BASIL: TASTY BUT A SMIDGE TRICKY
A member of the mint family, the three most common ways to grow and propagate basil are from seed, cuttings or seedlings. Some may say it’s a tricky beggar to grow, and that’s true: basil loathes cold weather, hates wet feet and enjoys a fertile soil. But there are ways to deal with basil’s tricky reputation and avoid visiting the casualty department.
One of the world’s most loved herbs, basil thrives in the warmest months of the year. Many of us fans get excited and start gardening with our tastebuds ahead of time. But, after years of failures with basil caused by being too eager and watching young seedlings wilt and die, I now hold off sowing basil seed until October. I sow them inside in little trays on a sunny windowsill in the kitchen. The seedlings appear in two to three weeks, depending on the temperatures, and they will be ready to plant outside later in November or December.
Planting ready-grown seedlings is the easy option, and they happily grow inside until it is warm enough for them to venture outdoors.
Things TO avoid 1. Planting it out too early
While seeds can be sown inside this month, hold off putting plants in the ground in most regions until mid-november (I aim for December in Canterbury).
2. Wet soil
Basil loathes waterlogged soil. Aim for moist, free-draining soil. A light watering twice a week is generally more than enough.
3. Small pots
Don’t be tempted to plant seedlings into little pots. The bigger the pot, the more fertile soil the basil has to draw its energy from. Refresh old potting mixes with sheep pellets or something similar, rather than re-using old dry stuff.
free Basil: Take Cuttings
This isn’t anything new, but it’s something I do whenever I have to resort to store-bought basil. I take stem cuttings from that plant and root them in water. Within a few weeks I have rooted stems that I can then plant out or pot up.
Game-changing microgreens
These little leaves are so flavoursome and such a game-changer for me. Simply pinch off young basil leaves when they are the size of a fingernail and add to fresh wraps, tomatoes on toast or salads. It does seem cruel to eat the leaves when they are so small, but they are just so tasty. Which means it’s a good idea to sow plenty of seed!
PLANT CARROTS, BEETROOT, PARSNIP & RADISH NOW
The excitement of growing root crops is never lost on me. Over the years, my success has depended on how good my groundwork is because preparing the ground before sowing seed is a must-do for these crops. The aim is to have a loose soil, what gardeners call ‘friable’ – think breadcrumb-like consistency. A few knobbly bits are okay, but the looser the soil, the easier it will be for the tap roots of carrots and parsnip to develop. But, hey, you can still eat a few crooked roots!
Growing in containers is an option too, just ensure the container is deep enough: aim for 20–30cm in depth.