Posted by Paul M. Cook on June 25, 2009, 4:54 am
My basil is growing like wildfre. Easy question, do you harvest just the
leaves or do you ct the stems?
Paul
Posted by Pat Kiewicz on June 25, 2009, 5:44 am
Paul M. Cook said:
>My basil is growing like wildfre. Easy question, do you harvest just the
>leaves or do you ct the stems?
I cut the stems to harvest, even though I will only be using the leaves.
Basil needs to be cut back hard, to delay it going to seed.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI
"So, it was all a dream."
"No dear, this is the dream, you're still in the cell."
email valid but not regularly monitored
Posted by David E. Ross on June 25, 2009, 11:45 am
On 6/25/2009 2:44 AM, Pat Kiewicz wrote:
> Paul M. Cook said:
>>
>> My basil is growing like wildfre. Easy question, do you harvest just the
>> leaves or do you ct the stems?
>>
> I cut the stems to harvest, even though I will only be using the leaves.
> Basil needs to be cut back hard, to delay it going to seed.
>
If any shoots show flower buds, pick those first. Discard the flower
buds; they are supposedly bitter. (I don't know if they are really
bitter because I always discard them.)
--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>
Posted by brooklyn1 on June 25, 2009, 1:51 pm
> On 6/25/2009 2:44 AM, Pat Kiewicz wrote:
>> Paul M. Cook said:
>>>
>>> My basil is growing like wildfre. Easy question, do you harvest just
>>> the
>>> leaves or do you ct the stems?
>>>
>> I cut the stems to harvest, even though I will only be using the leaves.
>> Basil needs to be cut back hard, to delay it going to seed.
>>
> If any shoots show flower buds, pick those first. Discard the flower
> buds; they are supposedly bitter. (I don't know if they are really
> bitter because I always discard them.)
Basil buds and flowers are considered a culinary luxury... they are a
wonderful edible garnish and are fantastic in salads, etc, even make a very
special pizza topping.
Posted by Bill who putters on June 25, 2009, 3:34 pm
In article
>
> > On 6/25/2009 2:44 AM, Pat Kiewicz wrote:
> > > Paul M. Cook said:
> > >>
> > >> My basil is growing like wildfre. Easy question, do you harvest just
> > >> the
> > >> leaves or do you ct the stems?
> > >>
> > > I cut the stems to harvest, even though I will only be using the leaves.
> > > Basil needs to be cut back hard, to delay it going to seed.
> > >
> >
> > If any shoots show flower buds, pick those first. Discard the flower
> > buds; they are supposedly bitter. (I don't know if they are really
> > bitter because I always discard them.)
>
> If you are making pesto, the inflorescence is the best part of the plant.
New word for me maybe you too.
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem
that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of
branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where
flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified. The modifications
can involve the length and the nature of the internodes and the
phyllotaxis, as well as variations in the proportions, compressions,
swellings, adnations, connations and reduction of main and secondary
axes.
The stem holding the whole inflorescence is called a peduncle and the
main stem holding the flowers or more branches within the inflorescence
is called the rachis. The stalk of each single flower is called a
pedicel.
The fruiting stage of an inflorescence is known as an infructescence.
A flower that is not part of an inflorescence is called a solitary
flower and its stalk is also referred to as a peduncle.
.......
So I take it the the most essential oils reside near the flowers and
are primo ? Sort of remember soaking rose petals in oil. Anyone know
of a study that relates to this and offers a table or graph?
Bill who just gets leaves of Basil here and places it on toast with
tomato and EVO. Perhaps some goat manchego , Feta or other Italian
cheese.
--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."
-Philo of Alexandria
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>leaves or do you ct the stems?