In article
,
Billy wrote:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ool=EntrezSyst

Many herbs and spices have been shown to contain high levels of
polyphenolic compounds with potent antioxidant properties. In the
present study, we explore how nutrient availability, specifically
nitrogen fertilization, affects the production of polyphenolic compounds
in three cultivars (Dark Opal, Genovese, and Sweet Thai) of the culinary
herb, basil ( Ocimum basilicum L.).

Nitrogen fertilization was found to
have a significant effect on total phenolic levels in Dark Opal ( p
0.001) and Genovese ( p 0.001) basil with statistically higher
phenolic contents observed when nutrient availability was limited at the
lowest (0.1 mM) applied nitrogen treatment.

Similarly, basil treated at
the lowest nitrogen fertilization level generally contained
significantly higher rosmarinic ( p = 0.001) and caffeic ( p = 0.001)
acid concentrations than basil treated at other nitrogen levels.
Nitrogen fertilization also affected antioxidant activity ( p = 0.002)
with basil treated at the highest applied nitrogen level, 5.0 mM,
exhibiting lower antioxidant activity than all other nitrogen
treatments.
PMID: 18712879 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Fish emulsion every 2 weeks, huh? Uh-huh.



I read this to suggest a plants growth provides a certain amount of
nutrients and acceleration of physical growth may not coincide with
nutrient growth. Small is beautiful comes to mind perhaps slow is too.
Musing.
Excess N and we get leggy plants perhaps the value of food goes down.
Wild gathering and nutrition comes to mind too. Not what we eat but
what we eat eats is worth pondering and does it pertain to all life
forms like vegetables and fungi ?

About 90 F right now las year April 26 of 91 was the years high.

--
Bill Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA