It is quite possibly the perfect herb. It’s easy to grow, tastes fantastic, and pretty pest resistant.
The question isn’t “why should I grow basil?” Rather, the question is “Why SHOULDN’T I?”
Fun fact that I didn’t know, basil is a part of the mint family.
Types of basil I grow:
Sweet Basil-this is the basil you typically think of for culinary uses in sauces and prestos. It will self-seed in warm areas.
Holy Basil-considered the queen of all basils. It’s used medicinally for just about anything. My favorite thing to make of this is tinctures, but I have been known to just pluck a few leaves and chew on them. Holy basil will also self-seed in warm areas. I have found it popping up in all parts of my yard!
Blue African Basil-Just plain beautiful to look at and the bees love it, also great for flower arrangements.
Spicy Globe Basil-adds a little kick to your sauces and prestos.
Bell Pepper Basil-not as common but has a hint of bell pepper taste and smell. This is the one basil that doesn’t mind the cold.
Cinnamon Basil-the cinnamon scent, purple flowers, and bright green foliage make a great addition to flower arrangements.
Lime Basil-zesty flavor and sweet aroma is used in a variety of dishes, including chicken, fish, sauces, fruit salad and Thai dishes. It also makes delicious, refreshing iced tea.
Cardinal Basil-maybe the most eye stopping of basils. It has a peppery fragrance and is resistant to pests.
Can you tell I like Basil?
4 Tips for growing basil bunches and bunches of basil:
Prune it: Pruning leads to more basil so make sure that you figure out how you’ll handle the overflow.
Basil is a warm weather plant, with a couple exceptions, and grows best in 80-90 degree weather.
Basil can be grown in the ground or containers, but need lots of sunlight and handles the heat pretty well as long as it is well watered and the container and/or soil is well drained.
Companion planting: Plant basil among other herbs and vegetables with similar lighting and watering needs, like tomatoes or parsley. Some even say tomatoes taste better when they neighbor basil.
