|
| |
BASIL BLOOMS BAD? NOT ALWAYS!
 |
How can I keep basil from going to flower? I want to harvest it all summer. – Peter D., Morehead. |
 |
Now you are talking about my favorite herb (besides garlic). Basil is a fragrant member of the Mint family whose leaves we use in cooking. It is one of the most fantastically fragrant but it is also one of the most cold-sensitive plants we use the garden; its origin is tropical Asia. So many variations on the theme exist, spicy globe, red rubin, cinnamon basil and many others. The one thing they all have in common is that they grow leaves and stems until such time that they decide it is time to flower. I have found that when they decide to flower, there is not much you can do to prevent it. If you are a keen observer, you can cut off the flower buds but this simply delays the inevitable flowering. For those uninitiated, when basil flowers, leaf production ceases and therein lies the problem. The solution is to plant basil in successive plantings spaced two to four weeks a part to keep a steady supply throughout the season. |
|
 |
|
