Getting Started with Basil

 Around here, we cannot have too much basil. I found these pictures from last September, but I know I started harvesting it much earlier. I planted Genovese, Lettuce Leaf and plain ol' no name basil. There are ton of fancy varieties, but when it comes to Caprese Salad or Pesto, big glossy green leaves are what we want.









The success I had last summer with this one Basil Lettuce Leaf plant made me decide to plant them individually this year, rather than toss the whole packet of seeds in the dirt, resulting in crowded plants, with smaller leaves.
To start the plants:
Place a single paper towel on a small plate, pour on water, enough to wet it thoroughly and sprinkle a packet of seeds all over the towel. Cover and place in a warm spot. In two days all the seeds will have developed a clear gooey coating and white sproutings will show.

I retrieved some leftover 3" pots, six packs and four packs which I then filled with potting mix, saturated the soil, and then with a tweezer I lifted the seeds into the pots, three to a cell, and set them in the warm sun on the back deck. There will be tiny leaves by next week and I will keep them in the nursery until the second set of leaves form. I hope to have at least 36 plants.
Then I will try and find an open sunny spot to set them. From there I will learn patience as they grow into harvestable size. In the meantime, I expect the growing tomatoes to be ready for their eventual pairing.

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Martha Steele, one of my quilting friends sent pictures of the tornado damage done to our quilt shop.
https://picasaweb.google.com/mssolitudefarm/SewBeeIt4272011Tornado?feat=email#