Bolting Basil.

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
1

One of those basic neccessities that many foodies grow, whether in a garden patch or window sill, is Basil. As we get into August, or as soils dry, or it is exposed to warm weather, Basil tends to bolt.

Don’t overwater but be sure the soils never dry out.

Make sure to pinch of the flowers as buds before they open and become flowers. This will keep the plants growing and from going to seed.

Before the buds actually open and become flowers, the buds while not visually appealing, are still tender and perfectly good (tender and flavorful) to use.

We always grow a bunch of plants and there’s enough to go through and take all the buds to make a jar of pesto, and this encourages new growth so you have tender leaves for other uses.

A jar of pesto lasts a long time in the refrigerator if after using some, you push the rest down evenly in the jar with a spoon and keep a little olive oil on top.

A great alternative from regular pesto, that is surprisingly good, is to use walnuts and walnut oil instead of olive oil and pine nuts.

2

A day late (mor like a week) I love fresh basil but my 2 big plants dried out and have wooded at the base. I figured it was lost so have not pruned. Now I will ask you can they be revived? I also like pesto and HATE pine nuts I often use Cashews instead my wife loves this. Often the meal of Amore!

3

Larry, It’s not to late. Prune back all the buds and flowers, save the buds for pesto and throw the flowers away.

Most people throw the buds away without realizing they are tender and flavorful, at the very least perfect for pesto, (as long as the flowers didn’t open.)

Give them a good drink with a fertilizer or plant food that has some nitrogen in it. You will trigger a nice vegetative growth cycle and have a bunch of tender leaves in about 3 weeks.

Make sure to cut back every bud and flower and to keep the roots moist. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Basil will keep growing until the first frost if you pinch the buds.

4

i prefer to do staggered plantings of basil. I don’t care for the flavor older basil takes on that has had its buds pinched/flowered. There are hormone changes that take place in the plant once it flowers that causes this flavor change.

5

Gnats or some kind bug are eating at my Basil. Any suggestions?

6

Lizards. [tease.gif]

7

Thanks a lot, Bob! neener

8

Turned out to be slugs on mine. Put a small amount of beer in a shallow or cut off paper cut and they’ll go to it and drown.

Don’t get caught and filmed while doing this, it aggravates PETA.

9

Any time, V. Always glad to help. Here’s my basil. About time to pinch it back again.

10

Yer splittin’ hairs! I bet more pesto is made with the buds as w leaves? Flowers no, buds yes!

Buds are perfect for pesto as long as they are tender and not flowering.

11

Works for me…

12

I put 2 shovels of compost into the ground in each hole I planted basil back in April. I keep watering it and cutting it back, eating it, giving it away, and the plants are 2 feet across and 2 feet high. Soaking them twice a week.

I made a salad with some perfectly ripe, fresh tomatos, a whole bulb of garlic and a bunch of fresh basil for a meeting on Friday. After eating the salad, there were women there that said they wanted to take their panties off. I kid you not. [truce.gif]