It’s easy to find the growing node on the stalk. But test the soil with a stick to make sure the bottom isn’t dry. If air drying and the sun methods are too time-consuming for you and you’re in a hurry, then a microwave can come to your rescue. Don’t go overboard else the leaves would shrivel up and burn. Now put them in a jar and tighten the lid to keep them fresh for the rest of the year. It’s also a staple in Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, and South Asian cuisines. Which one you choose depends on your resources, the time and patience you have, and how good you want your dried basil leaves to be for the rest of the year. Keep the soil wet but not waterlogged during the dog days of summer. DIYs.com is an up-and-coming community of people specialized in high-quality and on-trend DIY projects and tutorials in home design, fashion, and crafts. Once the plant establishes roots, you can add liquid fertilizer in moderate doses once a week. With your harvested fresh basil leaves on the kitchen table, you’re ready for the next phase of the process. One of the easiest methods to get the basil leaves dry is to simply leave them out in the open air to dry on their own. Place leaves in a shallow container or tie them in bunches. They will take up to 4 weeks depending on how dry the air is before you can collect them and keep them in jars. Nothing says you know your way around the kitchen, and the garden for that matter, than a sprig of basil in your homemade lasagna or a few leaves floating majestically in your bowl of punch. The plant will not grow leaves again since the season is over. Remove the excess water and make sure they are completely dry. Keep the leaves away from each other so they don’t stick together. So in a way, it works best for when you gather your leaves in small patches throughout the summer. The oven might get rid of the moisture in the leaves but if you’re not careful it could burn them as well. To pluck the leaves, use either a pair of sharp scissors or garden clippers. A well-drained soil helps the plant grow healthier. In addition to these flavors, the herb has its nutritional values. Air-dry the leaves if you don't need to keep them flat. Remember, this only applies to harvesting in patches. This will encourage the basil plant to grow more leaves. The only drawback here is that it would take longer than with the microwave. Now you need to tie them in bundles and hang them by the stems to dry in an airy place. The sunlight will dry out the leaves, but the edges may curl. A well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight is ideal.If you live in a humid area, the process may be slower, and mold can be a problem. So in a way, it’s the most convenient method so far. Remove any dead leaves and cut off the flowers. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and continue in … The roots establish well in plenty of soil. You don’t have to check on it since the dehydrator is gentle on the leaves and you don’t have to flip them over or give them a break the way the microwave method requires. Keep in mind that you cannot dry your whole harvest in one go using a microwave. As a dedicated gardener, nothing tastes better than the food you grow in your garden with your own heads. You only want the leaves of the herb. You won’t have to worry about setting the food dehydrator too high or too low. Just swirl them in the water to clean them then scoop them out. Lay them on a towel to dry. But it does need your full attention. Preserving Fall Leaves With Silica Gel. You don’t have to do anything, just be patient enough to let them dry out thoroughly. 5. What makes basil even more appealing as a plant from a gardener’s point of view is how easy it is to grow, harvest, and store it. To prepare the leaves for air drying, make sure the stems are equal size and wash them in a deep bowl. Scissors work better since they don’t damage the stalk of the plant. Add mulch to improve water retention and organic compost when the leaves appear to encourage its growth. Go out and pick your favorite leaves that have fallen off those beautiful trees. So anything between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit is acceptable. Use a well-balanced soil with pH levels between 6.5 and 7. Set the microwave to medium and the timer for 20 seconds at a time. For this reason, it’s often grown in the warm Southern regions of the country. Your email address will not be published. Make sure the temperature is in the mid-fifties Fahrenheit. The thing about basil is that it’s easy to grow once you provide the basic requirements of soil, warm temperature, and dry weather. This makes them hard to use in some craft projects, but works well for dried flower arrangements. How to Dry Leaves Quickly Step 1. Fresh or dry, basil is the kind of herb that adds a strong flavor to your pizzas, pasta, and even serves as a garnish to your lemonade. This article covers the basics of growing basil and the different methods of drying it. This method is only suitable for hot regions that get plenty of sunlight all day. Set the dehydrator to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and leave it running for anything between 12 and 24 hours. Clean them by gently running water over them to make sure all the dirt and grime is off of each one. As part of the mint family, basil (Ocimum basilicum) has many varieties including: As an annual herb, basil favors hot and dry weather conditions. If the soil is heavy, add some sand to balance it out and improve aeration. Plan your harvesting early in the morning when the leaves are fresh before the hot weather degrades their aroma. As a summer herb, you might wonder how to enjoy the great flavors of basil all year round. Leave about a quarter-inch below the node and cut the stems. Waxed tipped leaves - melt down wax and dip the leaves, hang to dry or place on baking paper For the end of the season harvesting, you can pluck all the leaves without worrying about the nodes or stems. It’s arguably the most important one because it can make or break the freshness, flavors, and depth of aroma of your basil harvest. As the temperature rises, the plant needs more water. Either gather the adult leaves as they mature on the plant and dry them in patches, or wait for the end of the summer and gather all the leaves together in one patch. Your email address will not be published. Don’t handle the leaves roughly since they break easily. Basil thrives at high temperatures. If it’s too humid or you have lots of shade, then the leaves will not dry well and might spoil. Collect the dry leaves and keep them in jars. One of the easiest methods to get the basil leaves dry is to simply leave them out in the open air to dry on their own. Basil is rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron as well as vitamins A and C. In traditional medicine it has been used to cure many health conditions including indigestion. Prune the plant to encourage it to branch out and become bushy. Repeat it a few times until the leaves are thoroughly dry. To dry your basil leaves in the sun, you follow the same steps of parsing, washing, and drying the leaves we mentioned above. Now with the surface of the leaves dry and only healthy leaves remain in your collection, you can spread the leaves on a wire mesh and keep them in the sun. Keep the pots indoors until the weather warms up and the last frost is gone. Basil is the herb of choice for many chefs thanks to the strong aromas it adds to various dishes. Expose to direct sunlight for a few days, checking every day or two to see whether they're dry. Use a large pot since the roots of the basil plant don’t do well in shallow pots. The answer is in drying and storing the leaves so that they maintain their aroma no matter how long you keep them. If mold is an issue, we recommend using a small commercial dehydrator.Hanging DryTie sprigs or branches into small bunches. These polyphenolic compounds give it its therapeutic values. It's great for … Haworthia Succulent Care: Nurturing Your Haworthia Pearl Plant, Bunny Ear Cactus: Growing & Care For the Bunny Ears Succulent (Opuntia Microdasys). Make sure you don’t get strong wind that would blow the leaves away. Don’t overestimate the harvested leaves. Your daily dose of crafts, recipes, beauty, fashion, living tips and home guides. Step 3. After they’ve dried up, pull them out one by one and set them aside to cool off. Silica gel is a white powder that looks like salt. Spread the leaves on parchment paper and set the oven to a medium to medium-high temperature. {mine are usually dried out and … They will shrink to about half their current size once they’re been dried out. Because everyone’s style is individual, customized pieces with a high-end look are what we’re always after. You can allow the top 2 inches of the soil to go dry. Microwave 1 minute and 30 seconds, then in 15 second increments. The first method is time intensive but it produces a good harvest. So avoid soaking the pot or leaving it to dry out. This is thanks to flavonoids and anthocyanins. Trim the top of the branches off just above the leaves so the plant will grow more branches.

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