After a very unsussessful gardening season, I'm pulling all the dead things.

[Paper Roses]

Perhaps you can help. The only thing that is growing and looks good is the basil.
If I pull it just before the first frost and try and keep the plant alive for a while, do I leave the dirt attached to the roots or shake it off before putting the plant in water? I use it often and would like to prolong the life of the plants.
Thanks,
PR

[beac]

1. You can't transfer the dirt roots to water.

Instead, cut stalks from the plant and root those in water. Place cuttings in a sunny window and change water often.

OR, you can root cuttings directly in soil. I'd start them in a soiless medium since you are starting late in the season and then repot with potting soil once they root.

It's hard to keep basil alive once it gets really cold outside, even indoors. But you could probably eke out a few more weeks/months. The water method is probably easiest if you won't forget to change the h2o (like I sometimes do when rooting basil .)

You can also preserve your basil by chopping and freezing it OR by chopping it and letting it dry and then storing in a small tupperware container.

[Warpy]

2. Or you can tie the stems together and hang it, leaves down

and allow it to dry. Keeping it leaves down keeps the aromatic resins in the leaves.

Basil always turns suicidal when you bring it indoors. I know, I've tried to give it a reason to live, complete with grow lights and large pots. However, once deprived of direct sunshine and cooling breezes, it gives up and dies.

The only thing to do is respect its nature as a seasonal plant and freeze as much pesto as you possibly can while you've got it fresh.

[cbayer]

3. Hopefully NCRaleighLiberal will chime in. He is a gardening master and

can probably give you some very good advice.

[pinto]

5. Yeah. And I'm sure he grows basil with his tomatoes...

[pinto]

4. I'd trim it back some to decrease water loss through the leaves, dig up root ball and all,

leaving soil intact. And pot up with fresh soil, above and below, to settle it into the pot at the same level it was in the ground. Water in well, drain well, and give it the best sunny location you have. Basil tend to rot easily, so light and ventilation will help you get some time out of it indoors.

I've frozen some trimmings loose in a bowl and they seem to hold up long enough to be good in scrambled eggs or soups.

[Sentath]

9. Bingo, this one

This is what I would recommend.

I think my Basil is 3 years old now...

[Lugnut]

6. My basil is still going strong.

We got three big batches of pesto from earlier cuttings so I'm satisfied with that. If there's a threat of frost I'll dry whatever is left before it gets nipped. I have thyme and sage in the freezer too. It was a very good growing season in spite of the lack of rain.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Basil can survive mild winters and come back in the spring. Or you can put it in water where it wil

root and make an inside plant for the winter.

[martheus99]

8. Spam deleted by hlthe2b (MIR Team)