Easy garden tip: Planting basil from cuttings

Did you know that basil will root in water?  I didn't either.

 

 If you take a few cuttings of fresh basil and just keep them in water, they will send out some roots.
I waited until there was a large mass of roots, then simply (and gently) placed them into a pot with soil in it.  I added more dirt and lots of water.

He's a teeny, tiny bit shell-shocked, but I think he'll perk right up.


By the way, be sure to pinch off any of the little flowers and buds when you see them.  This is called bolting and you don't want your basil to bolt.  The plant's energy goes into growing the flowers instead of into the delicious leaves, and they become a little bitter and not as green.

I've already started a new cutting.  I will need lots of basil if I'm going to keep making these:

get the recipe HERE

Get the recipe for this tomato, basil and mozzarella salad HERE.