Very interesting post, Mark. Like others, I will be really interested in how the basil experiment turns out.
I rarely have much luck with basil (which I always grow from seed) - the leaves usually end up very bitter. Not sure if this is because of incorrect watering or not enough heat (I put them outside). I have grown it successfully using hydroponics (Kratky method - no oxygenation).
I have read other posts where people have mentioned standing their basil pots in saucers of water, so clearly this method does work for some.
Hi Angie, I've had basil go bitter quite often too, which I think happens when it gets stressed, most commonly, as you say, from being too cold or not enough water. I like to grow it from seed best, too - and nearly always grow it inside. I find it is too cold outside here for most of the year - and I've also got a feeling that it doesn't like wind.
So far with the basil experiment, all three plants are growing equally well....... Will be interesting to see if that changes.
Ooh I’m so interested to see how this experiment turns out! My very unscientific reasoning about why the watering-from-below method works with basil is that the plant can “breathe” from above and is never thirsty.
I once put basil in an outside pot with some other herbs, the next day I went out and the basil had disappeared, think slugs came overnight, everything above soil level had been eaten!
Thanks so much Sarah - that's the article! I spent about an hour looking for it without any luck. I'll add a link into my post. Good luck with your basil experiments - would be very interested to hear how you get on.
It’s going quite well, I would say that the plant is probably three times the size of the one I bought from the supermarket about a month ago. I have a note in my diary for the end of June for when I can start to harvest some. I think at that point I might split it again and put it into different pots.
Yes, on rereading Leanne's article, I notice that she leaves her basil for a few weeks before picking it. I don't - I pinch out the tips after a few days as I find I get a much bushier and less straggly plant that way (and I also don't have to wait as long for fresh basil!). But maybe I will try her picking method, too - to see if overall it grows better than way.
Read this article with interest, especially regarding the watering of basil…I’ve over and under watered basil plants in pots and find it very difficult to get it right. What is very strange is that I have been very successful in growing it in my hydroponics units..so much so that I have one tray which I keep entirely for basil….it is very healthy.. when it is harvested, the leaves almost squeak. I harvest by taking out the tops as you described to keep the plants bushy and have such good growth that I take out a good amount, chop and freeze it as well as making presto to go in freezer. I don’t understand how it lives so well in these units when the slightest bit of overwatering in a pot causes issues..
This is such an interesting observation Christine. Thinking allowed, I wonder if the overwatered pots don't do well because the soil becomes anaerobic (basil roots need oxygen) but perhaps, in your hydroponic system, some of the roots are either in the air above the water or the water is really well oxygenated? I'm also wondering if the basil does well when it is sitting in a pot of water because perhaps the top part of the compost remains dry (this was depend to some extend on the type of compost - but would probably be the case with most free draining mixes) so the roots get oxygen there, while the lower roots drink water from the bottom. I'm loving all this learning!
It is certainly interesting…I had a look to see where water levels were..there are definitely some roots above water level but not much. The oxygenating issue is also interesting as currently the pump is broken on one of the units so the water is just still and the basil appears to be growing ok. Perhaps it is about consistency of watering…I grew some alongside tomatoes in the greenhouse a while back and they grew well too (still not as good as in the hydroponic units) but there is an irrigation system delivering a steady stream of water and they never dried out!
So many ideas Mark! I don't bother sowing parsley or thyme seed anymore but buy a herb pot instead and then share the plantlets with my neighbour. But do sow Greek basil as I find the bushy shape looks good in a pot
Oh, that's interesting, I've planted up quite a lot of supermarket parsley (often seems to die back initially but then grows well) but not tried supermarket thyme. I will keep my eye out for it. Is it just one thyme plant in a pot - or lots like basil and parsley?
Great timing! I've just bought a potted basil plant from the supermarket so I have no excuse but to give it several new leases of life! And interestingly I also saw they had very small trays of colourful micro greens for sale at a reduced introductory price . . . . but they were still VERY much more expensive than the ones I'm now growing thanks to you! And I wonder what the growing process has been . . . . hmmm. Thank you, Mark :)
Interesting to hear about the microgreens, I wonder what variety they are. Hopefully it might get a few more people to try them themselves - as you say, it can be such a low cost way to have tasty salad. Hope the basil grows well!
Thanks Mark. Very interesting. Following your teaching I have a row of basil growing beautifully on my balcony from a supermarket repot job. Question, should I be adding fertiliser of some sort to make sure enough nutrition for the plants?
Great stuff Jeanette. If you planted the basil in new compost it should be fine for a good couple of weeks. It's not that hungry a plant but if you can get hold of some liquid seaweed and water that on once a week that will help it to grow strong and healthy and help to ensure it's got most of the trace elements that it needs. Alternatively, occasional watering with something like Biobizz Grow might work well https://ebay.us/m/qJXfyc
On another note I'm just cooking some beans in the pressure cooker that you recommended in your live conversation with Catherine Phipps so thanks very much for that!
Very interesting post, Mark. Like others, I will be really interested in how the basil experiment turns out.
I rarely have much luck with basil (which I always grow from seed) - the leaves usually end up very bitter. Not sure if this is because of incorrect watering or not enough heat (I put them outside). I have grown it successfully using hydroponics (Kratky method - no oxygenation).
I have read other posts where people have mentioned standing their basil pots in saucers of water, so clearly this method does work for some.
Hi Angie, I've had basil go bitter quite often too, which I think happens when it gets stressed, most commonly, as you say, from being too cold or not enough water. I like to grow it from seed best, too - and nearly always grow it inside. I find it is too cold outside here for most of the year - and I've also got a feeling that it doesn't like wind.
So far with the basil experiment, all three plants are growing equally well....... Will be interesting to see if that changes.
Ooh I’m so interested to see how this experiment turns out! My very unscientific reasoning about why the watering-from-below method works with basil is that the plant can “breathe” from above and is never thirsty.
So am I! And agree with your theory. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks for sharing your basil knowledge and experience!
All these years I was convinced I’d somehow murdered an otherwise healthy plant..
You are fully acquitted of any such charges!
I once put basil in an outside pot with some other herbs, the next day I went out and the basil had disappeared, think slugs came overnight, everything above soil level had been eaten!
Oh, dear, so sorry to hear this.
thanks for this article! I am experimenting with growing basil myself - the article about watering from below is this one - I have been doing this for a few weeks now and my plant looks great https://open.substack.com/pub/goodbones/p/the-basil-trick-everything-you-need?r=1l8o2c&utm_medium=ios
Thanks so much Sarah - that's the article! I spent about an hour looking for it without any luck. I'll add a link into my post. Good luck with your basil experiments - would be very interested to hear how you get on.
Also, if I take one of the long stems off, I could see if I can get it to root and grow another plant…
Haha, yes indeed! Do try that.
It’s going quite well, I would say that the plant is probably three times the size of the one I bought from the supermarket about a month ago. I have a note in my diary for the end of June for when I can start to harvest some. I think at that point I might split it again and put it into different pots.
Yes, on rereading Leanne's article, I notice that she leaves her basil for a few weeks before picking it. I don't - I pinch out the tips after a few days as I find I get a much bushier and less straggly plant that way (and I also don't have to wait as long for fresh basil!). But maybe I will try her picking method, too - to see if overall it grows better than way.
you might be right though... I have 2/3 straggly stems now which I am itching to pinch out!
One option would be to pinch out one and leave the others - and then compare how they do. Just a thought.
Like this :)
Read this article with interest, especially regarding the watering of basil…I’ve over and under watered basil plants in pots and find it very difficult to get it right. What is very strange is that I have been very successful in growing it in my hydroponics units..so much so that I have one tray which I keep entirely for basil….it is very healthy.. when it is harvested, the leaves almost squeak. I harvest by taking out the tops as you described to keep the plants bushy and have such good growth that I take out a good amount, chop and freeze it as well as making presto to go in freezer. I don’t understand how it lives so well in these units when the slightest bit of overwatering in a pot causes issues..
This is such an interesting observation Christine. Thinking allowed, I wonder if the overwatered pots don't do well because the soil becomes anaerobic (basil roots need oxygen) but perhaps, in your hydroponic system, some of the roots are either in the air above the water or the water is really well oxygenated? I'm also wondering if the basil does well when it is sitting in a pot of water because perhaps the top part of the compost remains dry (this was depend to some extend on the type of compost - but would probably be the case with most free draining mixes) so the roots get oxygen there, while the lower roots drink water from the bottom. I'm loving all this learning!
It is certainly interesting…I had a look to see where water levels were..there are definitely some roots above water level but not much. The oxygenating issue is also interesting as currently the pump is broken on one of the units so the water is just still and the basil appears to be growing ok. Perhaps it is about consistency of watering…I grew some alongside tomatoes in the greenhouse a while back and they grew well too (still not as good as in the hydroponic units) but there is an irrigation system delivering a steady stream of water and they never dried out!
the plot thickens! But it sounds like the not drying out bit might be important.
So many ideas Mark! I don't bother sowing parsley or thyme seed anymore but buy a herb pot instead and then share the plantlets with my neighbour. But do sow Greek basil as I find the bushy shape looks good in a pot
Oh, that's interesting, I've planted up quite a lot of supermarket parsley (often seems to die back initially but then grows well) but not tried supermarket thyme. I will keep my eye out for it. Is it just one thyme plant in a pot - or lots like basil and parsley?
lots - I got 10 plants last time (March) - again takes a bit of time for the plantlets to get going, more so than the parsley, but bulking up now
I stand my pots on a bit of old carpet which I water every day at the base of the pot but do not flood it. Meliora
What a creative and clever solution. Thanks for sharing.
Great timing! I've just bought a potted basil plant from the supermarket so I have no excuse but to give it several new leases of life! And interestingly I also saw they had very small trays of colourful micro greens for sale at a reduced introductory price . . . . but they were still VERY much more expensive than the ones I'm now growing thanks to you! And I wonder what the growing process has been . . . . hmmm. Thank you, Mark :)
Interesting to hear about the microgreens, I wonder what variety they are. Hopefully it might get a few more people to try them themselves - as you say, it can be such a low cost way to have tasty salad. Hope the basil grows well!
Thanks Mark. Very interesting. Following your teaching I have a row of basil growing beautifully on my balcony from a supermarket repot job. Question, should I be adding fertiliser of some sort to make sure enough nutrition for the plants?
Great stuff Jeanette. If you planted the basil in new compost it should be fine for a good couple of weeks. It's not that hungry a plant but if you can get hold of some liquid seaweed and water that on once a week that will help it to grow strong and healthy and help to ensure it's got most of the trace elements that it needs. Alternatively, occasional watering with something like Biobizz Grow might work well https://ebay.us/m/qJXfyc
On another note I'm just cooking some beans in the pressure cooker that you recommended in your live conversation with Catherine Phipps so thanks very much for that!
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