Basil is a simple herb that does not require much care in order to grow its fragrant and flavourful leaves, but it should be fertilised now if you want to get the most out of the plant. September is often the end of the growing season for basil, and it will begin to slow down as the temperature consistently drops below 10C.
You will likely see its leaves begin to die off and stop growing completely once it gets really cold, so you should feed it now if you want to get the tastiest leaves possible. I love having a herb garden sitting on my kitchen windowsill, and I have discovered that a simple way to extend a basil plant’s growing season is simply to feed it a banana peel. It might sound strange, but banana peels contain potassium, as well as a small amount of nitrogen and phosphorus, which can give basil a nutrient boost as it grows its final leaves.
Potassium supports strong leaf growth and can enhance the concentration of essential oils, which will make the leaves much more flavourful.
Phosphorus strengthens the plant roots, while nitrogen helps maintain leaf production, allowing the plant to remain productive for a little longer.
Banana peel is a natural fertiliser that releases nutrients slowly into the soil, making it ideal for basil as its growth begins to slow down, without causing any stress to the plant.
It only takes five minutes to prepare a banana peel feed, and I always make it in autumn to help extend the life of my herb garden for as long as possible.
Banana peel can really help basil out when it is beginning to struggle, but any natural feeds are quite potent so you need to dilute them in water so you do not overfertilise the plant.
All you need to do is take one or two banana peels, and cut them into pieces. I use scissors to chop up the peels quickly, but you can use a knife and chopping board if you prefer.
Then, place the banana peel in a glass mason jar, and fill it with cold tap water. Screw the lid on the jar, then simply leave it alone for overnight, so roughly eight to 12 hours. This will let water soak up all the nutrients from the banana peel.
The water should now look cloudy as it is filled with nutrients. Pour the water around the soil of a basil plant, and it should give it the boost it needs to continue growing.
I keep a jar of banana peel water ready and feed it to my basil every two weeks throughout autumn, so I can enjoy fresh and flavourful leaves well into November.
