Transformed Store-Bought Basil into Stunning Kitchen-Sized Plants Using Interior Designer's Approach - Marvelous Giant Basil Adds Flair to Kitchen Space
Ready to revive your limp herb game? Here's the scoop on how to grow a thriving indoor herb garden, focused on supermarket basil.
Witness Leanne Kilroy's, a talented London-based interior designer, towering and lush basil plants. Intrigued, I asked her for the secret and she spilled the beans – quite literally.
"The secret to a healthy basil plant is watering from the bottom and keeping a saucer full of water," Leanne grins. "By placing the basil pot in an oversized saucer or bowl and keeping it full, you'll be providing a constant supply of water from below."
Swap those drab plastic saucers for something chic, like the Terracotta Verve Laleh Saucer from B&Q or the glass-finished IKEA's BERÄKNA Bowl.
Basil is one of the best herbs for kitchen gardens and these plants love indulgent care and bottom watering. But we've got a few more tricks up our sleeves:
- Choosing the right plant: When selecting your supermarket basil, Leanne recommends opting for a plant with minimal drooping or browning leaves, if possible.
- Repotting: To allow your basil to truly flourish, Leanne advises repotting it into a bigger pot. You could even split one supermarket basil into multiple larger pots.
- Waiting to harvest: Allow the plant to grow actively before picking its leaves. This could take a few weeks or even up to a month.
- Cutting basil: When snipping the plant to use it, never pull off the leaves. Instead, use scissors to trim the stem above a leaf, which fosters bushier growth.
- Pruning and snipping: If you notice flowers sprouting, promptly snip them off to ensure the plant's energy is focused on helping you rather than flowering. If you're looking for garden pruning tools, the Niwaki Sentei Garden Scissors from Heal's are a perfect choice.
- Light: Basil craves warmth and sunlight, so hang out with your plant in a bright spot during late spring or summer. In suitable climates, basil can also grow in an outdoor herb garden during the summer months.
- Common mistakes: Some common mistakes to avoid in nurturing a thriving indoor herb garden are unbalanced watering, plucking leaves, overcrowding in small pots, and exposure to pests like whiteflies.
Get ready to party like it's 2021 with your revitalized supermarket basil!
- For a visually appealing indoor herb garden, consider replacing the standard plastic saucers with chic options like the Terracotta Verve Laleh Saucer from B&Q or IKEA's BERÄKNA Bowl.
- Enhance your kitchen lifestyle and home-and-garden with a thriving indoor herb garden by using the tips from talented interior designer, Leanne Kilroy, such as bottom-watering and avoid common mistakes like unbalanced watering and exposure to pests.
- In addition to watering techniques, focus on choosing the right plant, repotting, waiting to harvest, cutting basil correctly, pruning, providing ample light, and ensuring the plant has room to grow.
- With a well-nurtured indoor basil garden, you can enjoy the texture and color of fresh basil in your art, interior design, DIY kitchen creations, and gardening projects throughout the year.
