grow light

[shoyski]

I'm really enjoying the fruits of my "labor" in regards to my basil plant, my first ever. The best part is not shelling over $2.50 for 2 ounces from the grocery.

My husband suggested we try to keep the plant all winter inside by using a growing light. Has anyone ever tried this? Does it even sound feasible? Thanks.

[debg]

I've never used a grow light, but have a perennial (is that the right word?) basil plant that lasts through winter and will come back after you cut it back. It's called "African Basil" and tastes a lot like the real thing. Very hardy here in inland San Diego!

[bookworm]

I also have never tried to grow basil by artificial light but I have tried to grow both parsley and chives. They lived through the winter but grew very leggy. My experience with the parsley is that it bloomed rather quickly after I put it back outside once the weather warmed up. I still have the chives (it's been 3 years).
I always froze my basil and have used it for fresh in many recipes.

[carreiro]

i tried it last year, just in my kitchen without an artificail light, with not much luck. in the past i pick all of it, wash and completely dry and either freeze in bags whole, or chop up and then freeze. great for everything (except pesto) all winter.

[cookingmonkey]

Living in an apartment, I don't have the pleasure of a garden, but this year I'm growing herbs in a window box in my living room. I just put it in a sunny window. My basil is now 2 feet high, my oregano is crawling up my window and the rosemary has started its own forest!!! If you can transplant it inside, you won't need artifical light, just a quick hand to chop them down! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Mandy]

I grow basil inside all winter. The main thing that I have to do is water it DAILY. I use small clay pots and put them in my window above the sink and just water them every morning. They will not grow as big and full as an outside basil plant, but I have enough to snip several leaves for my dishes throughout the winter.
Good Luck!
Mandy

[Ohioan]

Cookingmonkey, what direction does your herb-garden window face? Unfortunately, my apartment has only a western exposure, and I've found it hard to grow anything but hardy green plants, cacti and succulents, and rex begonias. Although I have large windows and lots of light in the apartment, I get no direct sunlight until afternoon, and then hot glare.

Phoebe

[MrsReber]

bookworm, I had my parsley outside all winter. It came back, but it bloomed like crazy, I couldn't keep up with it so the parsely was basically useless and brown while these chutes kept popping up. Disaster. I find that my basil does't grow too big inside. I watered it plenty, too. I put it outside on the porch and it started to grow. We are supposedly putting in a garden window in the kitchen so I am curious if it will grow there.

[cookingmonkey]

Phoebe, the window that my herbs are in faces east. I get sun all morning and then just some afternoon glare. It seems to be good enough, the plants are huge! I cut them down at least twice a week.