I’ve sown some herbs for my containers [window boxes] at home…

Basil

Dark opal and Sweet Genovese – most will be turned into pesto later on – usually I get 4/5 jars from the plants I grow, along with a good few handfuls that I dry to use in winter.

My ‘must haves’ to put in window boxes on the sunny side of my home  include chives, lemon balm, [ I make a herb tea with the lemon balm] coriander and basil…  On the shady side [north facing] I  have salad herb window boxes that includes wild rocket, French parsley and Japanese red mustard, all these like a little shade to stop them from bolting.. My salad boxes are re sown so I have a continuous supply from March till Autumn..

Two tips on growing herbs in containers…

The first is to use a soil-based compost, either organic or  John Innes potting compost. This is because there are very few herbs that grow in peat, and a soil-based compost retains moisture which is a must to stop the containers drying out. I also water in the morning rather than the evening because this helps the plants  if it gets too hot during the day [she says optimistically]

The second tip is to feed container plants weekly from March till September. This keeps the plants healthy. I use a seaweed feed…

And lastly pick a few leaves from each plant [top most]

OK..that was three!

I’ll post a few recipes when I get time. For now here are a few tips and ideas on using home made pesto..

I never buy shop bought [cant stand the stuff ] so this is a seasonal treat for me!!

Tips and ideas for pesto…

Fresh basil will turn brown if it gets too hot  Many cooks use fresh spinach as well as basil in their pesto to help maintain its brilliant green colour.

When mixing pesto with soup, pasta, potatoes, or risotto, stir it in at the last minute, just before serving.

Store pesto in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for a fortnight or in the freezer for about six months..

A good way to freeze pesto into portion sizes is to freeze it in an ice cube tray, and transfer the cubes to a heavy duty plastic freezer bag…

Serving Suggestions for Pesto..

On pizza in place of or mixed with the tomato sauce

Stirred into mashed potatoes

Stirred into risotto

Dolloped onto soup before serving [tomatoes a good choice]

Whisked into scrambled eggs or folded into omelette’s

In pasta salads as dressing and potato salads

Mixed with cream cheese and spread on a bagel.. Yum!