Melinda's Garden Moment Radio Tips
Melinda Myers
Nationally known gardening expert, TV/Radio host, author & columnist with over 30 years of horticulture experience and tons of gardening information to share! www.melindamyers.comMelinda's Garden Moment videos will help you create that beautiful landscape you’ve always wanted. Each week throughout the growing season, a new gardening video will be added right here, so be sure to stop back. You can also watch Melinda’s Garden Moments on your local network TV station affiliate.
Grow your own bay leaves for seasoning spaghetti, Italian dishes, lentils, and more.
Sweet bay is hardy in zones 8 and warmer where it thrives in moist, rich soil and full to partial sun.
Gardeners in other areas can grow it in a container and treat it like a houseplant. Grow it in a sunny, south-facing window year-round or move it outside to a slightly shaded location for the summer. Water container plants whenever the top inch of potting mix is dry.
Move indoor plants to a cooler area for fall and winter. Keep the soil slightly drier and do not fertilize until spring.
Harvest bay leaves as needed throughout the year. Their flavor is most intense in mid to late summer. Pick older leaves with the better flavor first and use fresh bay leaves within a couple days of harvest to maintain their flavor.
A bit more information: One way to preserve bay leaves is by drying individual leaves. Remove the best leaves and lay them flat on a paper towel so they are not touching. Cover with another paper towel and layer of leaves. Repeat for a total of five layers. Place in a warm, dry location or microwave small quantities until the leaves are thoroughly dry.