The rain in the North East this Spring has been relentless. My yard is loving it, my basil is loving it, and so are other plants that dig the moist. But I’m beginning to wonder about my favorites that prefer a drier climate. How much more of this can my rosemary take and how will this effect what’s available at the farmers market later this Summer? A wet season last year made for a less than perfect tomato crop.
The steady drizzle postponed today’s outdoor cooking session, but it didn’t stop me from giving my basil some tough love. If you haven’t already, your plants may be getting close to the flowering stage. Cut them back aggressively and you’ll keep your basil leaves tender and sweet while increasing production. I trim mine about once a month or whenever I see small flower buds forming.
Soon it may be raining pesto.
Basil Trimmings
