There are a lot of kitchens that have fresh basil as a fundamental ingredient, however there are occasions when we unintentionally overuse this beautiful herb. So, let us have a look at some of the most typical mistakes that you might be doing with basil, as well as how to fix them.
1. Storing Basil in the Fridge
Basil grows best when it is warm outside. Putting it in the fridge can make it lose its shape quickly. Place the roots of the basil in a jar of water on your kitchen counter and treat it like any other flower. Loosely wrap the leaves in a plastic bag to keep them as fresh as possible.
2. Letting Basil Flowers Bloom
Even though basil flowers look nice, letting your plant flower takes energy away from making leaves, which makes the leaves less tasty. Make sure to regularly pinch off the flower buds to make more leaves grow.
3. Harvesting the Wrong Way
Are you picking off basil leaves one by one? You are making the plant grow less well! Cut off whole stems just above a pair of leaves instead. In turn, this helps the plant get larger and bushier.
4. Using a Dull Knife to Chop Basil
When you cut basil with a dull knife, the leaves get bruised and turn black, losing their flavour. To keep the taste and freshness, tear the leaves by hand or with a sharp knife.
5. Not Using Enough Basil
When you use a lot of basil, the flavour really comes out. Few leaves may not be enough to make a big difference if you only add a few to your food. Do not be afraid to use more in salads, pestos, and sauces!
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6. Cooking Basil for Too Long
Basil loses some of its fresh taste when it gets hot. It could make the dish taste bland if you add it too early in the cooking process. To keep the flavour, add fresh basil at the end of the cooking process or as a garnish.
7. Overwatering Basil
Basil grows best in moist soil, but if you leave it in wet soil for too long, the roots may rot. Make sure the soil does not stay soggy, and water your basil when the top inch of earth feels dry.
8. Planting Basil in the Shade
Basil grows best in full sun and needs at least six hours of direct sunshine every day. If you put it in a shady spot, it might not grow as strong, and the leaves might not taste as good.
9. Not Pruning Regularly
Some basil plants get tall and leggy with few leaves if you do not clip them often. Every one to two weeks, cut back the tops to keep it thick and full of leaves.
10. Skipping Fertilizer
Basil needs a lot of food. It might not grow as quickly as it could if you do not give it enough food. A balanced fertiliser once a month will keep your plant healthy and making food.
11. Forgetting to Dry or Freeze Excess Basil
It is easy to get too much basil because it grows so fast. You are missing out if you are not storing the extra. You can enjoy the taste of basil long after the growing season is over by drying it or freezing it.