Source
r/Permaculture•
technosaur

Excess basil leaves AS anti-insect mulch

Too much basil. Planted a bit as companions in the gardens; never expected it to grow so big so fast . I've shared with neighbors and friends, have jar after jar of pesto, dried it, put it in closets and kitchen cupboards to keep out roaches, even soaked basil in water to make basil water garden spray. Let some flower (and seed) as a bee and butterfly attractant. And still have way too much.

Simple question, but no matter how I ask Google if basic can be used as mulch, Google tells me how to mulch basil.

Has anyone used basil as a cut and drop mulch in the garden? (The way my other herbs - rosemary, oregano, parsley, thyme - are taking over, I might soon be asking the same about them.)

Posted Sep 23, 2021, 12:18 PM UTC

10044
simgooder•

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; everything is mulch.

Maybe try it? Ideally you have a section of garden with insect pressure which you can test it on... Don't forget to set a control too, and share the results with us!

84
seb-jagoe•

everything is mulch

It's amazing how true this is.

19
DaggerMoth•

Really wasted that money on grandmas burial plot.

10
Caiggas•

My basil was decent this year, but my dill is what went insane. I don't even know why I planted it because I don't know any recipes that use dill, lol.

23
Ok_Replacement8094•

I love dill! Dill yogurt dip for veggies is yummy. But yes, dill overload in the garden does happen.

12
Caiggas•

Dill... Yogurt? Dip?

I've never heard of using yogurt as a dip, except maybe for sweet fruits. Is it a special kind of yogurt?

5
SquirrellyBusiness•

Greek tzatziki sauce uses plain yogurt and a number of whatever fresh herbs are available. Basil/mint/dill/oregano and drained cukes and garlic and lemon. It's addictive!

13
sockenshlafer•

Use plain yogurt (not sweetened)! Makes some delicious savory dips

8
[deleted]•

[deleted]

11
Sepelrastas•

Dill suits all fish. One of my favorites is a whole fillet of salmon spiced liberally with salt, dill (finely chopped or dried) and lemon pepper. Skin side down on an oven proof dish, spices on top, then 2dl (a cup or so) cream. Cook in the oven 30min~ @ 175C/350F. Serve with boiled potatoes or other side of choice.

The blooms are used in pickling here. I don't know what else to use those in.

8
MamaBearForestWitch•

Dill is a really great host plant for beneficial predatory insects; I would love to have it naturalized everywhere in my yard and gardens!

5
Caiggas•

Does it need to flower to attract said insects, or does the plant itself attract them?

2
MamaBearForestWitch•

It does need to flower

2
n0_1_of_consequence•

Pickling!

5
Caiggas•

What would you recommend pickling with dill. Unfortunately all of my cucumber plants got some kind of fungal leaf rot and I couldn't save them.

4
n0_1_of_consequence•

I've been doing a bunch of things: carrots, onions (particularly red), garlic, hot peppers, bell peppers, eggs, radishes... I think dill makes them all nicer. I wish I had more :)

3
Bea_virago•

Lemon dill sauerkraut!

1
Peach-Bitter•

It's great in chicken soups. It's the secret to the best matzoh balls (fine dice) and then add a little to the chicken broth at the end. Nearly any chicken noodle soup would be improved by finishing with a little bit of dill, even store bought from a can.

3
seb-jagoe•

Lucky! Dill is dope

2
Taleya•

Pickles pickles pickles

1
Zevthedudeisit•

Tuna fish salad with dill or poached salmon with lemon and dill are great applications. Dill plays well with oily fish.

1
doctorasinsemilla•

It's no problem as mulch (I grow my basil in pots and keep a dead leaf layer on top of the soil), but make sure to lay it down when no rain is expected for a couple days, and don't put down a very thick layer all at once.

When they get wet, fresh basil leaves can clump together and form a moldy, dense mass instead of a nice mulch. As long as the leaves can dry out initially, later rain doesn't cause a problem.

18
technosaurOPEast Africa•

Thank you, very helpful voice of experience. I intend to chop (machete on imported tree stump block) the basil leaves and stems. Not minced the way I cook with basil. Just chopped.

My reasoning: If basil as a companion plant deters harmful insects (does not kill them or bees or butterflies, just masks scent) and basil water mist does the same, hoping chopped basil mulch will serve as insect scent mask and as a mulch. One concern, which you mentioned. My basil is so thick leafed, juicy - lots of flavor - rots very fast. As you advise (thanks again) I will not apply thick layers.

Why is my basil so much more profuse this year? My guess is a few months before planting the addition of seashells pulverized to fine powder - pure calcium carbonate with small percentages of protein, magnesium, other trace minerals. Calcium raises pH (from acid toward alkaline), which is preferred by most Mediterranean herbs. The calcium facilitates the absorption of all nutrients by the herb roots. (Live on the Indian Ocean shore of East Africa, 26 miles of lightly developed white sand shore. Children collect sacks of clam/mussel shells - nothing exotic - and I pay them to sit on the patio hammering the shells to dust. They think I am crazy but leave well paid and with a sack of veggies for their families, including lately a lot of basil.)

17
scarletsnapdragon•

I intend to chop (machete on imported tree stump block) the basil leaves and stems. Not minced the way I cook with basil. Just chopped.

Sounds like a lot of work, depending on how many plants you've got. You can just hang whole plants up to dry, then crush them into bits over wherever you want to mulch. I've been doing it for years, works nicely.

8
technosaurOPEast Africa•

(Slaps forehead). LOL. Thanks for making me realize I'm overthinking this. Ground is already mulched with old woodchips. Trying to avoid putting so much basil into the compost. I figured, top woodchips with fresh chopped, dual benefit from insect repellant mulch.

Your method is less work and the dry basil should retain its repellant properties in the woodchips. If not, I can always top with chopped. (Have about 60 basil plants, most of them very bushy 4-feet, some 6-footers shading out the veggies (collard, kale, peppers, squash, trellised tomatoes) they were planted to assist/protect.

3
scarletsnapdragon•

Haha, been there...

I would expect with fresh-chopped you get a very intense action short-term, then it starts to decompose more quickly than dried stuff; and the volatile compounds are probably first to go, especially in warm climate/season. With dried plants you get more long-term effect, because the oils are trapped in the dry matter and released as it gets wet or crushed. Added benefit, dried plants can be kept longer and used as needed. Extra benefit, you throw them onto garden paths and get your younger family and friends to stomp on them to crush them, it's heaps of fun.

1
doctorasinsemilla•

That's a good plan - leaving the stems in will help with the clumping/rotting issue.

It sounds like a lovely place! Farming with access to the coast is amazing.

6
useles-converter-bot•

26 miles is the length of about 38390.96 'Ford F-150 Custom Fit Front FloorLiners' lined up next to each other.

-4†
technosaurOPEast Africa•

Worthless bot. How do I turn it off?

3
Roticap•

Reply to the comment with just this text

opt out

1
tighthypercurve•

Good bot.

1
useles-converter-bot•

thanks :)

1†
technosaurOPEast Africa•

opt out

1
useles-converter-bot•

You have been opted out, I will no longer reply to your comments, (If you change your mind, you can comment 'u/useles-converter-bot opt in')

1
lowrads•

Basil water spritzer is a cool idea. I assume you have to boil the suspension first. What alcohol do you use?

4
technosaurOPEast Africa•

I don't. Mince the basil, put in a covered bucket of rainwater for a few days, strain it well, bottle it and use one a week in a small pressure sprayers to mist entire plants (tops and bottoms of leaves). Works well for aphids, mites, very small insects. More effective as preventative, not as a cure for a major festation. Does little against cabbage and squash borers.

15
Holiday_Objective_96•

Thank you for sharing! I had no idea the powers of basil!

2
EgonOnTheJob•

How interesting! Thanks for sharing, and for also sharinf the info on your shells/calcium method.

1
glimmerthirsty•

Wish I had that problem.

2
DraketheDrakeist•

Do you have a basil plant? It’s the easiest thing to propagate in the world.

6
glimmerthirsty•

Yes I do but I only have pots on a balcony, not real garden plots. :)

3
Free-Layer-706•

#permaculture problems

2
emseefely•

Does it really keep roaches out? My basil gets eaten up by June bugs so I’m not sure how it would repel roaches. As for mulching/compost it will be ok but watch for diseases.

1
technosaurOPEast Africa•

Cut, tie stems and hang upside down. Tropical environment, lots of roaches. They disappear from closets and cupboard. When the dried basil loses its scent, they return. Does not kill. Cut more basil and repeat.

8
emseefely•

Good to know! Thanks!

1