The Gardening Idiot What I learned By Killing My Plants

I was very determined, at times obsessive about getting this right. I love Basil and wanted to have it fresh. I have seen cooking shows where the TV chef has bushels of plump green basil in a vase ready for use. But could I do it? Is it possible to be botanically impaired and still have a lovely delicious herb love me?

My quest began like most apartment gardeners; on my balcony. Cleaned and ready for growing, step stool like plant shelves, variety of pots, great soil and morning sun, any plant would love it here! I purchased a small started plant of Italian Sweet Basil, green, lush and smelled amazing. Within 4 weeks, it was dead... Oh, it must be a bad one.. Maybe pests? Hmmmmm. I purchased another, watered into the soil very diligently; every 3 days, pulled off the giant leaves and was keeping a close eye on it. It started to wilt, and brown and die! OMG how could this happen! Must be the soil... Maybe the water is poisoned!

Weeks went by I couldn't stop thinking about it, what did I NOT do? Got another one, watered it less, almost nothing, it died dry and crunchy. ( Not tasty).This cycle of buying a plant and seeing it die went on for almost 2 years. I resigned to buying the plant and using the leaves until it was dead. Not too smart.I looked online at sites, info advice and still, it didnt help.

Finally a break thru my thick skull, a tip from a friend and wholah! I have basil. The secret was in my face the whole time. I never noticed it, didnt think it was part of it, but it was the solution that worked for me.

I was watering wrong, to the soil to the roots. I started to spray water on the leaves. Spraying the water was like the misting system they have at the farmers market. They don't use a hose or watering cans, they lightly mist through out the day.I got a clean un-used spray bottle, washed it a tiniest bit of dish soap, which I learned is good for keeping certain pests away, and sprayed.

The other excellent tip was to clip the tiny baby leaves on the top of each off shoot. This stimulates the plant to repair itself. The bottom leaves get bigger and the second level gets into repair grow mode forming more tiny baby leaves

.I spray generously in the late morning, trim tips off every 4 days and have a lovely lively Italian Sweet Basil plan happily residing on my balcony.

Next up- Rosemary- Do the French Know Something We Dont?