A gardening expert has divulged a clever trick for cultivating an endless supply of basil at home, sparing you the expense at the supermarket. Simon Akeroyd, a seasoned gardener and author, has illustrated precisely how to achieve this feat.
Brandishing a plastic packet of basil, akin to those found on supermarket shelves, Simon provided a detailed guide on how to encourage the stalks to re-root for planting.
To begin with, he advised stripping away most of the lower leaves and snipping the stalk just below the bud at a diagonal angle.
“Plonk the basil cuttings in water,” he instructed. Patience is key, but according to Simon, it won’t be a lengthy wait.
The signal to plant comes when tiny roots start to appear. After a mere week, Simon showcased a basil stem to the camera, revealing the nascent white roots.
The next step involves preparing a small pot with peat-free compost, creating a hole with a stick, and then inserting the stem into the pot. “Soon you will have endless amounts of basil to cook with,” he promised, reports the Mirror.
He presented a lush basil plant, teeming with foliage, as the ultimate outcome. There’s no need for the pot to reside outdoors; it can simply grace a window sill, basking in ample warmth.
However, experts from Gardeners’ World do caution against placing it in direct sunlight.
Greenhouse growing is ideal for basil fans, as these particular plants flourish in the warmth and must be protected from any harsh winter frosts.
According to seasoned gardeners, maintaining moist soil is critical, which generally means watering at a minimum once weekly, or more frequently if the basil resides in pots.
Neglecting this can lead to a rapidly wilting plant. To promote further growth, it’s recommended to prune the basil once it boasts between six to eight leaves.
However, Gardeners’ World offers a cautionary note: “Plants will grow quickly in containers, so expect to pot them up a few times during the growing season. When basil flowers, it affects leaf quality.
“To avoid basil plants flowering, remove any flower stems as soon as possible. Towards the end of the season you could let some basil flowers bloom, to provide nectar for bees and butterflies.”
