| Growing basil is as easy even if you do not have a “green thumb”! If it weren’t for its culinary uses it would be considered a weed! It’s an perennial plant that grows well in a warm or tropical climates to a height of between 30 and 60cm. There are several varieties some of which have broad shiny green leaves and others that are almost purple in color. Basil doesn’t like cold and grows best in hot dry conditions. If you succeed in growing it in a cold climate, it will die off in the winter and behave like an annual. ABOUT BASIL[ Occimum basilum]
 
Growing basil is as easy even if you do not have a “green thumb”! If it weren’t for its culinary uses it would be considered a weed! It’s an perennial plant that grows well in a warm or tropical climates to a height of between 30 and 60cm. There are several varieties some of which have broad shiny green leaves and others that are almost purple in color. Basil doesn’t like cold and grows best in hot dry conditions. If you succeed in growing it in a cold climate, it will die off in the winter and behave like an annual.
Growing the Plant
You can grow basil from seedlings, seeds or cuttings. It is very a very strong life force as it will thrive in hot dry conditions, but it will still grow outside in the summer months of cooler climates, in a greenhouse or if you are really determined, in a basement under a fluorescent light! It is easier, but not cheaper, to buy seedlings from the nursery and plant them in a sunny condition and well drained soil. Seedlings and cuttings are fine, they just take more work.
If basil has a sunny well drained position, then that’s it. Watch it grow and pick the leaves when you need them. Now there’s one thing more. If you notice flowers forming just remove the affected stem, because when the plant goes to flower it stops making leaves. Removing a stem won’t affect the rest of the plant. Of course, you could let it flower and go to seed and harvest the seeds for next year.
If you have a sunny kitchen window sill, then a basil plant in a pot will grow well and give you a readymade source of fresh basil for cooking. Delicious!
It’s important to have a fresh supply of basil because it does not preserve well. Dried basil tastes a bit like hay! If you really want to harvest it for later use, it’s best to blanch it quickly in boiling water and put it in bags in the freezer. But fresh is best.
Harvesting
Fresh is best! The very best time to pick leaves for the kitchen is first thing in the morning. The flavors will be at their peak before the sun dries the leaves out.
Uses
Basil is probably associated with Italian cooking and pasta dishes, but for about 5,000 years basil has formed an important part of cooking in India, Asia and China. So you can use it not only in Italian food, pesto for example, but in a whole variety of Oriental dishes as well. It’s a very versatile herb
It’s easy to grow and delicious in food so get cracking!
Medicinal uses
Basil is a member of the Mint family, and like most other mints, is mainly used in medicine for its digestive and anti-gas properties. Herbalists also recommend it for stomach cramps, vomiting, constipation, headaches, and anxiety.
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