EMAIL mail@maryshomestead.com
TIPS AND IDEAS
In the future we will all need to use our resources wisely. There may come a time when the only food
available may be from what you can grow in your own yard. Almost all food is expensive and there are shortages. You will be
surprised at the potential Your yard has for food production.
HERBS ARE A WONDERFUL WAY YOU CAN ENJOY THEM ALL
SUMMER. YOU CAN USE THE HERBS FRESH IN YOUR DISHES. YOU CAN ALSO DRY THEM EASILY FOR STORAGE FOR THE WINTER.
YOU CAN
BRING THEM IN THE HOUSE AND GROW THEM UNDER A HALIGEN LIGHT FOR WINTER.THAT WAY YOU CAN HAVE HERBS ALL YEAR AROUND.
SWEET BASIL
IT GROWS IN ZONES 4-10, NEEDS
HEAT AND FULL SUN.
BASIL NEEDS RICH, MOIST SOIL; PH 5.5-7.5.
WE SOW THE SEEDS OUTDOORS AFTER ALL DANGER OF
FROST, TO A DEPTH OF 1/8 INCH, THEN WE THEN WE THIN TO 6 INCHES.
SOMETIMES
WE HAVE GROWN THE SEEDLINGS INDOORS UNDER THE LIGHTS 6 WEEKS BEFORE THE LAST FROST.
WE TRANSPLANT THEM TO SMALL
POTS BEFORE SETTING THEM OUTDOORS. WE MULCH WITH COMPOST AND PRUNE AWAY THE FLOWERS. BASIL IS DAMAGED BY COLD TEMPERATURES.
IT GROWS 2 FEET HIGH. THE FLOWERS ARE WHITE BLOOMS.
PLANT AWAY FROM MINT. WE PLANT NEAR TOMATOES AND PEPPERS. HERBS PLANTED NEAR THE VEGETABLES HELPS EACH PLANT GROW.
HARVEST LEAVES EVERY WEEK, PINCHING THE BUDS FIRST
TO ENCOURAGE BRANCHING.
I DRY BASIL AND I PUT IT IN A DARK HALLWAY IN A PAPER SACK.
WE GROW THE BASIL ALL WINTER LONG INDOORS. WE USE GROW LIGHTS OR SOMETIMES A HALIGEN
LIGHT.
AFTER I PRUNE AWAY THE BRANCHES OF THE BSIL I PUT THE LEAVES IN A VASE WITH NO WATER. THE AROMA IN THE KITCHEN
IS WONDERFUL.
FOODS THAT I USE BASIL IN COOKING ARE:
SALADS, SOUPS, STEWS, ITALIAN AND MEXICAN DISHES, CABBGE, CARROTS, EGGPLANT, EGGS, FISH, GAME, BEANS,
& PIZZA.
