Grow fresh basil for free

beemuzed

Thanks so much for this - will be trying this asap!

outrageous_monkey

Thats a brilliant tip:T

The amount of herb plants I have bought over the years!! Thanks for that.

nell2

This is a wonderful tip. I am going to try it tomorrow as I absolutely love fresh basil. Thanks to OP

kethry

To be honest, basil seeds aren't expensive. I got some thai basil from a seed company, £1.70 for 300 seeds, so its competitive, and basil is so so easy to grow. I suppose if you've got some basil already then you could take cuttings from it, but i think the seeds are easier. sow successionally every couple weeks, depending on how often you use basil, so you've always got a ready supply.

Someone mentioned growing coriander: if you want to grow coriander, do look for "leaf coriander" or "leaf cilantro" (the US term for coriander). If it doesn't specifically say its for leaves then i wouldn't buy it, if you want the herb for the leaves.. coriander is very quick to run to seed, leaf coriander is slightly more expensive but does last longer before running to seed so is worth the outlay.

In addition, if you're interested in cooking (for cooking's sake, and not just as a way of saving money/being healthier, i mean), and you'd like to explore more herbs, then i really would look into growing your own. i got a pack of 6 different basils today from ebay, including cinnamon basil, greek basil, lemon basil, purple basil, lettuce leaf basil and ararat basil.. i've already got the common sweet one and thai basil so that's 8 basils i'll be growing.. i also got lovage, feverfew, sorrel, garlic chives, sweet marjoram, tarragon, sage, dill, chives, coriander (leaf), parsley (both curly and flat leaf), oregano and two different types of fennel.. and i've still got to get mint (and i'd like to get a range of mint), rosemary, lemon verbena, lemon balm, and chervil. at least. lol (i get obsessive about these things).

The whole thing probably cost.. £30 maximum to set up by the time i've paid for it all. i probably spend about two or three pounds a week at the moment on herbs, just on coriander, parsley, mint and dill a week at the moment, so long term, there's a substantial cost saving too, and many of these can be grown indoors on a kitchen windowsill. i defy anyone to find that range, fresh, in most modern supermarkets!!

HTH

keth
xx