Basil is a member of the Mint family that has extremely aromatic leaves that are used in cooking. The mention of Basil reminds us of Italian cooking, though it originated from India.  A fragrant and tasty leaf is the reason why basil is grown, although its flowers are also edible. It thrives in warm and sunny weather (above 70F). It grows up to 6 feet like the Sweet Basil, but there are also dwarf varieties that can be raised in pots. The most popular varieties are-

• Sweet Basil- 3 to 6 feet in height, lemony taste
• Genovese Basil- bigger leaves than Sweet Basil, mixed flavor taste
• Mexican Spice Basil-green leaves and purple flowers, cinnamon scent
• Spicy Clove Basil- quick growing and compact plants good for containers
• Lemon Basil- small leaves, lemony tang
• Red Rubin- purple color, good for vinegar

Growing Basil-

Basil can be grown from seed. If it is only for kitchen consumption, you need only two pots full. It is quite a prolific producer of those exotic flavored leaves. Basil seed germination needs fairly high and stable temperature, which makes it ideal for indoor planting. If you start with a small container, just put 6 seeds maximum. It has a unique characteristic wherein, when it reaches the height of 6”, control must be done to prevent flowering, which leads to seeding. Because seeding of Basil plant lessen the flavor of the leaves. And to prevent flowering, top set of leaves must be pinched or cut.

How to plant Basil

1. To have adequate water drainage in basil pot, it is advisable to put coarse gravel at the bottom. Put a tea bag at the bottom whole drainage to serve as filter. This will allow only water to be drained and not compost. Make sure that the compost or pot soil mix is weed and moist free before sowing.
2. Sowing can be done indoor anytime.  Or if it’s outdoor, it must be done in March or April, to avoid spring frost.
3. Sow thinly with just several seeds per pot, and then cover them with ½ cm thick compost. In about 2 weeks, seedling will appear. When it has more than 5 leaves already, it can be transferred to a more permanent or bigger container. Cover the pot with plastic sheet to maintain its humidity and moisture.
4. If grown indoor, locate the pot near window that will give 6 to 8 hours sunlight daily. If grown outdoor, place it in a shaded area to avoid cold winds.
5. Fertile soil is need for potted plants. Compost or manure must be introduced before sowing.
6. When watering, it must be directed at the base of the plant, not on the leaves and stems.
7. Pinch out its flowers as they appear, to direct all the nutrients to leaf flavor building.
8. When harvesting, pick a few leaves on top of the plant. Indoor basil plant will supply you leaves all year round.

Harvested leaves can be stored in air-tight containers, after drying in a room for about a week or in a dehydrator. Leaves stored this way will last for one year.

Welcome to Great Big Plants blog. Here we will give you advice on how to turn any plant into a thriving, lush healthy one. For 14 years, Great Big Plants has delivered its organic liquid compost to users in 20 different states. Let them show you how a successful formula can give you a successful crop. 22 Dec 2006 The Organic Gardener

Carbon is the most influential element that effects plant productivity. Each growing season more carbon is depleted from the soil. Since chemical fertilizers contain no carbons, soil quickly tires and fertility declines.

It’s important to restore carbon content through the soil for the environment, as well. It vitalizes plants, water, and wildlife habitat. It also reduces the global warming factor. Carbon plays a larger role in soil than just helping your plants grow.

How do you improve carbon content in soil? Reduced till agriculture is a safe, natural way of generating more carbon for your soil. By minimizing the amount of disturbance in the soil before planting you can improve your soils properties.

Remember, the more natural approach can reap many more benefits to your crop than resorting to too many chemical means.
28 Dec 2006 The Organic Gardener

Roses are a great way to bring some color to your garden. But how do you make sure these delicate flowers grow healthy and beautiful? Here are things to know about gardening with rose bushes.

1.Plant just before spring time. Try to plant around March and April.
2.Keep your roses in a damp, cold place before you plant it, like a basement.
3.Make sure you have good drainage when you plant them.
4.Roses need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, so plant them where they have plenty of access to the sun.
5.Soak your rosebush in water for 24 hours before planting.
6.Your soil should be acidic:pH levels should range between 5.8-6.3.
7.Water daily on the first week. After that, go to every three days.
8.Mulch! Mulch spreads good, natural nutrients to your soil. Just be sure to leave some space around the roses to prevent rotting.
9.Build a basin of dirt around the rose bush during the first few days when planting to help the roses retain water.
10.Add fertilizer to the soil every 2-3 months.
Keep these things in mind and you are on your way to having a winning rose garden.

For an extra boost, use Great Big Plants as your fertilizer to treat both the soil and your rose bush.
02 Jan 2007 The Organic Gardener

Many thriving gardens have one thing in common: they took advantage of composting. First off, what is compost?

Compost is a combination of decomposing organic matter, such as leaves, grass clippings, plant scraps, that have decomposed over time. This is usually mixed with animal manure (such as poultry), blood and bones to speed up the process and add nutrients.

Combining this with the soil enriches it with vital nutrients and allows the soil to maintain moisture better. The result is that you will have to water your plants less frequently. Compost also provides nutrients to plants as well.

If you are serious about gardening then you will want to give composting some serious thought. There are alternatives to using a compost heap, such as Great Big Plants liquid compost. This will allow you to provide your plants with all of the benefits of composting without having to maintain a huge compost pile.
08 Jan 2007 The Organic Gardener

A lot of people are very passionate about their gardens, but what about the tools you’re using to maintain that wonderful garden of yours? It’s easy to overlook this, but a little care for your tools can give them a more long-lasting quality. Here are some things you can do:

1.Oil any moving parts of your tools. If it has a hinge, lubricate it!
2.Clean your tools of excess dirt. You can use water with a wire brush. It’s important to do so to remove harmful dirt slowly eroding your tools.
3.Sharpen bladed tools such as clippers and shovels.
While taking care of your plants may be the main focus, taking proper care of your tools can really extend the lifespan of them and make gardening easier for you.
12 Jan 2007 The Organic Gardener

I was browsing the web and came across a great resource for gardening. Organic Gardening Review contains a large amount of product reviews, gardening tips, and more. Take a look!
18 Jan 2007 The Organic Gardener

Winter is definitely upon us in the midwest, and while we can’t tend to flowers in the snow outside, we still have our flowers indoors. Here are a few simple tips for increasing the lifespan of those wonderful house flowers.

Make sure you freshly cut the stems of your flowers between 1-2 inches. The blade used should be sharp to create a nice, clean cut.
Make sure to use flower food, which usually comes with the flowers if you purchased them in a store. Follow the directions on the packet for proper water amounts. If the solution gets murky then replace it with new food.
Flowers love light, however, try to keep them out of direct sunlight.
Keep the flowers in a cool area.
You may have these before, but it never hurts to be reminded. Flowers are a great way of livening up your home or office. Shouldn’t we let them last a little longer?
26 Jan 2007 The Organic Gardener

There are some blogs out there that have great personality. You Grow Girl is one of them. Aimed at female gardeners, this site has a lot of charm and some great tips, to boot. Even if you aren’t a girl, it is still nice to look through to expand your knowledge. If you want to look at a fun page about gardening and get involved, check it out! 30 Jan 2007 The Organic Gardener