by J HERMAN
Basil is an annual herb, about 1 to 2 feet in height, that is used most commonly in cooking. You’ve probably had many a great meal that had a few basil leaves sprinkled into the mix for flavor.
Have you been thinking about growing basil yourself? Are you a passionate home chef looking for a way to add some new flavors into your cooking? Whatever the reason for landing on this page, by the end of this post you will have all you need to know to grow your own healthy basil in your very own yard.
Planting & Care Of Your Basil Seeds
One way to begin growing basil is to plant the seeds outdoors once the frost is over and the ground has begun to get warm. You can also start the seeds indoors in individual pots or use bedding plants.
Whichever method you do choose, keep in mind that basil does not take very kindly to the cold. If you choose to plant indoors, keeping some heating cables handy will be very helpful if you like to turn the AC up a bit in summer.
You’ll also want to plant your basil in the full sun, in well-drained soil that is rich with compost, manure or other organic material.
Basil requires quite a bit of water to thrive – using mulch can help your plants retain moisture even after the soil has gotten warm.
One good healthy tip is to pinch your plant’s leaves often in order to stimulate it and encourage healthy growth. Also be sure to remove the flower heads on a frequent basis so that the plant puts its energy into protecting its foliage.
There are many diseases that can affect basil. These include fusarium wilt, mould and black spots. These problems can be avoided by waiting to plant your seeds until the frost is over and also taking care to not overcrowd the plants to improve air flow.
So when can you pull off some basil leaves and throw em onto the stove for some great flavor?
You can start doing this as soon as the plant has grown large enough to spare some leaves. As a rule of thumb, never prune more than a third of the plant at once. You’ll want to handle the leaves that you pull carefully so that you do not bruise or blacken them.
Basil leaves can be air dried in small bunches. However, you will find that they keep their flavor best when they are frozen. Simply wash the leaves, puree them in a blender and add water to ensure that the puree stays thick. Place the puree into an ice cube tray and freeze them. You can then pop out cubes as needed during your cooking. It works in olive oil too, learn more about that here.
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