Comments on: How to Harvest Basil & Keep It Fresh

By: New to Kansas

New to Kansas — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:33:00 +0000

I love fresh basil and have grown it to make pesto the past two summers. I am interested in trying to keep some for the winter and will be trying the paper sack idea, hope it works. We love the fresh basil on pizza and in pasta dishes. Be sure not to put it on your pizza until the pizza is totally baked and out of the oven. I tried putting on top of the cheese and it burns easily. So now I just add whole leaves after the pizza is ready to come out of the oven. It’s fabulous with chicken, mozzarella and garlic. Thanks for your site!

By: My Blog’s Anniversary with CSA | Veggie Angie

My Blog’s Anniversary with CSA | Veggie Angie — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:32:25 +0000

[...] ingredients. I wasn’t sure how to keep the basil, so I searched online and found a good recommendation. Our friends Karl and Frances keep their fresh basil in a jar with water and a plastic bag over [...]

By: Geniene

Geniene — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:33:34 +0000

I do the same with my cilantro bought from the store (clip the ends first and place in water), however, since I don’t usually use it all fast enough, I keep the whole vase of cilantro in the fridge… not sure if it would work well with basil.

By: Basil: Growing, Harvesting, and Avoiding Downy Mildew : Homestead Gardens

Basil: Growing, Harvesting, and Avoiding Downy Mildew : Homestead Gardens — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 21:25:42 +0000

[...] Sources: Willi Galloway, Gardenweb, and Digging in Food. [...]

By: Basil: Growing, Harvesting, and Avoiding Downy Mildew « Homestead Gardens

Basil: Growing, Harvesting, and Avoiding Downy Mildew « Homestead Gardens — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:15:30 +0000

[...] Sources: Willi Galloway, Gardenweb, and Digging in Food. [...]

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:59:25 +0000

Thank you so much for your post! Very helpful! I have a lot of basil growing in my garden for the first time and had no idea what to do with it.

By: Willi

Willi — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:32:01 +0000

Chiara–If your basil is in a container then you’ll need to check on its water twice a day. If it’s in the ground, it is best to water it deeply (soaking the soil to about 8 inches) and then wait for the soil to dry down. You’ll know that you should water when you stick your finger into the soil and it is dry down to your second knuckle. It’s best to water in the morning. That way you don’t lose much water to evaporation and if you accidentally get the foliage wet, it will soon dry out when the sun warms up. Good luck with your basil! I hope you get a big harvest.

By: Chiara

Chiara — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:07:27 +0000

Great tips! I just planted my first small patch of basil, so I can’t wait to put all these suggestions into action. In terms of watering, is once a day in warm-weather climates a good amount? And is there a better time to water? Mid-day? Late afternoon? After the sun has set? So much to learn!

By: AlexM

AlexM — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:19:44 +0000

By: LadyJayPee

LadyJayPee — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:14:36 +0000

Your basil looks so nice & lush! Lately, I have been harvesting mine, placing it in a Rubbermaid-type container, & freezing the leaves whole. The basil stays green. When I want to add it to a recipe, I take out the amount I want to use and literally crumble the frozen leaves into my dish.