It’s been four weeks since I picked big bunches of basil from the garden and put them into paper bags to dry.
Years ago, I used to tie basil into bunches for hanging, covered with paper bags to keep dust away. I learned it’s easier just to put all of it into paper bags. When it’s dry, many of the leaves fall off into the bag, and the rest are easy to pull off.
I store the dried leaves in plastic bags with a couple of air holes to make sure if there is any moisture left, it doesn’t become mold. I crunch it up as I use it. I will clip another round of basil this weekend. Our temperatures are supposed to get into the low 40-degree range next week. Basil doesn’t like that. I will leave a few flowering stalks for bees, though.
I add it to salads and we use a lot in cooking.
Here’s what it looked like four weeks ago, freshly picked. I usually wind up with enough to last a year.
~Debbie