tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post5733741673511631664..comments2024-03-19T00:54:49.043-05:00Comments on In My Kitchen Garden: Garden Journal 8/15/10: How To and, More Importantly, Hot Not To Store Fresh BasilFarmgirl Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851855517852917202noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-16658512194059887902011-05-01T18:00:45.099-05:002011-05-01T18:00:45.099-05:00The purple basil in my windowsill garden has lots ...The purple basil in my windowsill garden has lots of leaves now! I'm really excited, and thank youf or your tips!Shu Hanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00248873228185558472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-76917308199446806052010-10-12T21:34:00.734-05:002010-10-12T21:34:00.734-05:00Even after reading this post, I did the very same ...Even after reading this post, I did the very same thing. I put the leaves in a bowl of water to rinse and left them on the counter overnight. You know what I found the next morning. I started to go through the leaves but didn't have the patience so it went to the compost pile. <br /><br />I feel your pain. Hopefully I have fully learned the lesson. hahaAshleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-41103856203106855542010-08-25T22:09:36.941-05:002010-08-25T22:09:36.941-05:00What a bummer :-( I've never made pesto... I...What a bummer :-( I've never made pesto... I want to try it, though.<br /><br />I dehydrate TONS of it to put up for the winter.floweringmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14458738097507242619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-91954271256473386832010-08-21T22:08:41.306-05:002010-08-21T22:08:41.306-05:00Hey Valhalla,
I have had success with freezing th...Hey Valhalla,<br /><br />I have had success with freezing the pesto using all the ingredients (though honestly I never use the pine nuts in pesto b/c of the expense- how much am I missing out I'm not sure). I have heard suggestions to not add the parm with the mixture, but I have no complaints, plus at least you have every ingredient proportionally measured out in each serving instead of worrying about adding it later.Garden Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984123912070262584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-34559024557609108062010-08-19T14:04:49.249-05:002010-08-19T14:04:49.249-05:00It'll grow back before you know it! Does anyon...It'll grow back before you know it! Does anyone have an opinion on freezing your pureed basil with out without the rest of the pesto ingredients? I'm finding that basil holds its color better if I freeze just basil and olive oil. I can always add pine nuts and parmesan to the dish separately I figure.ValHallahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16843439954015747722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-91362450475642547232010-08-19T10:37:05.167-05:002010-08-19T10:37:05.167-05:00I'm sorry to see that your basil got icky! I&#...I'm sorry to see that your basil got icky! I've had pounds of it (seriously) rotting in my fridge all summer...<br />I have 40 dinners worth of pesto in the freezer, and about 40 basil plants that have completely bolted because I couldn't bear the thought of MORE PESTO! My lesson of the summer is, you really don't need to plant 4 beds of basil, no matter how much you like pesto. I just couldn't bear to kill any of my thinnings, so I kept transplanting them! It's my first solo gardening adventure, and they're all still my babies!Robin Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09880324929055546531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-74661995274885139522010-08-17T19:14:48.998-05:002010-08-17T19:14:48.998-05:00Keep your chin up. Last year I had a terrible time...Keep your chin up. Last year I had a terrible time with basil- I got only enough for one small pesto batch. My problem was hungry slugs. This year, more basil than I can handle at the moment. Next year you will have your fair share. Reading about successful garden stories can be inspiring, but the unsuccessful stories are just as interesting! It helps us all relate in knowing we aren't the only ones that don't have the perfect garden... really can any real persons' garden be? I always tell myself and other gardeners- every year is different! Next year you'll be swimming in basil :)Garden Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984123912070262584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-38867562796265032722010-08-16T13:45:34.290-05:002010-08-16T13:45:34.290-05:00Hey there instead of super cold water... which som...Hey there instead of super cold water... which somethings don't like try water with a spritz of white vinegar. I use that to freshen up droopy anything:lettuce, pea pods, spinach. and on the plus side it will disinfect them a bit too :)sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13063712916519256381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-19105294031143599342010-08-16T07:31:07.254-05:002010-08-16T07:31:07.254-05:00Basil does not like cold. The leaves turn black f...Basil does not like cold. The leaves turn black from cold water, frost and sometimes from being in the refrigerator. I store mine on the counter in a vase of water. 2010 seems to be a slow year for basil. My basil from seed did much better than the seedlings I bought. I still has enough to freeze as pesto. But the crop was nothing like last year. Love your pictures of the purple basil. Does it taste different too?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-20047754646156791562010-08-16T06:35:32.454-05:002010-08-16T06:35:32.454-05:00SUCK. You'll get another harvest, I'm sur...SUCK. You'll get another harvest, I'm sure.<br /><br />I've already done one round of pesto-ing (totally a verb in my kitchen) and freezing in ice cube trays. The plants could stand with another harvesting for round two now, but since I also have tomatoes up the wazoo (that sounds painful, right?) jalapenos to pickle, carrots to puree and freeze for the child, cabbage to make into sauerkraut, pears starting to ripen about a month early, and, oh yeah, A BABY TO CARE FOR, I might not get to it just yet.<br /><br />Is it winter yet?Kristin @ Going Countryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00221544641416039741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-44763220488998497942010-08-16T06:27:00.273-05:002010-08-16T06:27:00.273-05:00I grow it every year in a big container on my deck...I grow it every year in a big container on my deck and it is always lush and full and more than I can use or give away. <br /><br />This year, due to high temperatures and non-stop sun, the leaves are tougher than usual. It needs watering a lot, and coddling. I have constantly pinched it back because it wants to flower. New England has been unusually hot and dry like everywhere else. <br /><br />On a better note, grape tomatoes grown in Earth boxes have produced a bumper crop.<br /><br />Something stupid? One year in the 80's I was half awake and mixed up fertilizer for my deck garden. <br /><br />I watered everything...window boxes, tomato plants, cucumbers. A very lush year! <br /><br />Everything died. It was rug cleaner I had mixed by mistake.<br /><br />Sorry you have had such a negative experience! Next year will be better!DollZandThingZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906400814059674230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-10064347086507320122010-08-15T20:33:22.563-05:002010-08-15T20:33:22.563-05:00Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about your ruined ba...Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about your ruined basil harvest! That is such a bummer!! I've never grown purple basil before. Does it taste the same as the green one?meemsnychttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10584936035577822444noreply@blogger.com