Basil

Basil must be everyone’s favorite herb. It is definitely a heat lover, perfect for our steamy hot summers in North Florida. A native of India, Southeastern Asia and tropical Africa, basil is a member of the mint family. A succession of plantings starting in spring and continuing till fall will ensure fresh basil all season. Plant this sun loving annual in a well-drained, organically enriched soil. Pinch off the flower buds to prevent it from going to seed, and harvest the leaves often to maintain a bushy form. Keep it mulched, water often (depending on the summer rains) and fertilize monthly with fish emulsion or a slow release organic fertilizer.

The many types of basil include:

Sweet Basil is the most widely used and can become a small bush, three feet by two feet. Genovese basil is also considered sweet basil with a more robust flavor. These are the traditional types used in making pesto, a thick sauce consisting of basil, garlic, nuts, olive oil and parmesan cheese. Pesto is very easy to make in a food processor.

Spicy Globe basil is a petite variety maintaining a rounded global form, great for containers. Easy to cut and use fresh in salads.

Lemon basil, with its delectable lemon flavor, is a favorite for use on fish and seafood. This one wants to bolt quickly so be vigilant about pinching off the blooms.

Thai basil is essential in any Thai recipe and makes a good substitute for cilantro in tabouli salads.

Cinnamon basil has a unique spicy cinnamon aroma. It is used in baking and Middle Eastern style cooking.

The purple basils are beautiful in the garden especially when paired with plants of silver and grey shades. They include Opal, Purple Ruffles, Red Rubin and African Blue which may be a perennial here in Tallahassee for some gardeners. It attracts many pollinating insects and is a gorgeous plant in the garden. This one you can let bloom, and it will be hardy up till frost. It makes a great cut flower, too.

When harvesting basil I like to do it early in the day. Spray it with the hose first to wash it, let it sun dry and then cut. It can be kept in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for up to a week. If at the end of the season you have too much to use fresh, simply make pesto and freeze.

The splendid fragrance of freshly cut basil in a vase on the kitchen table delights the senses and inspires me to keep on planting!

Safe Solutions - Nolo Bait for Grasshoppers

If grasshoppers tend to be a problem in your garden, try Nolo Bait, an EPA registered biological control. It contains naturally occurring Nosema locustae spores. These spores are applied to flaky wheat bran which attracts grasshoppers who then consume both the bait and the spores. Because young grasshoppers consuming the bait will die more quickly than older stages, the most effective time to treat with Nolo Bait is during the spring hatch. However as Nosema locustae builds up in the gut of heavily infected grasshoppers, they become lethargic and lose their appetite for your plants. So treatments later in the season can also reduce grasshopper damage. In addition, infected grasshoppers are often consumed by healthy grasshoppers, which further spreads Nosema locustae throughout the grasshopper population. Infected females can also pass the spores through the egg-laying process. Nolo Bait does not harm people, pets, birds, non-target insects, wildlife or the environment and is NOP compliant for use in organic gardens. Here at Native Nurseries, we carry it in a 1 lb. bag for $29.99. It is best applied during the morning as that is when grasshoppers do most of their feeding. To increase the effectiveness, split the bag into 3 or 4 applications several days apart (but never within 4 to 6 hours of rain).

Stokes’ Aster a/k/a Stokesia

Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis) is a showy, native perennial wildflower for full to part sun. It blooms (blue/lavender) from late spring to mid-summer, is evergreen and grows to approximately 12 inches in height. It’s a good choice when you need a small patch of color at the front of a perennial border. Although stokesia likes plenty of moisture, you should plant it in well-drained, acidic soil. Wet soil in the winter is the main cause of death for this plant, so well-drained soil is a must. Choose a spot in the sun. Stokesia does well in partial sun, but if you’re looking for the best possible show of color, plant it in full sun. Keep in mind however that if you do so, it will need more water. You will have to pay special attention to its water needs until it’s well established. Deadheading and removing spent flower stems will also help maximize blossoming. Propagate stokesia by dividing root clumps in late winter or spring.

There are lots of good reasons for making space in your garden for stokesia. It’s a good source of nectar for butterflies, has no serious insect or disease problems and, although it likes plenty of moisture, it’s surprisingly drought tolerant once it’s established. Oh yeah . . . and it’s beautiful too.

At Native Nurseries, we typically stock Stokesia in quarts and 1-gallon pots. Currently we have both. As always, give us a call to check availability before making a special trip (although we’re always happy to see you). Sorry . . . we do not ship plants.

Some information for this blog post came from the following sources –

http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/Horticulture/plantsaleiplamts/stokesia.html

http://www.floridata.com/ref/s/stok_lae.cfm

Post Date: 5/15/15