Feedback from Class
Tim's feedback for me today:
- use images, statistics and diagrams to draw someone in, rather than just having boring big boxes of text
- make sure everything on the website goes towards helping someone to undertake the action I'm pushing
- get my content sorted for the formative critique on Thursday, as well as take my own photos instead of sourcing them from now on
- make the content relatable, eg. use statistics from New Zealand
- try a catchphrase or some other interesting sentence that catches the attention, eg. "everyone loves herbs" or "spice up your kitchen"
Content
9. THE BIGGER THE LEAF, THE BETTER THE BASIL
If you are growing basil to make pesto, sow 'Genovese Giant' (Kings Seeds). Keep well-watered, especially if you are growing them in pots, and nip out the growing tips to keep it leafy and bushy.
10. SUPERMARKET POTTED HERBS ARE PAMPERED PRINCESSES
Buy them when you need heaps of herbs in a hurry, but don't plant these hydroponic softies outdoors. Transplant soil-grown herb seedlings from garden centres instead.
The most commonly used herbs in New Zealand are basil, chives, garlic, parsley, thyme, marjoram, sage and mint. Other frequently used herbs are coriander, dill, horseradish, hyssop, oregano, rosemary and tarragon.
Herbs are ideal for growing in pots either as a mixed group or as single specimens.
Cold-sensitive herbs such as basil and coriander if grown in pots can be bought inside when the weather turns.
Basil repels white fly and makes a good companion to tomatoes, both in the garden and in the kitchen. You need three basil plants to every tomato plant for it to be effective. Basil also helps to repel flies and mosquitoes so a pot or basket is handy in the kitchen and outdoors near the barbecue. Basil dislikes being planted near rue. Basil attracts bees for general garden fertility.
It matches beautifully with olive oil, oregano, thyme, garlic, onion, tomato, chilli, pasta, egg, zucchini, capsicum, pizza, and green salads. Basil can be preserved by infusing the leaves into vinegar or oil. It is the star ingredient in pesto.
Basil contains Vitamin C and Selenium, so when eaten as part of a varied, healthy diet,it contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system - aiding resistance to infection and enhancing well-being.
Occasionally we find that people are too kind to their potted herbs and are unsuccessful due to over watering. During the cool winter months, you’ll probably find it needs very little watering. Over time as the herb grows, feed occasionally with an appropriate plant food. If the herb becomes overly pot bound, transfer it into a slightly larger size pot with fresh compost or plant it in your garden if in spring or summer.
Basil:
Basil is best used fresh as cooking quickly destroys its flavours. Just tear the leaves or slice them with a sharp knife. To get the most intense flavour pick your basil leaves just before watering, when the stems are starting to droop. You’ll see that all the flavour is concentrated in its fragrant leaves.
Let your basil tell you when it needs watering. It should start to wilt. Over watering will dilute its flavour, while stressing it will increase the production of essential oils, improving its flavour. To stop the plants getting too leggy, pinch back the stems just above new side shoots. Do not refrigerate, as the chill will quickly turn the leaves black. Leave your potted Basil in your kitchen bench away from draughts and preferably out of direct sunlight.
Basil in an excellent source of vitamins K and A, manganese, iron and potassium. Basil has many health benefiting essential oils. These compounds are known to have anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
100 grams of fresh herb Basil leaves contains astoundingly 5275 mg or 175% of daily required doses of vitamin A. Vitamin A is known to have antioxidant properties and is essential for vision. It is also required for maintaining healthy mucosa and skin. Consumption of natural foods rich in vitamin A has been found to help the human body protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
Vitamin K in Basil is essential for the production of clotting factors in the blood and plays a vital role in the bone strengthening and mineralization.
Basil herb contains a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, which helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese utilised by the human body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
Rosemary:
Your potted Rosemary requires lots of light but not too much heat and humid air. Spritz the plant with water a few times a week. Rosemary is one of those herbs with a thousand uses. One of them is as a symbol for remembrance during war commemorations and funerals in Europe and Australia. Mourners would throw it into graves as a symbol of remembrance for the dead. In Australia, sprigs of Rosemary are worn on ANZAC Day; the herb grows wild on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Basil:
A good way to preserve them for cooking is by freezing them or infusing oils or vinegars with it.
Rosemary, Spreading:
It is very hardy and drought resistant and like well-drained soil in a sunny position. This variety is spreading so can be put in a hanging basket or on the edge of a plant box or a rock wall but also grows well in a pot although avoid hot window positions in summer. Leaves or small twigs can be picked all year round but do not harvest more than 20% of the plant volume. For best results, space 60cm apart.
Over summer basil is prone to go to seed. To avoid, water your basil consistently, regularly pick, remove flowers and remove parts of the plant that go to seed. If your basil does go to seed there is an upside – the flowers are great for beneficial insects like bees, and if you let them fully dry out you can collect the seeds for next season!
If your container has no drainage holes, add stones to the bottom of the container to act as drainage. Feed your herb and they will feed you. Plants use nutrients from the soil as they grow, so replenishing the nutrients ensures your plants grow to their full potential.
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