by steve stamos

Basil is an annual aromatic herb introduced from the East in the sixteen century as a culinary herb and it is still very popular today. Several types of the herb are in cultivation including, Bush Basil, Sweet Basil, Holy Basil, Creek basil, Lettuce-leaf Basil, Thai Basil, Purple Basil….

Basil is propagated from seeds in spring. It likes a fertile well-drained soil and a warm sunny site, so get such a site in your garden to plant it. Acid soils will need a dressing of lime and a liquid fertilizer given once a month will keep the plants happy. Basil makes a good pot plant in cool climates and an excellent companion plant. It repels fruit fly and aphids from other plants and rubbed onto the skin repels mosquitoes.

Pick leaves throughout the season to use fresh or dry. To improve bushiness and keep leaves coming keep flowering tips pinched out. Dried powdered leaf once taken as snuff. Basil oil is used as a commercial flavoring and in perfumery. Add fresh chopped leaves in salads pasta dishes, meat dishes; particularly compatible with tomatoes. The fresh leaves aid digestion.

basil

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