Basil

[andrewlee]

I bought a pot of basil from the supermarket, and used most of it in a pasta dish.

I continued to water the plant, and leaves grew back, somewhat small, pale and translucent. It now has flowered, with small white blossom!

What is happening, and can I still eat the leaves?

[Kingaroo]

Yes, you can still eat the leaves. The plant's later growth is small and pale because basil plants need a lot of sun to make vigorous dark leaves. The plant has flowered, as most plants eventually will. Once it is flowering, it is past its prime for leaves -- it puts its energy into the flowers instead -- but that doesn't make them inedible, just less wonderful.

[WendyS]

You can still eat the leaves even though the plant has been weakened because it has flowered. The tip with Basil is to keep regenerating it by picking 2 or 3 stems couple of stems about three inches long and sticking them in water until they develop their own roots. Takes about a week. Then plant these little cuttings in a fresh pot of compost and repeat the process. Basil needs lots of water and if you keep the plant for a long time, top up its nourishment with a dose of Baby Bio once a week. Using this method you need never buy another pot of supermarket Basil.

[Androcles]

And once you have followed Wendy's suggestion, and have a load of basil, make your own Pesto and always have the taste available.

36 basil leaves (min 6 per person)
3 cloves garlic
150g pine nuts
100g fresh parmesan
200ml olive oil
salt and black pepper

I usually make a half quantity which just fits into a small Kenwood blender -and it freezes beautifully. You can spread it on bread instead of butter and top with sliced tomato and mozarella or even mix two tea spoons of the pesto with a dessertspoon or two of vinaigrette and you have a splendid pesto dressing for a tomato salad.

Happy basil growing!

[Kim A]

If you got this plant from the supermarket, it's worth re-potting it. you'll find you actually have lots of little seedling basil plants all squished into one pot to make it look like a bit fat healthy one when you buy it. If you split the seedling up a bit into a few new pots, they'll go back to being bigger leafed, and last for ages, especially if you just pick out the top two or three leaves for a while - the plants will bush out nicely. Basil likes plenty of water, but don't let it sit in a puddle of water and it prefers to be watered in the morning, otherwise the drop in temperature over night, combined with damp soil, can affect growth - just remember it comes from warmer countries, so treat accordingly.