成人快手

Sally Smith on preserving basil

Post categories: basil,听question

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.聽If you have a similar problem with your courgettes,听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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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

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