Transplants vs, Direct Seeding

[JayJay]

This is exactly what I'm doing except I've constructed a protected growth chamber in my carport powered by three 26 watt compact florescents on a timer ran fourteen hours per day. When the seedlings are large enough and ready to put out once the light cycle increases, they are planted directly in the garden and a circular wire cage (which are extremely inexpensive to start with & special ordered from Pahoa Hardware [see Don or Jake], are cut in half, end for end, with linemans pliers ... so I get two for the price of one ... and placed, (actually pushed down into the soil thus anchoring the structure around the plants.) Oh, & don't forget to water well at the beginning, especially if it's dry out so the roots can grow deep and every third watering I add fertilizer to the water and Osmocote occasionaly but very lightly. Also make sure to pick vegtables as early as possible to encourage the plant to produce more for overall production. Basil rosettes or flowers should be pinched off early (and of course used ... the best pesto is made from a mixture of 50% younger leaves and 50% rosettes) and give the garnished rosettes a try in bread. And best of all basil is basically bug free.

~Aloha JayJay

JayJay