Your comments and tips

24 Nov 11, Amy Mitchell (Australia - temperate climate)

My basil has started getting brown dots. I don't think this is good. What can I do?

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22 Jan 11, Trish (Australia - tropical climate)

We have a few basil plants around a foot high right now and are picking and eating happily. They haven't flowered, and I'm told I should pinch off the flowers to prevent it. my question - I'm such a beginner - do they die off and require replacing, or do the carry on forever if I keep pinching off the flowering heads? If they die, I should be planting again now!

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14 Oct 11, Julie (Australia - temperate climate)

I have been experimenting growing herbs for the last year. Let some of the basil flower and go to seed, when dried out save the seeds and plant again in September for regrowth. Perfect for making pesto, keeps well when made and sealed. Basil does need to be sown each year,

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23 Jan 11, craig (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

You can actually just cut them right back and dry an excess in the oven (very low temp for 45 min or so). the plant will look like death, but tends to start growing again. If it dosent it's an easy herb to keep seeding. I still have the same "bush" that Ive had in a pot for 3 years. Pick, dry regrow start again!

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28 May 10, Steve (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

How can I grow Thai Basil in Adelaide Winter,I have small glasshose will this work or do I need lighting too Ta

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12 May 10, Rachel (Australia - temperate climate)

How do I make my basil grow fuller? does anyone know how my plant needs to be groomed to grow thick and lustrous? thanks

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12 May 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Your basil will grow more 'bushy' if you nip off the growing tips once the plants are well-established. They will send out lots of side-shoots and bush out. Also, I found watering with a seaweed-based liquid fertiliser helps.

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20 Apr 10, tony (Australia - temperate climate)

bridget, sounds like the basil is just going to the flowering stage?? maybe you planted it / bought it a bit late in the season. you can extend the growing phase by cutting / breaking off the stems just below the transistion / flowering growth . . . but you have probably discovered this already ... its not rocket science :). Once the basil plants die, you can take them out, hang them up, and in early spring just shake the plant and rake seeds into damp soil. Hey presto...nature provides us with pesto.

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23 Nov 09, Bridget (Australia - temperate climate)

To be honest Damooo, i have no idea. I'm a novice herb gardener and just purchased a punnet from a local outlet...

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21 Nov 09, Damooo (Australia - temperate climate)

Is the basil you bought drafted basil? (Do you mean 'grafted'? ed.)

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