My MIL gave me a basil plant and I've got 6 new plants off it so far. I'm ace with basil

quote:

Originally posted by Rexi:
My MIL gave me a basil plant and I've got 6 new plants off it so far. I'm ace with basil

I'm jealous, as I used to be able to grow it when we had a 'summer' it tends to like Mediterranean style conditions. I did buy a Greek Basil in a pot from Tesco and that's doing fine and lasts longer than the 'normal' basil.

How do you take the cuttings? With my rosemary I just snap bits off and push it into the soil - it's very forgiving!

strip off the side shoots just below the node - stick it in a jar of water for about 10 days till it get some good roots on it, shove it in soil

quote:

Originally posted by Rexi:
strip off the side shoots just below the node - stick it in a jar of water for about 10 days till it get some good roots on it, shove it in soil

Okey dokey, will do - thanks Rexi - I love my 'culinary' herbs.

I thought you were speaking Tracey Speak!

quote:

Originally posted by Blizzie:
I thought you were speaking Tracey Speak!

I bet she's had her fair share of "herbage"

quote:

Originally posted by Demantoid:

quote:

Originally posted by Blizzie:
I thought you were speaking Tracey Speak!

I bet she's had her fair share of "herbage"

I bet she's got my share, as well!

quote:

Originally posted by Blizzie:

quote:

Originally posted by Demantoid:

quote:

Originally posted by Blizzie:
I thought you were speaking Tracey Speak!

I bet she's had her fair share of "herbage"

I bet she's got my share, as well!

And mine. And all those rave pills I never took in the late 80s? She had 'em.

quote:

Originally posted by gma:
...started growing it a few years ago and thought it had died but after throwing it onto the patch we used to use for green beans (now hubby can't be bothered ) it's gone berserk - it is a pretty plant and you can use the flowers in salads etc/leaves like cooked spinach
I love growing herbs of the 'culinary' kind - do you? I have rosemary, marjoram, sage, a few types of oregano and many types of mint.

Basil/coriander hasn't done well for a good few years, I love thyme and have planted various types but they too are not doing so good this year.

I have no luck growing sorrel either.

I have loads of basil.... Here have one
It is good to grow your own though!

quote:

Originally posted by gma:
...started growing it a few years ago and thought it had died but after throwing it onto the patch we used to use for green beans (now hubby can't be bothered ) it's gone berserk - it is a pretty plant and you can use the flowers in salads etc/leaves like cooked spinach
I love growing herbs of the 'culinary' kind - do you? I have rosemary, marjoram, sage, a few types of oregano and many types of mint.

Basil/coriander hasn't done well for a good few years, I love thyme and have planted various types but they too are not doing so good this year.

I have no luck growing sorrel either.

Never managed sorrel either, must be a knack to it neither of us have!
Got a right crop of lemon balm this year
and the fennel and thyme are running riot. I don't do the cooking thang, use them more for tea, lotions, potions etc ( I make rinses, creams and oils, tinctures , flower essences , that kinda)

I'M A VERY FRIENDLY LION CALLED PARSLEY.

I love Borage,its a happy herb!I like putting the flowers in ice cubes.Borage tea is supposed to gladden the mind and heart.

I could do with a good gladdening.

quote:

Originally posted by Gabriel Pennywise:
I could do with a good gladdening.

Well brew up then my friend

For the first time in ages I've been able to keep my basil alive. Just didn't take any leaves off it when I got it, let it grow up a bit and now use it in loads of things. They're still in pots though, can't wait to get my own garden to grow it there too. In saying that have a sage bush in a small patch of soil and its doing great. Do you ever put lavender into food? I got herbs du provence in a tub and there was lavender in it, its gorgeous on salads. so i use that from my lavender bushes too.

How do you make lotions from herbs? i'd love more natural creams, but haven't a cluem how to.

quote:

Originally posted by Amythist:

quote:

Originally posted by Gabriel Pennywise:
I could do with a good gladdening.

Well brew up then my friend

might try parsley tea.

quote:

Originally posted by SJ:
For the first time in ages I've been able to keep my basil alive. Just didn't take any leaves off it when I got it, let it grow up a bit and now use it in loads of things. They're still in pots though, can't wait to get my own garden to grow it there too. In saying that have a sage bush in a small patch of soil and its doing great. Do you ever put lavender into food? I got herbs du provence in a tub and there was lavender in it, its gorgeous on salads. so i use that from my lavender bushes too.

How do you make lotions from herbs? i'd love more natural creams, but haven't a cluem how to.

My basil hasn't been able to survive for years, (Tesco's pots of miniature Greek Basil are wonderful - My Turkish MIL had one in her LR as a fly deterrent? They don't know how to use it culinary wise there) anyhow, neither has my coriander - I really think it's the weather as they tend to like Med conditions - my variations of 'Thyme' however are also suffering? OK, some patches I might think the roots of mint are 'strangling' them.

I don't know how to use herbs in creams etc - google might be able to help - I took some rosemary to MIL's in Turkey (something that survives anywhere as far as I'm concerned - out of 6-ish plants - maybe 1 has/will survive! They don't really use the herb so again it might be down to conditions/soil etc?

My sage is wonderful as are my marjoram, oregano, various mints and a herbal lavender - (I had a wonderful 'old English lavender' cutting from my Gran, years ago and it grew so well but hubby threw it in a skip when we were having the garden done! I have never found such a wonderful lavender plant since.

Apologies in advance for 'late replies' btw he's (hubby) is off in BQ or whatever as we're doing the house up and I've 'sneaked on here')!

BTW, use lavender in ice-cream, desserts, cakes etc and with lamb apparently. (I'm veggie so google is a friend!).

Borage in ice cubes as suggested above is a great one! Will use that!