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basil in the winter

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~Silly Filly~

msg local #5114

posted Sun Oct 25 7:09 am	3392 posts · tenured: feb '04	Delete Edit
I've brought in my basil in pots. I have the worse time trying to keep it over the winter. They tend to dry up even though I water them and they sit in my kitchen ******. I've never been able to keep rosemary. Any suggestions? tricks? or just a folly? Edited Sun Oct 25 @ 07:15 AM

goofy60

msg local #5476

posted Sun Oct 25 9:17 pm	1746 posts · tenured: Feb '04	Delete Edit
I can usually get both of mine to winter over. But like you, it's just a matter of keeping them watered. I lost my rosemary late last spring because I let it dry out too much. Really hated it since it was several years old and was getting pretty good sized. I don't what to tell you other than it can be done and to watch the water. Do they get plenty of light?

~Silly Filly~

msg local #5114

posted Mon Oct 26 8:01 pm	3392 posts · tenured: Feb '04	Delete Edit
Yes they sit in a window on my sink or in front of my sliding glass doors. I usually keep it watered well if it's by the sink. lol

Parvati

msg local #105590

posted Tue Oct 27 9:20 am	2155 posts · tenured: Jan '06	Delete Edit
Basil is an Annual and once it goes to seed, it usually is a goner. You can start fresh basil from seed. If you keep the blooms pinched off, you can make it last a few more months but you're just buying a little time and making a weak plant. I recommend a plant light-bulb as it needs the light. Mist it once a day too. Linky Edited Tue Oct 27 @ 09:28 AM

~Silly Filly~

msg local #5114

posted Wed Oct 28 11:11 pm	3392 posts · tenured: Feb '04	Delete Edit
thank you for the information!

Cinn

msg local #2106

posted Wed Oct 28 11:36 pm	4716 posts · tenured: Nov '03	Delete Edit
Majier's sells basil in small plastic bags with roots on it, I believe it was grown hydroponically. They are usually about 5.00 I have grown it on my counter in a vase with water and also planted them in a pot. They last a long time and grow pretty good. My basil outside is still growing, my sage, and rosemary look good too. I have a Pineapple Sage has beautiful red flowers. I use it as a flower more then an herb.

~Silly Filly~

msg local #5114

posted Thu Oct 29 10:02 pm	3392 posts · tenured: Feb '04	Delete Edit
My outside herb bed looks great and everything is still growing in it. I bought my three basil pots in last week when we got that cold frost spell. My purple basil has lived for over a year now...... her I am bragging and we know what will happen. My global and sweet basil is looking like it might have gotten alittle frost so we shall see.

Ultimaratio1

msg local #42673

posted Tue Nov 3 6:30 pm	12948 posts · tenured: Mar '05	Delete Edit
My sage in an outside garden (not in a pot) has been thriving for years. The area is well-shaded in summer and I make sure it gets water throughout the year. Potted rosemary is so-so. Some years it makes it through the winter outside on the deck near the house, other years I have to start anew after a really cold snap kills it. I bring the parsley inside after thew first year - they are biennials, and at the end of the second year, clip the stems and leaves and hang them in the kitchen or somewhere else dry and let them dry for a few weeks. Then roll the leaves between newspaper pages and you have lots of dried parsley for your cooking. Basil doesn't last. I clip and dry it after the first frost. I planted anise hyssop in a pot last year, and it thrived through last winter and grew to be a couple feet tall this year on the deck in sun near the house. I'm leaving it outside again.

~Silly Filly~

msg local #5114

posted Wed Nov 4 9:58 pm	3392 posts · tenured: Feb '04	Delete Edit
My mother once brought me back a sweet basil plant from Florida one winter and in the spring I put it into the ground and it great 5 feet tall, like a bush and it was like 8 inches when I put it in the ground. That winter it wilted after I had taken all the leaves off. The next spring it took off again from the roots. It grew like a huge bush for 4 years and when I tried to move it to the farm it died that summer. It was an amazing plant. My mother has not been to Florida since. lol

Cinn

msg local #2106

posted Thu Nov 5 9:27 am	4716 posts · tenured: Nov '03	Delete Edit
My sweet basil is over 2 feet tall not quite 3 feet, still hanging on, where I am in Indiana we have not had frost yet. My purple basil looks rather leggy and is tying to flower again. I have some pineapple sage that is beautiful, it has some lovely scarlet red flowers. I have made lots of pesto. I think I will grind up some of the leaves and freeze it in some ice cube trays with a bit of water, then I can add it to dishes I make in tablespoon portions.

~Silly Filly~

msg local #5114

posted Sun Nov 8 9:25 pm	3392 posts · tenured: Feb '04	Delete Edit
Oh Cinn your the girl with all the cooking talent!

Cinn

msg local #2106

posted Sun Nov 8 10:36 pm	4716 posts · tenured: Nov '03	Delete Edit
Thank you, I love to cook, some luck some talent I suppose. I like good food, food likes me back. I especially love basil for all sorts of dishes.

Ultimaratio1

msg local #42673

posted Thu Nov 19 12:01 am	12948 posts · tenured: Mar '05	Delete Edit
BTW, dried herbs are more flavorful than fresh! Drying concentrates the flavor.

~Silly Filly~

msg local #5114

posted Thu Nov 19 7:04 am	3392 posts · tenured: Feb '04	Delete Edit
But fresh herbs taste better..... lol

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