Latest / The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners / Episode 14 – Basil - The King of Summer Herbs

Transcript

Episode 14 – Basil - The King of Summer Herbs · The Beanstalk : A Podcast for Gardeners

• 0:28
  Welcome back to the Beanstalk, fellow beans.
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  My name is John, your neighborhood garden buddy, and
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  today we're diving into one of the most iconic herbs you can
• 0:39
  grow, basil. Basil is often called the king
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  of summer herbs, and for good reason.
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  It's fragrant, flavorful, versatile in the kitchen, and
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  honestly, just fun to grow. From pestos to pizzas, fresh
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  basil leaves add that unmistakable taste of summer
• 1:01
  sunshine. So today we're going to explore
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  why basil deserves a crown in your garden, how to grow it
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  successfully, how to harvest it for maximum flavor, a few pros
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  and cons of working with it, and even some of the pests and
• 1:19
  problems you'll want to look out for.
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  And of course, we'll wrap things up with a recipe, one of the all
• 1:27
  time basil classics Garden Fresh Pesto.
• 1:33
  Now, why should we grow basil? Basil is one of those crops that
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  practically every gardener, whether beginner or seasoned,
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  finds rewarding. Why?
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  Because it's easy to grow, grows fast, and it keeps producing as
• 1:51
  long as you harvest it regularly.
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  Not to mention the incredible variety.
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  You've got classic sweet basil, spicy Thai basil, lemon basil,
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  purple basil, and so many others.
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  Basil is also a superstar companion plant.
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  It helps repel pests like mosquitoes and can actually
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  improve the flavor of tomatoes when grown nearby.
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  A win win for your garden and your taste buds.
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  Plus, if you cook at all, you'll find basil sneaking its way into
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  countless dishes. Fresh salads, pasta sauces,
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  infused oils, the possibilities are endless.
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  Let's go over how to grow basil. Basil thrives in warm weather
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  and full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.
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  It loves rich, well draining soil with plenty of organic
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  matter, so adding compost or an organic mix before planting goes
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  a long way. You can grow basil from seed or
• 3:10
  buy transplants from your local nursery.
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  If you're starting from seed, plant them about 1/4 inch deep
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  and keep the soil moist until they germinate.
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  Basil seedlings pop up fast in warm soil, usually within 5 to
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  10 days. Spacing matters.
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  Give your basil plants about 10 to 12 inches apart to allow good
• 3:38
  airflow and reduce disease issues.
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  And here's the key to bushy, productive basil pinching.
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  Once your plants reach about 6 inches tall, pinch off the top
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  set of leaves just above a pair of leaf nodes.
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  This encourages the plant to branch out, producing more
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  leaves instead of shooting straight up.
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  Keep pinching regularly and your basil will stay compact and
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  bushy. One thing to watch, Basil hates
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  cold. Don't plant it outdoors until
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  all danger of frost has passed, and if nights get chilly, give
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  it some protection. Next, let's look at how to
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  harvest basil. The best way to harvest basil is
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  frequently and strategically. Don't just pick leaves randomly.
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  Pinch entire stems back to just above a set of healthy leaves.
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  This encourages new growth and prolongs the plants life.
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  If you let basil flower, the leaves can turn bitter, so keep
• 4:53
  an eye out for buds and pinch them off as soon as you see
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  them. A good rule of thumb, never take
• 5:01
  more than 1/3 of the plant at a time.
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  That way your basil keeps regenerating and doesn't get
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  stressed. If you have more basil than you
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  can use fresh, don't worry. Basil preserves beautifully.
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  You can freeze it in olive oil, dry it though it loses some
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  flavor, or make a batch of pesto and freeze that for later use.
• 5:28
  Now for the pros and cons of growing basil.
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  First, the pros. It's fast growing and easy for
• 5:39
  beginners. Basil is incredibly versatile in
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  cooking. It's a companion plant that
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  benefits tomatoes and Peppers, and basil can be grown in
• 5:54
  containers, raised beds, or even windowsills.
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  And now for the cons. Basil is extremely sensitive to
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  cold 1 frost at its toast, it's susceptible to fungal diseases
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  like downy mildew, and it needs frequent harvesting and
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  attention to stay productive. Let's not forget about common
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  pests and problems. Basil is generally pretty Hardy,
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  but there are a few things to watch for.
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  First up is aphids and whiteflies.
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  They love the tender leaves. A quick blast of water or
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  insecticidal soap helps. Then we have Japanese beetles.
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  These shiny green pests can skeletonize leaves, hand pick
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  them, or use traps away from your basil patch.
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  Next up is downy mildew, a real issue in humid conditions.
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  You'll notice yellowing leaves with Gray fuzz underneath.
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  Space plants well, water at the base, not overhead, and harvest
• 7:18
  often to reduce risk. And lastly, there's bolting.
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  When basil gets too hot or stressed, it wants to flower.
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  Pinch off those buds quickly to keep the leaves sweet and
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  tender. Now for the recipe, garden fresh
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  basil pesto. No basil episode would be
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  complete without pesto. 1st is the ingredients.
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  Two cups fresh basil leaves packed.
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  Half a cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, half a cup
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  extra virgin olive oil, 1/3 of a cup pine nuts or walnuts for a
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  budget friendly option. Three garlic cloves, salt and
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  pepper to taste and a squeeze of lemon juice optional for
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  brightness of flavor. Lastly is the preparation
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  instructions. In a food processor.
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  Combine the basil, nuts, garlic and cheese.
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  Pulse until finely chopped. With the motor running slowly.
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  Drizzle in olive oil until the mixture becomes a smooth paste.
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  Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice if desired.
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  Store in a jar with a thin layer of olive oil on top to prevent
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  Browning. You can also freeze it for
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  longer term storage. Spread it on toast, tossed it
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  with pasta, or even drizzle it over roasted veggies.
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  Nothing says some are like fresh pesto.
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  And now for the fun. Facts corner.
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  Basil has been cultivated for over 5000 years and was
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  considered sacred in many cultures.
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  The word basil comes from the Greek Basilius, meaning king,
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  hence its nickname king of herbs.
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  In some folklore, basil was believed to bring good luck and
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  even ward off evil spirits. There are over 60 different
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  varieties of basil, each with its own unique flavor profile,
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  from sweet to spicy to citrusy. Thanks again for hanging out
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  with me today on the Beanstalk, fellow Beans.
• 10:23
  If you want to keep the conversation going, we've got a
• 10:26
  growing community over at the Mean Stock Garden Club on
• 10:29
  Facebook. Come join us, share your garden
• 10:33
  photos, swap ideas, and let's nerd out over plants together.
• 10:41
  If you're enjoying the podcast, don't forget to hit follow on
• 10:44
  Spotify so you never miss an episode.
• 10:48
  We'd also love to hear your feedback or questions for future
• 10:52
  episodes. From our patch to yours, keep on
• 10:58
  climbing. Music.