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Posted By: mearow Basils.. - June 18th, 2005 at 02:15 AM
I have sweet basil and cinnamon basil planted. Its very ready for me to pull a few leafs a dry them. My question is will putting the leafs in my dehyrdrator dry them out to fast or will it be ok to use it? What ya think?
Posted By: LMT Re: Basils.. - June 18th, 2005 at 02:43 AM
They are better fresh. It's best to dry them slowly. If you want to use a dehydrator, keep an eye on them and don't over do it.
Posted By: poetprose Re: Basils.. - June 19th, 2005 at 06:37 PM
Quote
Originally posted by mearow:
I have sweet basil and cinnamon basil planted. Its very ready for me to pull a few leafs a dry them. My question is will putting the leafs in my dehyrdrator dry them out to fast or will it be ok to use it? What ya think?
Posted By: poetprose Re: Basils.. - June 19th, 2005 at 06:40 PM
Hello, I use a great deal of Basil for cooking, Pessto's, Marinara, home made sauces.. Brushetta's etc...

If I have to dry out my Basil, It is late in the fall,to winter, and I only* do it because the weather in Ontario is no longer warm enough to keep my potted plants, otherwise fresh basil is always the best...

still I just use my microwave to dry it out, you have to keep an eye on it, I use the micro wave also for my parsley...
Posted By: tkhooper Re: Basils.. - June 19th, 2005 at 07:10 PM
Poetprose, I usually keep a pot of basil plants in my kitchen they usually stay with me all year. Until the produce flowers faster than I can catch them anyway.
Posted By: poetprose Re: Basils.. - June 19th, 2005 at 08:05 PM
Quote
Originally posted by tkhooper:
Poetprose, I usually keep a pot of basil plants in my kitchen they usually stay with me all year. Until the produce flowers faster than I can catch them anyway.
Posted By: poetprose Re: Basils.. - June 19th, 2005 at 08:07 PM
>>.I usually keep a pot of basil plants in my kitchen they usually stay with me all year<<

Hi, You are lucky, I wish mine would , but as soon as the heat has to be turned on in our house they just don't do well,

Do you make all your sauces also?
Posted By: tkhooper Re: Basils.. - June 19th, 2005 at 08:24 PM
Is it the draft thing? Builders often put heat registers right below the windows and the plants hate it. If you can create a clear plastic tent or wall to a height above that of the plant you might be able to keep the basil going. Needless to say my apartment isn't a decorators dream, unless they are having a nightmare lol.

I live alone so cooking is something I do rarely anymore. I used to and still do certain sauces but not very often. Believe it or not I think I still plant herbs just because they have become like friends and I would miss not having the basil there in the winter.
Posted By: 4Ruddy Re: Basils.. - June 21st, 2005 at 10:48 AM
I have many basil plants..it is one of my favorite herbs. Although you can't beat fresh basil in salads,vinegettes, roasts and some different dishes...I prefer dries basil in my sauces. I just think the dried basil has a stronger flavor. My favorite is the African Blue Basil. I also dry several of my herbs and package them for Christmas presents. My family loves getting the dried herbs from my garden every year.
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Basils.. - June 21st, 2005 at 10:55 AM
I picked up 3 basils this year,
and haven't started one of them yet..

A purple one, a cinnamin one and a lemon one..
Dang, I'm slow!!! Geesh!!!
Posted By: 4Ruddy Re: Basils.. - June 22nd, 2005 at 12:17 AM
Wees...is the purple one a Red Rueben Basil? I had one last year and really liked it but couldn't find one this year...they are strikingly pretty in the garden.
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Basils.. - June 22nd, 2005 at 12:50 AM
I'll have to find the package!!!!
Posted By: Bestofour Re: Basils.. - June 26th, 2005 at 11:07 AM
4Ruddy, do you just chop up fresh basil and put it in your salads? I've never done that. I've always used it in cooking or after it's dried.
Posted By: Ceilteach Re: Basils.. - July 4th, 2005 at 06:58 AM
I usually cut the tops off my basil plant, wrap a piece of tring aroung the stalks and hang it upside down in my kitchen...it looks pretty and you have dried basil in a while
kit
Posted By: PAR_Gardener Re: Basils.. - July 5th, 2005 at 11:57 AM
4Ruddy,

I purchased some Red Rubin seeds this year. Here are a few sites:

Johnny\'s Selected Seeds: Red Rubin Basil
Cooks Garden: Red Rubin Basil
Park Seeds: Red Rubin Basil
Posted By: comfrey Re: Basils.. - July 12th, 2005 at 11:41 PM
I LOVE Basil...it is very therapeutic for me...I always grow a bush type basil in a pot next to the door so I can rub against it for the scent, I think if I could only grow one thing that would be it...As far as drying...I would tie it in bundles like Ceilteach suggested...close hangers work well if you don't have a drying rack and a cloths pin will hold the string the bundle is tried with to the cloths hanger. But I also agree fresh is always better!!!
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