一盆羅勒變四盆 Propagating Sweet Basil
喜歡羅勒不僅因為它美味，也因為它很漂亮。羅勒可以用種子培植，但我為了省時，通常會購買現成的盆栽。以前在香港我會去花墟購買，在英國，這些香草盆栽在大部份超市都買得到。
這盆羅勒非常茂盛，我本可以直接把它種植在花園，但為了增加產量，我選擇把它一開四。我把它的根小心翼翼地分開，盡量避免傷害脆弱的莖。然後我把每一份移植到新的花盆中，花盆放了泥土和少量雞糞肥。分好後，充分澆水，放置在花園的陰暗角落。由於它們的根還未完全融入新的土壤，故小盆栽暫未能抵擋強烈的陽光。幾天後，它們夠強壯了，便能放到陽光較猛烈之處。羅勒喜歡陽光，放在陽光充沛的位置會生長得更茂盛。
期待幾個星期後的收成！
I love basil, not only for its culinary use but also for its aesthetic appeal in the garden. While growing basil from seed is an option, I found buying basil seedlings a much faster way to cultivate this plant. In Hong Kong, I used to buy these seedlings from the Flower Market in Prince Edward. In the UK, living basils in pots are readily available in most supermarkets.
This pot of sweet basil is bushy. I could have planted it directly in the garden, but I opted to propagate it to increase my yield. Carefully separating the roots and avoiding any damage to the delicate stems, I divided the plant into four sections. Each of these sections was then transferred into a new pot filled with compost enriched with a handful of chicken manure (fertiliser). After repotting the plants, I gave them a thorough watering and allowed them to sit in a shady corner of the garden. As the roots have not yet fully assimilated into the new soil, these plants are still vulnerable to strong sunlight. However, in just a few days they will be strong enough to thrive in brighter light – after all, sweet basil is a sun-loving herb!
I am excitedly looking forward to a bountiful harvest of fresh sweet basil in a few weeks!
