suitable feed for Basil 10 July 2006 at 4:50PM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 22 replies 1.6K views

frankie1star

I have grown some basil from seed, and I would like to give it some feed. I dont know why but I am reluctanct to feed it with miracle grow/phostrogen, probably cos we are going to end up eating it. Could anybody suggest a nice healthy alternative, although I am not sure whether either of them are healthy or not.

pickledtink

Seaweed fertiliser.
Fish ,blood and bone fertiliser.
Both handy for the organic gardener to have anyway.

Paulo

pickledtink wrote:

Seaweed fertiliser.
Fish ,blood and bone fertiliser.
Both handy for the organic gardener to have anyway.

I live by the sea, can I just collect some seaweed to use as fertiliser?

wigginsmum

I wouldn't feed it - herbs prefer a less lush environment. Water is all you need for basil.

pickledtink

Paulo wrote:

I live by the sea, can I just collect some seaweed to use as fertiliser?

Yes but I think you have to rot it down first. In fact that reminds me I was going to research this cos I live by the sea too.

Seakay

Interesting article about using seaweed in the garden:

http://www.btinternet.com/~bury_rd/junetwo.htm#seaweed

heymylastnameislewis

u could use human waste! thats what farmers do, or mirical grow!

middleman_2

wigginsmum wrote:

I wouldn't feed it - herbs prefer a less lush environment. Water is all you need for basil.

I agree, have been growing it successfully for a couple of years without any feed.

flashman_62

middleman wrote:

I agree, have been growing it successfully for a couple of years without any feed.

First time herb grower this year and my successes include basil and corriander. One of my Basil pots even recovered from a nasty slug attack. Just use water.

Willpower?

flashman_62 wrote: »

First time herb grower this year and my successes include basil and corriander. One of my Basil pots even recovered from a nasty slug attack. Just use water.

Ooo. Please tell me your secret for keeping coriander alive. I have no trouble with basil but I can't keep coriander at all. It just wilts and dies. I've just got a pot today reduced to 30p and i don't want to kill this one too as I'll be in double figures :eek:

Snaggles

I would agree about just using water too - it seems to like LOTS of it, and will grow quite happily with nothing else.