Drying basil

I have just picked the basil off the plant & used it....right now I have African basil and I have deemed it too pretty to eat :) I just go out & smell it. Guess I'll bring it in before frost.

Wow!!!! Great blossoms! I had no idea they would do that. Haven't you even tasted a little leaf? How does your smell? I have that sweet basil and I think there must be a better one.

Venice I'm chomping one now to refresh my memory...it's as good as it looks...smells fantastic and tastes yummy. Now let's hope Dave doesn't come along & tell me I'm not supposed to eat it lol

I'm looking for Genovese Basil. My sweetheart, TexasRoses, says that is the best. Any one got any seed? Haven't been able to find a plant. Did buy some sweet basil just so Venice and I would be on the same page. Doing good, too.

I think the Sweet Basil has a stronger and more tart taste. I think the Genovese may be little more refined flavor and a sweet smell. And then there is that African basil, not many leaves but a beautiful plant.

Jim, why don't you just go over to Lowe's and buy some Genovese seeds. Then stick them in with your tomatoes. When they get big enough, transplant them. ???

In defense of my African basil, I was away a lot & it didn't get watered, and I never cut it back or stopped it from flowering, maybe if I did the leaves would be bigger. I don't know.

Lynnie, then they wouldn't have been so pretty!

They're on my front stoop so that's what i was going for...nibbling on them was just a bonus lol

Thanks girls, I think I'll start some of both. What's a few more potted plants when you already have a hundred.

Hi Jim I hope you're feeling better! Have a good day.

In my other closed off bedroom, I am drying basil and a lot of marigolds. What a smell!!!

Lynnie, by the way, what state do you live in?

MA

That's right. I forgot.

I thought I had told you before, but as Moon said, it does get confusing! lol

I broke down last week and bought three brand new basil plants, 'cause they smell so good! I've learned here they like HOT weather, and we're coming into our fall season. I have them growing inside near a sunny window. Can I expect them to live through our winter for planting out next spring, or an I sadly mistaken. They STILL smell good!

Thanks!

Gymgirl I don't know if they can stay outside in your zone....I know here they can't.
I just bought some plants too! :)

Gymgirl - I can keep Basil outside all winter unless we get a frost, which is pretty rare. If it looks like it's going to be cold enough to do harm, I usually harvest what I can, cover the plant and hope for the best - lol. They are so easy to start from seed that I always have one type or another growing.

Jim41 - I believe I still have some Genovese Basil seeds left that I purchased this year from Botanical Interests. I'll check when I get home from work and will send you out some if you like. Lemme know! The Genovese has a subtler taste that I really like.

Kelly

Thanks locakelly, but TexasRoses sent me some Genovese Basil seed. Got it this week. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Some nice folks on Dave's.

Anytime Jim. If you ever need some just let me know!

Thanks a heap. I don't know what you grow but if I can help you let me know. About the only thing I have in the seed line is cow horn okra and a running green bean (got no idea what variety). A friend gave the bean seed to me, some his grandmother had saved for the last 50 years.

I grow pretty much everything except brussel sprouts (yuck!), artichokes and asparagus - lol. Oh and celery - doesn't like the desert heat.

How do those green beans taste? Looks like you have an unknown heirloom variety on your hands. Hang onto that seed and save you some more.

I like the taste. Don't really know how to explain it, just not that green taste some green beans have. Maybe just a tad of a nutty taste. They produce good, although they don't just flood you with beans at one time. At least mine didn't. When I started watering my squash, they put on new folige and bloomed and made again. Talked to the man who gave them to me and he said with the rains we have gotten in the last few weeks, his came back and produced for the third time. Hate I pulled mine up. If you are interested in some seed, D-mail me your address. By the way, when mine rebloomed and made the second time the temps were 100* and extremely dry. They just got the benefit of the water I was putting on the squash. Surprised the heck out of me.

Sounds like my kind of veggie! If it can handle 100+ it's a keeper in my book!

Sending you d-mail.

Just keep it wet and it will make. How I don't know. Never had a green bean before that would handle heat.