Is there any better event than a garden walk? There will be a Garden Walk on Wednesday August 16th @ 6pm at the amazing Urban Farm Church. I cannot wait to see all the progress they have made! We will be talking summer harvest and fall planting plus many more topics as well as taking your questions.
The event is free and open to the public although registration is required. Bring your friends and your questions!
I am excited to continue my many year partnership with the Bronzeville Growers Market to celebrate National Farmer’s Market Week by partnering with them for an in-person class at the Market on Thursday August 10th @ 5:00pm. We will talk about what you can plant right NOW! to get a Fall harvest. The market is open from 3-6pm and will have a fabulous assortment of produce and products. Bring your friends, your questions, and your wallets for some learning and shopping!
Learn more about the Market on their website –> Bronzeville Growers Market
CLICK HERE for Directions to the Market
Hope to see you there!
Do you want to live your best garden life? I will be partnering with The Nature Conservancy to continue our webinar series about how you can Live Your Best Garden Life: Fall!
Did you know fall is an excellent time to grow fresh veggies? Want to harvest produce for the Thanksgiving (and Christmas!) dinner table? We will be talking not only summer harvest, but what to plant NOW for a fall harvest deep into the season. The webinar event is free and open to the public but does require registration so bring your friends and your questions on Wednesday August 9th @ 6:30pm.
Did you miss our other webinars? Click on the YouTube links below:
Living Your Best Summer Garden Life
Living Your Best Spring Garden Life
Basil, Ocimum basilicum, is one of the most popular and easiest to grow herbs for the home grower, community gardener, and classroom teacher. It even does great in hydroponic systems for year round production. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, a huge family of herbs that also includes oregano, thyme, sage, and rosemary. It comes in many different colors and flavors and has been used in many different cuisines for hundreds of years. While it is easy to grow, there are a few tips and tricks I recommend to get the most out of your basil harvest.
Basil will get bushier and you will get an increased harvest if you harvest frequently just above the junction where two leaves are on the stem. This will encourage new growth on both sides of the junction.
Basil does very well in containers. Make sure you water, but not overwater your basil and site the container to get the maximum amount of sun. Want to learn how to container garden? Here is a recorded webinar that will teach you about the four key principles: 1. Container 2. Soil 3. Watering 4. Fertilizing
Basil does very well in hydroponic systems. Here is a picture of basil planted by the students in Columbus City Schools Summer Ag Experience. They will maintain the plant and harvest and enjoy it at the Harvest Festival on the last day of camp.
Keep harvesting your basil for as long as you can to enjoy this flavorful taste of summer.
When your basil has gone to flower (little white flowers usually) its life as an annual is coming to a close. It is easy to start from seed however. Want to learn how to grow your own basil at home from seed? It is an easy plant to learn how to seed start with. Below is a recorded webinar to get you started on your seed starting journey. Then you can enjoy basil whenever you want.