Sweet Basil
Summer wouldn’t be summer without fresh basil. This most popular, versatile herb goes hand in hand with summer’s other most popular item in the home garden: tomatoes. Grown in proximity to one another, tomatoes and basil will both grow bigger, better, more lush, and more delicious.
Originally from India, basil has migrated around the world and is prominent in the cuisine of many cultures.
It’s botanical name is Ocimum basilicum from the Greek basileus, meaning “King.” With more than 150 known varieties, basil truly is the king of all culinary herbs.
It’s hard to chose a favorite between caprese salad and pesto, two classic and popular ways of using fresh basil. The former pairs it with its garden companion, tomatoes, and the latter is a versatile sauce used in everything from pasta to pizza to mayonnaise to topping grilled meats.
The many flavored varieties of basil produce delicately flavored and colored jams, jellies, vinegars and even teas. In fact, herbal medicine uses basil tea to calm menstrual cramps. According to folklore, if a man gives a woman a sprig of basil she will fall in love with him and never leave him. I wonder if there is a correlation between the two…
Grow basil in a pot on your deck and it will repel flies and mosquitos. They have an aversion to the smell. Your basil will have a stronger scent and flavor if you don’t fertilize it too much, but do fertilize it. Unlike most other herbs, basil likes a slightly rich soil.
Make sure to pinch the growth tips several times thoughout the season. The benefits of this are twofold: first, it will encourage the plant to branch out and become bush-like; second, basil plants are programmed to produce flowers when there are six leaves on a stem. Once the flowers produce seed, the plant will stop growing. We want them to grow lots of leaves.
Basil flower bracts mix well with cut flowers, such as zinnias
Another thing I like to do with basil is put it in flower arrangements, particularly with flowers that have little or no scent of their own, like zinnias. I usually pick the tips of branches with flower bracts, open or not, along with at least the top two sets of leaves. They add vertical interest to the flower arrangement and a surprising amount of fragrance.
The later in the day that you cut your basil, the longer it will keep fresh in the house. Store in a glass of water on the counter, but remember to change the water every other day. It will keep for a couple of weeks and may even grow roots in the glass. You can also store sprigs of basil in perforated plastic bags at room temperature for a week or more. If you store basil in the refrigerator it will only keep for a few days.
Because basil loves hot weather so much it will be one of the first garden plants to succumb to cold weather. Dig one up and put in a pot on a sunny windowsill, it should keep for a few months.
Basil is one of the most beloved culinary herbs and deserves a place in every garden. I’m already planning on adding a couple new varieties next year. What unusual varieties of basil have you grown?
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