Sally Smith on preserving basil

Sally Smith | 09:08 UK time, Friday, 20 August 2010

Organic gardener Sally Smith answers your questions about why courgette leaves may turn silver and how to treat blackfly. If you have a similar problem with your courgettes, share your experiences in the comment section below.

Joy Galley from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, asks: My basil has at last 'taken off'. Is it possible to freeze it for use in the winter? I do parsley in ice cube trays. Would this work with basil?

Answer: Basil is a particularly aromatic herb rich in volatile oils, the leaves freeze well but need care to preserve their flavour if storing for any time. For this reason the ice cube method may not be as successful for longer term storage. To really seal in the flavour, paint both sides of each leaf in olive oil, spread out on metal trays to freeze quickly and then seal in airtight containers or freezer bags.

Alternative ways of using basil are to make herb oils and vinegars or pesto sauce. Pesto can itself be frozen once made and then to preserve the aroma, double wrap the container with polythene.

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Comments

1. At 2:27pm on 02 Sep 2010, Mary Clarke wrote:
For the second time, my basil had grown to four foot high. Should I be cutting it down? I have used basil all summer and the scent is wonderful in my conservatory, which faces south and gets up to 100 degrees. Is this the reason it does so well, or does all basil grow this high - and even higher?

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2. At 08:50am on 04 Sep 2010, Gareth Austin wrote:
Hi Mary, the secret to growing basil for consumption is to regularly pinch out the growing tips and use these first and foremost. by doign this the basil will in turn bush out and produce more tasty tips. I take it yours is now coming into flower? in a very hot greenhouse situation basil will get fierce leggy and tall, however horses for courses, if it works for you and you enjoy the perfume then keep doing what your doing!

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Expert authors

Our video expert is Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins. He's a qualified horticulturalist and award-winning gardener, who's presented shows on everything from allotments to Chelsea - check out his website for details. He loves sharing his experience with growers old and new!

Gareth Austin is resident gardening expert with BBC Radio Foyle and lectures in horticulture in Northern Ireland. Gareth has made it a prority to encourage gardeners throughout Northern Ireland to 'reclaim the space' and start growing vegetables in any area they can find.

Maria del Carmen Casarrubios is a tutor and practical instructor at Capel Manor College, Regent's Park. She trained at Capel Manor and Writtle College in Amenity Horticulture and has 20 years' experience of working with plants. Sally Smith

Sally Smith is a freelance gardening researcher and lecturer. She headed the advisory team at Garden Organic for many years. Pest and disease control by organic means is her speciality, Sally says: "Managing your soil is key to solving nearly all gardening problems, look after your compost heap, it's your most important asset." Sally Smith

Brendan Little trained at National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Brendan runs organic gardening courses, works as a garden designer and is in the BBC Radio Ulster Gardeners' Corner team." Sally Smith

Karen Kenny is the Eastern Region Rep for the National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners as well as on the management team of Suffolk and Ipswich allotments where she runs a site. Karen is also an accomplished lecturer on most gardening subjects, including allotments.

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Ben Raskin is an advisor with the Soil Association, as well as helping to run 22 acres of organic vegetables. With over 16 years of horticultural experience, including running market gardens and working at the Welsh College of Horticulture, he's an expert on organic matters.

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