them. Not as good as fresh Basil but not at all bad.

[Clara]

I read that preserving the leaves in oil is better, or what about pesto?

[StripyPixieSocks]

Cool thanks... I already have a huge pot of pesto in my fridge so I will look for something interesting to do with it shortly :)

[Millymollymandy]

It's only an annual if you leave it outside because it is tender. I have kept basil growing on my windowsill inside for 2 years!

For me it does much better inside because the leaves stay tender. Ordinary basil outdoors grows to about 3-4 foot high but the sun makes the leaves go really tough and are not nice in salads etc. OK that only happens when we have hot sunny summers...

[StripyPixieSocks]

It's only an annual if you leave it outside because it is tender. I have kept basil growing on my windowsill inside for 2 years!

For me it does much better inside because the leaves stay tender. Ordinary basil outdoors grows to about 3-4 foot high but the sun makes the leaves go really tough and are not nice in salads etc. OK that only happens when we have hot sunny summers...

Ah ok, I'll bring it in then and keep it warm somewhere instead as I'd like for it to keep growing to be honest... still not sure what is and isn't going to make it through the winter as of yet :D

[ina]

Ordinary basil outdoors grows to about 3-4 foot high

Monster basil! It would never get to that height here...

[Peggy Sue]

Exactly what I was thinking Ina, mine has been the biggest ever this year at 4 inches!! (I'm not what you call gifted with Basil fingers)

But is that true of many annuals, are they only annuals because they can't hack the frost or is there a life cycle?

[Millymollymandy]

Sorry I don't know why I wrote 3-4 feet! 2 foot 6" is more like it and about 2 foot wide, which is big enough! My indoor basil is a good foot high but I put that down to low light levels as they aren't very bushy.

I must be getting confused with imperial measurements these days!

I have grown many 'annual' flowering plants but they have survived winter and seem to be perennials or at least short lived ones. Maybe the seed manufacturers just want us to buy more seeds?

[Green Aura]

I think there are many plants that are classed as annual in Britain but are perennials in their native country. I don't know about basil, but it'll grow better in France than over here.

Have you thought about freezing some - pack it into ice cube trays - enough in each for one meal. when frozen, stick them in a freezer bag and get one out when you need it.

[evelyn]

i will be frezing my basil and mint in a day or so but i do it a little diferant to the ice cube method.

I cut the stalks off at about an inch above the soil make them into bunches and put them into freezer bags, after they are well and truly frozen i scrunch up the bags so all the leaves crumble and come off the stalks, then i just use as needed you can use the stalks also, i put them in sauces and fish them out when it is reddy to serve.

Eve

[StripyPixieSocks]

The Basil is in the utility room in the warm but hang on... does mint die too?

[Millymollymandy]

No, mint is a perennial. You can't kill mint anyway.

[evelyn]

Mint is a bit of a thug in the garden and will live and spred for ever, i just freez it for winter so i have some nice fresh leavs insted of the not so grate ones that stay on the plant through winter, i do the same with rosmary because i find the what is left on the bush over winter is a bit tough and dosent give off as much flavour.

Eve

[contadina]

Even in the Med basil is sown each year (easy to seed save though). I always save one plant to bring in during winter though.