bitter basil

[chocccie]

I picked some basil (from the polytunnel) yesterday and it was incredibly bitter.  Why? 

My outdoor basil isn't doing very well - it's hardly growing and is very pale in colour.  It looks positively aneamic!

[Alex H]

Have you let it flower?

[chocccie]

no, herbs are past their best when they flower. 

[Alex H]

[quote user="chocccie"]no, herbs are past their best when they flower. 

[/quote]

Indeed, and basil is bitter [:D]

Have you used that particular variety before?

[chocccie]

basil bitter?  None I grow is .. must be using diff variety to you.

Yes, I've used this variety before (lots of it, I'm a basil nut!!  [:D]).  It's not old either (either the seeds or the plant).  can't understand why it's bitter  [:(]

[Alex H]

[quote user="chocccie"]basil bitter?  None I grow is .. must be using diff variety to you.

[/quote]

No, No - basil is bitter when its been left to flower [:D][:D][:D]

[chocccie]

My basil has not been left to flower.

If anybody has any idea why it's bitter, I'd love to hear.  I was really looking forward to having some the other day, but it tasted yuk!

Thanks  [:)]

[Pads]

Can you post a photo of it so we can see what type it is .... ?