Thanks to this book, I've felt emboldened to try some propagating. You would not believe how EASY it is to grow more basil. I'm even wondering if this could be done with the store bought stuff...
Step one: snip some sprigs of basil from a mature plant (if you have a neighbor with basil, perfect; you only need a few). Aim for two sets of leaves, but peel off the bottom set. However, this is not crucial, I had some random clippings left over that I tried it with and they worked too!
Step two: Put clippings in little cups of water and set in a sunny windowsill. (Indirect is nice so you don't fry them!)
Step three: Wait. Soon you'll start seeing these amazing white roots bristling out from the bottom! It's so cool!
Step four: Plant that puppy! Now, I read that you can transfer them to pots after they sprout their roots and then you set them outside for awhile, and then put them in the garden. But, I just skipped straight to putting them in the garden, so I hope it wasn't too much of a shock. I have a feeling they're pretty hardy though and I think they'll be fine.
I am so excited about this technique! It seriously couldn't be easier. How empowering to be able to grow your own basil seedlings so quickly and easily. I'm seriously going to try it with the fresh basil from the store. You'd have to trim it so there was a fresh tip, but I think it just might work. Wouldn't that be a fun winter project, when fresh green herbs are such a treat? You could start a whole herb garden in your window sill! Now I'm off to do a little research and see what other herbs can be propagated like this:)
