On Growing and Buying Basil

My favorite area of the garden to work is the bed where the basil is planted.  I don't even mind weeding that one because I know each time my arm brushes against it, or the bindweed slaps it as it gets ripped out and crammed into the trash, the sweet sexy smell of basil gets released into the air.  When I'm working in that bed I breath long deep breaths hoping to get a whiff of it and in doing so I've accidentally transported myself into a more meditative place.  I am breathing like I am doing yoga.

The other day I paid over five dollars for a small jar of dried basil.  As a gardener who grows basil every year, it crushed me to do it.  But, I have been making soup like crazy this winter and nearly every recipe calls for basil.  Even if it doesn't, I add it, anyway.  Because, more basil! Everything needs more basil!

Basil has got to be the easiest herb to grow in a home garden.  I am notorious for neglecting my garden but while other plants sometimes suffer, the basil flourishes.  In my garden it is very disease resistant and will grow where ever I stick it.  In past years I have seriously underutilized my basil crop.  I chop up a few leaves for pizza or salad and some gets used in the marinara I can but most of it gets sent to work with my husband who gives it to his coworker who gives it to her father who loves to make pesto.  I get up early in the morning and traipse out to the garden, sleepy-eyed, still in my pajamas to harvest it.  I bring in whatever will fit in my giant old blue plastic strainer, wash it, pick off any leaves with the slightest blemish then label the bag.  Organic Basil.  Harvested today!  I feel proud.  I think my husband does, too.  

This year I'm growing a lot more basil.  And I'm trying some new-to-me varieties.  Thai basil for one. A spicy Greek one and some type of red basil.  Maybe some others, too.  I forget.  After being traumatized by buying that dried basil, I went crazy shopping for basil seed vowing never to purchase dried basil, again.  I should have plenty to give away this year but I'm also studying up on the best ways to dry and store basil.  My good friend tells me I should just wash the leaves and freeze them while they're still fresh.  I'll try this too.

If you store your own basil, I'd love to hear how you do it.  Do you freeze it fresh?  Do you dry it?  If so, what's the process for drying it and what do you store it in?  And if you have a garden but have never grown basil, please!  Grow it this year!  Whether you have an in-ground garden or you garden in containers, it will not disappoint you.

Harvesting Herbs: How I Spent My Sunday

I harvested Sweet Basil and Greek Oregano today. I followed the method described on the Illinois Extension office. Thanks again Marc at Garden Desk for directing me to that site! It has been so helpful! I cut the stalks and tied 5-6 of them together with string. If these things dry like they are suppose to, I don't think I'll ever buy herbs again. Next year I will definitely try the other culinary herbs I cook with frequently.
I'm so glad to finally get some use out of this pants hanger! I put a few bundles of herbs in a bag and tied it with part of the stems exposed, then poked a few holes in the bags. They are now hanging in the basement drying. I know I'll be able to harvest more basil later and since I don't really like Pesto, I think I'll try to find a cute way to package the dried herbs and give some to friends around the holidays. I think this will make an interesting stocking stuffer. Look what else I did! This morning this black iron stand held an empty aquarium. I've had this thing for over 10 years and I still think its really pretty. I also love fish but as I've stated before, I'm a lazy bastard and I hate maintaining it. It has always held fresh water fish but last year I had a fish epidemic and everybody died in a matter of a few days. Since then, it's just been sitting empty in the living room causing me extreme horror every time we have company. Talk about an eye sore! Anyway, I decided it would make a great plant stand and I just happened on a big blue board in my garage left by some previous owner who also left a saw in the basement. That's right - I used a saw! I am either going to re-paint the boards (I have baby blue paint that I used on my guest room) or sand a little of this off to make it look a little more rustic. I also considered painting the boards purple - I'm just dying to paint something purple now that I have seen Carol's purple garden bench. But, in the immediate future, this will house fall lettuce that I plan to plant from seed. I can't wait!I was so inspired by Farmgirl's great it's-so-easy-to-plant-lettuce-from-seed that I've been waiting for the right time to plant some myself. Since I won't get my raised beds built in time, I thought I'd just plant some in containers, hence the need for a longish plant stand. Below is what you get when you shop end of season sales. I do not like these window boxes! They need to be wider and wooden and way cuter than this. Should I take them back? I could use boxes that are 30 inches long and 12 inches wide. These are only 8 inches of boring stone colored plastic. Yuck! I considered trying to make my own but the only wood I have around is on the pallets in the basement. What do you think? Keep the ugly plastic ones or return them and build some wood ones?

I de-rusted 2 of the 4 chairs today. What a messy job that sanding is! I was an orange rusty mess. I really need to decide what color this thing needs to be.

After a long tiring day I was so hungry. This is the one pepper that my potted Sweet Banana Pepper plant has produced. I chopped it up along with onions and tomato from my garden on a big salad for dinner. I guess I've never had one of these that were not pickled. I have to say I was a little disappointed. It tasted like a bell pepper to me.

Week in Review

First baby watermelon

1. I found watermelons! The one in the picture is golf ball size. I have no idea how long it'll take before we can eat it but I'M SO EXCITED I CAN'T WAIT!
2. I asked for plant suggestions and got a bunch of great ones, went shopping and bought many from the list! I'll post the list this week.
3. Carol called attention to my blog on her blog. I FEEL FAMOUS! (I also feel famous when I get reblogged on Garden Voices.)
4. I found an awesome strawberry pot on Craigslist.com for 5 bucks! I was a bit paranoid to go to the lady's house but she was SO NICE! Thank you nice Craigslist lady!
5. I used some of my fresh basil! I made tomato basil soup.
6. I planted one of the Coral Bells in the sun, it freaked out, I moved it behind the little peach tree and it perked up after the sun stopped shining on it. I don't want to move it to the front yard. Come on CB, you can do it! Would it be crazy to put an umbrella over it? I saw that on somebody's blog.
7. I unknowingly shopped at the same plant place as Mr Brown Thumb, another Chicagoan.
8. I ruined another 2 pair of gym socks from gardening. I wear gym shoes and then my socks are just disgusting.
9. I found out what the unknown bushes are outside the house and got some great advice on how to improve my curb appeal. Thank you everyone!
10. I put fish emulsion on my flowers. It smelled and looked disgusting and due to that I will probably never use it again, unless it turns out to be a magic plant potion. I don't know if I got some up my nose or what but I still smell it. YES, I showered.

First of freshly picked basil

Garage bedRoses are looking good. Grass - not so much...Shopping spree