It’s a great day when you get to work with people you like and admire and today is one of those days! Steve Asbell from The Rainforest Garden is an amazingly talented illustrator so when he asked if I’d be interested in collaborating on an DIY post I jumped at the chance. To see more of Steve’s work check out his illustrations board on Pinterest.
In early summer I find myself opening a package of fresh basil and thinking that I wish my garden basil was ready. It seems so pricey to spent $2-$3 on a few sprigs of what grows into shrubs in August. Never one to waste leftovers, I always snip cuttings from the store bought stuff to propagate my home crop. In the end it makes the dollars spent well worth it as those sprigs turn into bushes of basil destined for winter pesto and, dare I say, basil ice cream (it’s delicious!).
I took a few photos of the process while Steve illustrated the header and created this easy three-step tutorial.
How to Grow Your Own Basil from Cuttings: 1. Snip the top of a basil stem with 4 sets of leaves growing then remove the 2 bottom sets of leaves from the stem. 2. Place the stem into a mason jar or shot glass of water and set in a sunny location. 3. When roots are visible transfer into a pot of soil and keep well watered while the cutting is establishing.
Check out this tutorial and more over at The Rainforest Garden. Steve has lots of cool projects like how to make a DIY Beach Terrarium and how to Make a Rainforest Drop.
Thanks for visiting!
I’m rooting several different basils right now. Is it too late to plant it in the ground [7b] or can I move to a pot & then move indoors for the winter? Anyone had luck doing this? I tr.ied some cilantro earlier in the year but did not have any luck rooting it. Trying some rosemary now, but not seeing much happening with roots either.
I usually buy a nice sized pot of Basil in late spring from our local Shop-Rite (supermarket). I split it into 3 sections-and repot 2, then transplant one in the garden when the weather is right for planting. I usually end up with a huge bush of Basil in the garden, and the ones in the pots get to be a nice size. I harvest all the basil from the garden before frost (in the Northeast), then bring in the two potted Basil plants, which I use all winter…and spring until I can do it all over again next year. I keep the basil in a northeast window that gets early morning sun, and as long as I don’t forget to water it too often it does very well. It also makes the dining room smell wonderful!
Can’t wait to get some basil. Lindabug, I have grown Rosemary from cuttings. I planted it directly into potting soil, water and keep moist until it startes to grow. Or you could cut an empty soda bottle in half, use the bottom for a dome. It will self water from the moist soil.