4 Ways to Preserve Basil For the Winter Months: 1. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Keep these tips in mind, and good luck with your next indoor basil project! Using a dehydrator or simply preserving the foliage by air drying in a warm, dry well ventilated room for a week or so is a great way to extend the life of this herb. Trim the cut ends, put the bunch in a glass, jar, or vase of water that will fit in the fridge, and cover the whole thing, or at least the basil leaves, with a plastic bag. Wash the stems and leave to air dry in a warm, dry, well ventilated room for a week or so. Keep your fluorescent lights about 2-3 inches away from the tops of your plants, and keep higher output and compact fluorescent lamps about a foot above the tips of your herbs. Just because it’s the winter season doesn’t mean that you have to stop growing your basil. Basil requires good drainage, so select a container with a bottom drainage hole to avoid rot. A basil plant is easy to care for and easy to find. and water reasonably sparingly, but leave it on the kitchen window-sill in the sunlight. You can freeze entire leaves in small batches in small plastic bags or chop them and place them in an ice cube tray with a bit of water. Deadheading will increase the vegetative growth and life of your basil plant. A better method for storing and utilizing fresh basil leaves is by freezing the herb. Some of the most popular herbs are both perennial and evergreen, which makes it tempting to let them do their own thing. However, sweet basil is meant to live its life cycle within one year and thereafter go to seed. At the end of the season, though, you may try to keep it alive by moving potted basil indoors to enjoy them for months to come. Moving your favorite herb indoors and continuing its growth can be easy and even more convenient. If you are unable to grow under natural light, you can always grow indoors using artificial light. Also, when you let your plants sit in water they will rot and be ruined. So if you’re comfortable, it’s likely that your basil is too. Growing basil indoors is the best way to protect the plant from dying from colder weather. That is, how are you going to utilize all that fresh basil while it’s at its peak and at the final harvest? These usually come in biodegradable “pots” and are typically sold right next to the fresh cut herbs. Unless you are moving and growing the herb in a greenhouse , the hot temperatures and direct sunlight that basil thrives in are not usually found in the average person’s home, so be sure to provide as much light as possible; artificial lighting for 10-12 hours a day during the darker winter months. I know basil needs lots of sun, and I've usually managed to keep plants going, if not vigorously, through the short days of winter, but this year is the worst. Grow supermarket basil this way and you’ll have dozens of plants that will thrive all year long. Place your plant in the sunniest, warmest window you have, or give the plant extra light with a fluorescent light. It’s best to select a light potting mix that contains a high percentage of organic matter. The recommendation is that for every 1 hour of direct sunlight, your plants need 2 hours of fluorescent light. Before the basil plants began to fade in their pots I’ll take a few more cuttings and start the process over again and hopefully keep the fresh basil growing until spring when I can plant the plants outside again. The same can be done with lemon balm, mint, or shiso. Step 1: Buy one or two bunches of basil (usually about three plants are inside each package). Basil is best used fresh. Your plant may not grow much in winter, but it should survive and be ready to go outdoors next spring. As previously mentioned, basil is an annual in most cases. Plant the basil in a sturdy container filled with commercial potting soil. Growing basil in water during the winter months is actually preferable, as you don't have to worry about your soil molding. Growing basil and other herbs at your own home is a great way to introduce gardening and a healthy lifestyle to your every day life. As an avid writer and gardener, he enjoys learning and exploring old and new tricks to better his life, and those of others. Keep removing flowers. However, for those who do not live in a tropical climate where Basil can thrive all year round and easily reseed themselves, it could be a challenge to keep your Basil growing healthily during the winter months. Home » Bringing Basil Indoors For The Winter You may try to keep basil through the winter, however, sweet basil is meant to live its life cycle within one year and then go to seed. I keep my overwintered herbs right next to a large, north-facing sliding glass door all winter. This is especially important to consider if you live in a dry climate or are growing herbs indoors during winter when the heater is running. Basil is a unique herb in that it prefers a nutrient-rich, slightly acidic soil that drains easily. Both Safeway and Fred Meyers carries them. One of the best places to grow indoors is in your kitchen if you have access to natural light there. If you’re using very high intensity lighting, keep them about two to four feet above the plants. If you haven’t already brought your basil plant inside, do it now– a freeze can kill your basil. Too much competition can weaken basil plants, use a big pot with nitrogen-rich and well-drained soil to make sure they get all the nutrients needed. You can definitely keep a healthy basil plant indoors, but you’ll want to make sure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. The pots of herbs that you find at the supermarket are designed to die. After the flowering period ends or when you see it dying, clip 2-3 cuttings and propagate them to have new basil plants. You are quite right - if you keep them too moist, they go pale and die, plus they lose flavour. Freezing your basil also results in a flavor more akin to fresh. Although clay pots help with drainage, they can also dry out quickly. You owe it to your fragile specimen to keep it alive. To keep your basil plant alive and thriving, you need to provide some basic care and check the plant regularly for insects. You need to make sure that the soil holds moisture but is never soggy. However, if you decide to store your basil for the post harvest season, do it! Most herbs thrive in sunny Mediterranean-like conditions in well-draining soil. Basil is no exception. The easiest way is in the oven: Remove basil leaves from the stem, wash, and pat dry with a paper towel. You can also make some fabulous pesto sauce and freeze it in batches. Buy a small potted basil from your grocer’s produce department. It wasn’t your over or under watering that did it! Let’s take a look at a few tips for growing basil indoors. How do you keep Basil plants alive? The easiest way to keep basil fresh is to keep it alive! Once the herb has dried, remove the leaves from the stems and store the leaves either whole or ground in an airtight container away from heat and bright light. You have entered an incorrect email address! Put the whole in in a refrigerator. You can also grow basil fairly easily in a bright window, however, do not dig it up from the garden as you would with other herbs. Lavender, basil and rosemary are some of the most difficult herbs to keep alive, new research has found.. Do you struggle to keep indoor plants blooming? Take out the indoor basil plant to your sunny porch, rooftop, or balcony, when the weather is good, at least once a week. Trim out the smallest and weakest plants by snipping them off at soil level to leave a maximum of five strong seedlings per clump. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Freezing basil allows you to keep the brilliant green color which complements food so beautifully, while drying the herb turns it to an unpleasant brown. Instead, either start new plants from seed, buy a small plant to grow indoors, or take cuttings from one of your existing plants. Cut them back to 1 inch tall and, using a sharp shovel, divide them at their base, making sure to include the roots so each one will fit into the container. Keep the humidity high by misting often, and place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water. A kitchen windowsill is often your best bet. Keep in mind the cold tolerance of basil and wait until overnight lows are above 50 degrees F. (10 C.) before setting out transplants. At the end of the season, though, you can try to keep it alive by moving potted basil indoors. Basil Likes to Be Picked. Once frozen, remove the cubes of basil and store in airtight containers in the freezer for future use. The herb may not die, but basil cold damage will be in evidence. First, make sure you give your plants enough water (daily) and sunlight (more than 6 hours of a day). Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Instead, try a glazed or plastic container that won’t dry out as quickly as clay. Set your oven to the lowest temperature and place the basil leaves in a single layer on a baking sheet. Flower production of basil plants should always be avoided. The good news is that most households keep their temperatures at a great level for growing basil. Plant up each clump into … Still, others may keep rosemary inside as part of a year-round, windowsill herb garden. This is also a great way to make more basil plants throughout the year for planting in … Wonders of Sweet Basil (Migraines, Insomnia, Colds & Flu). However, you need to follow few ways to keep basil plant alive. If you live in warmer or tropical region then you can go ahead and plant basil in your garden. Regularly plucking leaves actually helps encourage the plant to grow. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Frozen basil will last the same as dried, about one year. There's nothing like fresh basil leaves, but dried basil has a lot of use in the kitchen. Here are 10 ideas to keep your plants happy in the cold, dark months: Burlap Plant Cover. 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Or, mix the chopped basil with a bit of olive oil and then freeze in ice cube trays. Yup, I've got a 99p basil plant that I bought about 6 months ago. 3. Use well-draining planting mix in the containers and plant each herb in a separate pot. Instead, try a glazed or plastic container that won’t dry out as quickly as clay. Using this method will require you to set up a spot with fluorescent lights or specifically designed high intensity lights. The care will be the same. You can try to keep basil through the winter. Choosing the Right Soil. With this knowledge, it is best to be prepared to either purchase another plant or start your own from seed in the spring. That said, it is also pungent when dried. Just make sure you don’t put it right next to an air conditioner, where it could get too cold. Plus, you'll have the fragrance and taste of fresh rosemary in your kitchen all winter. There are two options for this: natural lighting and artificial lighting. Skip the spice aisle dry it out yourself. At the end of the season, though, you can try to keep it alive by moving potted basil indoors. One of the most important aspects of growing indoors is making sure that your herb has the proper lighting it needs to thrive. Sewing-Crocheting-Knitting-Cross Stitch-Quilting, Preserving Basil – Harvest Basil Now for Year Round Enjoyment, Five House Plants to Grow in a Sunny Position, The Showstopper Dessert of the Holiday Season, Herb Roasted Turkey Breast with Vegetables. I miss the fresh aroma and tender flavor of fresh picked basil during the winter. Andy Redding is a lifetime gardening enthusiast and passionate believer in a healthy, natural lifestyle. This is the place to be! Even so, the plant may linger for a time, but it will succumb at some point. Remember these tips when growing under artificial light: When growing indoors you may want to take a few other things under consideration that you otherwise might not think about when growing outdoors. Growing in your cooking area allows you to conveniently snip your herbs and instantly use them in your meals. Caring for Herbs Indoors Instead of buying a cut bunch of basil at the supermarket, check to see if they also sell small potted basil plants. Depending on the season, you can find it in the produce department alongside the packaged stuff in … Unless you are moving and growing the herb in a greenhouse, the hot temperatures and direct sunlight that basil thrives in are not usually found in the average person’s home, so be sure to provide as much light as possible; artificial lighting for 10-12 hours a day during the darker winter months. Your herb will need at least 4 hours of natural light daily and it’s best if you place them under windows that face south or southwest, though east- or west-facing windows also will do. Buying potted basil isn't just for green thumbs. North-facing windows are not bright enough to provide the necessary 4 hours of direct sunlight. Protecting herbs in winter – wrapping the plant in fleece Step 6 Place basil and other tender herbs in a well-lit, frost-free position, but be wary of windowsills … Cut about three-quarters of the length of the basil stems and keep only the leaves with a strong green color, removing the yellow-ish or dried ones. Generally, the end of summer or first part of fall heralds the end of season basil harvest, but is there a way to extend basil’s life at the end of the season? Basil is a unique herb in that it prefers a nutrient-rich, slightly acidic soil that drains easily. There really is nothing like it, and I pine for spring when I can cultivate it again. You will find it all from homemade beauty recipes, health remedies, craft ideas, gardening, cooking, family and more.. Stored in this manner, dried basil will keep for one year. You can get more information on growing other food plants– even tomatoes– inside over the winter during a free clas s presented by Arbordale at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Clearfield Library, 770 Hopkins Rd., Amherst. Keep pots of basil alive by planting the strongest plants into their own pots. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s posts later this week on jarring bread & butter pickles and making homemade Italian sauce with fresh tomatoes from the garden. A small potted basil indoors wants to be prepared to either how to keep basil alive in winter another or. Easiest way to keep it alive by planting the strongest plants into their own thing, can... 'S happening in and around the garden be picked there really is nothing like fresh basil leaves by... 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