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I shared this wonderful technique exactly one year ago here at The Café. Since we've had so many new friends visiting in the past twelve months and with Spring being right around the corner I didn't want anyone to be without a plethora of delicious fresh basil this warm weather season. Don't worry, we'll be sharing tons of delight recipes to utilize your treasure trove too.
Have you heard of the well known saying "You can never be too rich or too thin?" I have to say, I most heartily disagree with both of these premises. With so many young, beautiful girls suffering from social-induced image problems, like bulimia and anorexia, it breaks my heart that a thin, lean body has become an icon of female beauty. The most beautiful women I know range from being short, tall, large, small, young, old and all places in between!
And as far as material possessions, well, I think Solomon, known as "the wisest of all men", sums it all up quite nicely; "Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich I may deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name".
Now basil, well, that's a whole different story. Although we grow a lot of basil each summer, it seems like I could always use more. One of my favorite recipes ever, Sweet Basil Vinaigrette calls for a quarter pound of basil - have you ever seen how much basil it takes to make a quarter pound!?
I use fresh basil quite extravagantly in my cooking; garnishing and even decorating (I love having a big, fresh bunch of basil sitting on my kitchen counter in lieu of fresh flowers!). As spring and summer cuisines come into season (sorry Australia and all of you living in the Southern Hemisphere!), you will see tons of recipes on my blog that call for this lovely, fragrant, delicious herb. And that's why I'm sharing this wonderful tip with you today that most people are unaware of.
I was wandering through my local Whole Foods Market the other day, when some beautiful basil plants caught my eye. They were fresh, tall and full, and...... well like I said, just plain beautiful. They were priced at $2.50 (very reasonable for those of you using different currencies) each and I quickly snatched one up and and tossed it into my basket. My heart skipped a few beats because I knew exactly what I was going to do once I got home.
I cut up the plant into little pieces! What in the world? Did you know that basil is very easily propagated? Yes, if you cut it up correctly, you can get a bunch (I got twelve!) of lovely basil plants for your spring/summer enjoyment, out of just one plant.
If you can't use a lot of basil plants, go ahead and root them anyway - use the little plants as gifts to your "foodie" friends - they'll be thinking of you quite fondly all summer long! 🙂
A Wonderful Recipe: Fresh Basil Plants 12 for $2.50!!!
Ingredients:
1 large, full, healthy basil plant, either potted or hydroponic
kitchen scissors or a sharp knife
small glass container
water
Directions:
1. Begin this process no more than 2-3 weeks before it is safe to plant basil in your climate zone which is usually when temperatures will consistently remain above 50˚ at night, the days are warm and sunny and there's no danger of frost.
With a kitchen scissors or a sharp knife, cut 3-4 inch cuttings (they may end up being a bit longer, depending on where the first leaf node is) right below a leaf node; this is where a leaf joins the main stem.
2. Remove leaves off cuttings on the lower 2 inches.
3. Place cuttings in small clear glasses of water on a bright, sunny (not hot) window sill. You can put 1-2 cuttings in each glass. Watch the water levels carefully, adding water to keep stems immersed. Change the water every other day to keep it fresh.
4. After 5-7 days you will begin to see some tiny white roots forming. Each day more and more will appear. Let the roots grow to about 2 inches. This will take about 2-4 weeks, from start to finish. You are now ready to plant your plants outdoors in a sunny spot.
Notes:
~ The cuttings may look a bit droopy after a day or so. They are just adjusting to a new environment; keep the water level full and be sure to change the water every other day. A little warning; sometimes one or two of the "little offspring" just don't make it - it's too shocking for their system - you should have plenty of others though, that do just fine!
~ Don't be snitching basil during this growing period. That's a good way to put them into irreversible shock (I'm not, I'm really not telling you this from personal experience ...........oh dear, my nose is growing!)
~ For more information on planting and growing basil check out this informative website.
~ Fresh herbs love lots of water, especially in the hot summer months. They will wilt, droop and their growth will be stunted if they don't receive enough moisture. I am very forgetful and lazy when it comes to watering plants. Years ago, my husband devised an ingenious system that keeps my herbs healthy and beautiful during the scorching summer weather we experience here in the Carolinas. Check out this post and you'll be able to see for yourself how this simple and ecologically efficient drip system works!
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...fabulous, thank you !!!...
Thank you for this great tip and also thank you so much for adding the Scripture in your article. It always makes me happy to see people use verses from the Bible 🙂
I love growing my own herbs. I am going to have to try it this way this year to see if I get better results!
This is so funny. I just bought some basil plants this weekend and the first thing I did was trim them all back and after removing the large leaves, placing my stems in water to create more baby plants. I'm looking forward to lots of fresh basil all summer long!
Great idea, Chris. I planted some pretty purple basil seeds a while back. I will try this idea with some of them and see how it grows;)
My absolute, most favorite herb in the whole world! How come I never knew this? Thank you, thank you, Chris!
This is such an helpful post. I buy basil plants every year and they seem to be the ones I have the most difficulty with. I actually can't wait to give this a try. Thanks so much, Chris!
Wow. I didn't know that basil propagated from cuttings. I would always let one flower, so i can replant the seeds. Will try this.
Wow. I didn't know that basil propagated from cuttings. I would always let one flower, so i can replant the seeds. Will try this.
Aaah! I have a huge problem with keeping basil plants alive. Perhaps I should try this and maybe I'll have a better chance of having one survive! Thanks for posting this. 🙂
I love homegrown basil! What a cleaver idea - thank you for sharing with all of us!
Great post, I am a big basil fan, just de aroma reminds me of the wonders of nature.
I will do this 🙂
this is only adding to my new basil obsession!
They are both practical and decorative! I am able to buy living basil plants that are already potted. They are a terrific money saver and they live for weeks if they are kept out of direct sunlight. A lot of folks are going to appreciate your instructions. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Thanks for this post! Do you have any tips on how to keep the basil alive once it's potted? Mine always turns brown at the roots, and it slowly spreads up the plant until it dies.
Hi Vicki, it sounds like you either might be over watering or otherwise perhaps the water isn't draining well. Basil likes lots of water in the hot summer months but it doesn't like to sit in a soggy pot. Be sure your pot has a good drainage system and/or that the drainage holes are not blocked. I'm not an expert at this but this is what I surmise. Hope you have loads of healthy basil this summer!
Thanks,Chris! Maybe I'll try again 🙂
i have a pot of basil a year ago but it eventually died..thanks for all your great tips..! yes, i think they make nice decors in the kitchen too 🙂
My thumb is far from green, but you make this look so easy! Maybe basil will be my gateway to other plants! 😉
What a wonderul tip, Chris! Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful tip, I love basil so much, always need to have it in the kitchen 🙂
I love basil, as well! My mother-in-law grows it her garden, and then I come over and get half the harvest :). I am thinking of starting to grow it myself.
Wow thats such an amazing tip .I never never knew tat about basil. I do gthat all the time with mint though!!!
Shobha
Thanks for the tip, Chris. I practice the same with rosemary.
I love basil. I learned this trick by accident a few years ago. I had some basil stems in water to keep the basil fresh until I used it, I left it a little longer than planned and was surprised to see roots. I only have a potted garden (I live in a high rise) so I use this tip often to keep my basil growing year round.
I am an avid gardener,in fact,I'm a Certified Master Gardener and I never knew you can propagate Basil this way. I do rosemary all the time (this method) but never knew about basil. Whole Foods here I come. Many thanks
Awesome! I planted basil each year in the garden but, had no idea how to do it this way. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge 🙂
Chris,
I was just thinking about this post. I am so happy you shared it again. I have a serious need for more basil. Now.... Do you have any rosemary tips? hahaha
This looks easy, and I love fresh basil! I like things that grow inside because living in the desert makes it hard for outdoor plants.
This is such a great tip - we are getting our seeds in order and making a plan for our garden this year. These look so healthy and happy - I am now craving pesto 🙂
I'm planning on doing this this year. Remember the bunch you gave me when we met (was that really a year ago???)? I ended up using it instead of separating it and kicked myself all summer. This year will be different!
Chris, I did this all last summer. I just forgot where I learned this tip, so I am so glad you reminded me. I think it took 10 days to see the roots, but I now have basil all summer.
I might just have to cut down my little basil plant and divide him up like this too Chris.
It doesn't often get below 50 here so I might even be able to keep my basil going through winter!
This is really amazing dear! and your basil look georgeous and I love basil I will save to next spring (our spring is in September/october) and now fortunately all the summer I had 2 little pots with basil I love it.
I love how you make thanks so much!!
I took basil cuttings a month ago, the rooted very quickly. I planted them out 3 days ago. They weren't happy the first day of being transplanted, it didn't help that I had put them outside as it is still very hot here in New Zealand. So I brought them back into the house and gave them a lot more water. I am keeping the potting mix very moist now and the basil is looking much better. I will try putting them out again in a couple of weeks and see what happens.
Thank you for this wonderful tip. My kitchen window faces east, and would be perfect for this project. I will have to start some - watch for my blog post about it 🙂
Una idea estupenda! Me ha encantado! Un abrazo!
You are so clever ... and I love basil.
Fondly,
Glenda
I can almost smell this basilc around here! Have to duplicate basil too!
Pinning this for sure. We love basil at our house!
Basil is one of my favorite herbs...It's so versatile and aromatic!!! Thanks for such a great tip!
I had no idea!!!! I bet it smells wonderful! We use basil quite a bit, I love the sweet flavor. But do you know that I have never cooked with FRESH basil? Only the dried leaves.
Great idea! This will help me get a "jump start" on the growing season, since I usually start mine from seed when it warms up. 🙂
I love your post today!! You are one of the sweetest kindest people I know, well at least through the Internet! 🙂
I love this idea with basil! It's one of my favorite herbs! I am going to do this right away! I have some basil in the fridge that I need to do something with right away.
Thank you for putting a smile on my face!!
I love basil, this is such a great tip, Chris! Perfectly timed as we head into summer and I need copious amounts of basil to eat with tomatoes :).