Basil 'Passport to Paradise'

(Page 3 of 3)

June/July 2003
 
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Whether grown in beds or containers, basil requires warm, well-drained soil. In cool climates, the plants must have full sun; where summers are long and hot, partial afternoon shade is welcome. To support basil's fast growth, fertilize your plants every few weeks beginning in early summer with a liquid plant food such as a seaweed/fish emulsion product.

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It also is crucial to pinch plants back regularly after they've grown at least 6 to 8 inches tall. This helps induce branching. It's an aromatic and joyous job because each time you pinch, you release fragrance and harvest sprigs for your kitchen. As summer wears on, continue pinching stem tips often to delay flowering. If your plants get away from you and cover themselves with flower spikes, just prune them back by one-third. Within a week or two, you should see a fresh crop of new stem tips emerging.

To use your pruned-off flower spikes, dry them in a warm, airy place and add them to potpourri sachets or dream pillows (they're too woody to use for cooking). Basil dies at the first hint of frost, but the plants should remain fragrant for several weeks afterward, reminding you of the pleasures of summer while the world is aglow with autumn's glory.

MYSTERY WILT

Sometimes, basil plants suddenly wilt to death due to a soil-borne fungus called fusarium, which injures the roots and main stem. To diagnose this disease, look for a dark brown patch on the main stem near the soil line. The fusarium strain to blame is specific to basil; it's a little different from the fusariums that bother beans, tomatoes and other crops. There is no cure, but one of the first-ever hybrid basils, 'Nufar,' shows good resistance to the disease. Rotating your basil to a new space each year, planting fusarium-free seed, and maintaining excellent drainage and air circulation discourage the disease.

Excerpted from Barbara Pleasant's forthcoming book, The Whole Herb .

Mother Earth News

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