| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
jcsrobs
Joined: 19 Aug 2004
Posts: 1
Location: Carrollton
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 10:22 am Post subject: Sweet Basil tasted bitter and hot |
|
|
| Our Sweet Genovese and Aussie Sweet basil plants were fine when planted and grew to about 15" tall. Then we picked some for making tomato sauce. The leaves tasted bitter and hot! Could this be from (1) lack of sufficient water, or (2) fertilizing with green sand during the growing process? Please share any similar experiences AND suggestions. We cut back the plants and hope to grow some sweet basil by fall for making pesto. |
|
| Back to top |
|
regferk
Joined: 18 Jun 2004
Posts: 13
Location: Flower Mound
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 1:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I have been told that if you let the basil bloom and seed, it will turn it bitter. I don't know that from experienc. We haven't been able to keep up with removing the flower stalks on ours so it has produced plenty of seeds and it still tastes fine, but perhaps it just hasn't had time the get bitter yet and we are in for a world of hurt soon. |
|
| Back to top |
|
culdeus
Joined: 18 Mar 2004
Posts: 101
Location: Dallas TX
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
Only use recent growth and constantly trim back flowers and any discolored leaves, they are only taking up space.
The best tasting basil will have a four leaf pattern with two very small leaves on one axis and two larger leaves on the opposing axis. Trim below the pattern with shears.
Assuming you aren't using any chemicals [b]DO NOT WASH [/b]the basil this is very important. Washing removes the oils that really gives basil the flavor you want and also do not chop or dice the basil on a cutting board use a grinder at worst to maintin the oil that you need this also helps maintain the oil in the sauce and not on your kitchen implements.
It sounds like to me you might be using old growth which also has less oil because the leaves do get dried out in the sun.
The basil flowers are very useful along with other herbal flowers in flavored oils so they do have some use and are not pure evil as most books make you think. I think though, I doubt it matters you are supposed to pinch the flowers and shear the leaves. |
|
| Back to top |
|
sandih
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 997
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
| We grow a lot of basil and even though I'm organic I always wash my basil without any ill effect on the taste. We make pest every couple of weeks and because I use Garrett juice or bioform on the plants and have seen bug "residue" I wouldn't dare eat the basil without washing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
sandih
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 997
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ooops, that should read..we make PESTO..not pest! :oops: |
|
| Back to top |
|
culdeus
Joined: 18 Mar 2004
Posts: 101
Location: Dallas TX
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| GJ and Bioform can be used 1-2 days before harvest with no ill effects. I wouldn't eat ones with any residue or signs of bug damage even. I have taken a few classes on herb uses and the leader basically said if you wash your basil you might as well just be putting iceburg lettuce in your dish. |
|
| Back to top |
|
sandih
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 997
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 7:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
| That is not true about washing basil. You never know what insect has been walking across the leaves of your basil, whether you see anything or not. Like I said, we thoroughly wash our basil and make incredible pesto every couple of weeks. Unless you have personally experienced it, I wouldn't make the statement with such conviction. It simply is not true. |
|
| Back to top |
|
culdeus
Joined: 18 Mar 2004
Posts: 101
Location: Dallas TX
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 9:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
It's possible I'm being a bit harsh, but this has worked out fine for me for some time and I'm really just regurgitating the opinion of this one person.
This was actually the turning point for me becoming 100% organic when this person said basically if you aren't willing to eat what you put on your plants then why put it there? Before I'd been using some synthetic fertilizers and actually some pretty bad stuff after I looked at it to get rid of snails.
I have never heard of getting diseases from ingesting plants like that and I do wash most all of the shrub and crawly herbs.
One other bit of advice for adding herbs to sauces is to really only add them at the last 5-10 min of cooking. Most people do add fresh herbs way to early because the recipies usually are dealing with dried herbs and they need time to come back to life.
On another herb/veg note HG is teaching a class at Sur La Table on cooking w/ garden veggies coming up 9/20 I think. I'll be there :) |
|
| Back to top |
|
jmeier
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Posts: 110
Location: Garland
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| bird droppings are organic...of course I didn't put them there, but I sure as heck don't want to eat them... |
|
| Back to top |
|
sandih
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 997
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I never said anything about diseases, only that just because you don't see stuff on the plants certainly doesn't mean that it's clean enough to put in your mouth. I've been totally organice for about 6 years now and have no problem eating anything/everything I grow, with no hesitation. My point, that I'm standing firm on, is that washing your basil will not diminish the flavor..period. Nothing about cooking, just washing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
