Basil: The King of Herbs

Article by: Gwen Stewart

One of the most popular herbs , Tulip Bulbs - Fall is the Time to Prepare the Perfect Spring Flower Garden is Ocimum basilicum commonly called sweet basil. Often called the 'king of herbs, , How To Bring An Old Lawn Back to Life ' basil can be grown indoors , The Most Popular Flower Fragrances or out. Sweet basil has inch-long, oval-pointed, dark green , How To Bring An Old Lawn Back to Life leaves and a clove-pepperish odour and taste. Sweet basil makes a handsome, bushy small plant, , Gardens: They are Fragrant, Breathtaking— the Perfect Idea for More Outdoor Decor growing , What Is A Black Orchid - Fascinating But Elusive to a foot or more indoors. , Dangers in the Garden: Animals A purple-leafed variety, 'Dark Opal' is decorative, makes a lovely houseplant, , Safety On Lawn Tractors and is equally useful in cookery. Do not let basil bloom, or it will go to seed. , Give Your Plants the Finger Instead, pinch out the plant , Decorate Your House With Specialty Trees tops and they will grow , Safety On Lawn Tractors into compact little bushes.

Basil is an annual , What Is A Black Orchid - Fascinating But Elusive and grows , Getting Tulips to Bloom for Two Months in Your Garden 12 - 24 inches (30 - 60 cm) as the height varies according to the variety. Cultivation requirements for growing , This Fall, Give Your Trees Some TLC basil: full sun; light, , Permanently Remove Green Pool Algae well-drained, nutrient rich, slightly acidic soil; frequent watering (don't waterlog); will not tolerate cold; pinch off flower , Gardens: They are Fragrant, Breathtaking— the Perfect Idea for More Outdoor Decor stalks for a longer season , Tips for Garden Decoration of leaf production.

Basil can be easily started from seed , This Fall, Give Your Trees Some TLC or can be brought indoors , Floral Garden and Landscape Toupees at the end of the growing season. , Spring Wedding Flowers If you are bringing basil indoors, , The Advantages of Silk Flowers choose the most robust plants. , Adirondack Chairs - The Proper Way to Care for Them Before the first frost, dig them out of the garden , Want a but Not Enough Room or Soil? Then Hydroponics Gardening could be for You and pot , Hills and Holes: Not Part of Your Landscaping Design? them up in fresh potting soil. , Home and Garden Decor Basil can also be grown in pots outdoors , 3 Easy Steps to Growing Plants from Seed and treated the same way when bringing them in for winter. , Permanently Remove Green Pool Algae Check for insects and if there is an infestation, spray with a soap and water , Pruning Trees spray. Gradually reverse the hardening off process by keeping the pots , Backyard Ponds out of direct sunlight for about a week. The plants , Container Gardening Is For Everyone will become acclimatised to the lower light , Decorate Your House With Specialty Trees conditions they will experience indoors. , Plastic & Resin Patio Furniture – What You Don’t Know Bring them inside , This Fall, Give Your Trees Some TLC and provide the conditions they need to continue growing. , Spring Wedding Flowers

Basil requires at least five hours of sunlight a day to stay healthy , Buy Cheap Flowers Online and flavourful. If you are growing , Turn Your Patio Into A Voluminous Vegetable Garden basil on the windowsill, turn regularly to ensure every side receives light. , Pruning Trees Don't let basil leaves touch the cold , Backyard Ponds glass. Basil grows , Floral Garden and Landscape Toupees even better under fluorescent lights , The Dangers of Chlorine Free Pool Chemicals in the winter. , Porch Swing Places: Where to Put a Porch Swing Hang the lights , Container Gardening Is For Everyone 6 inches (15 cm) from plants , Multi Purpose Tree - Sugar Palm and leave lights , Tips for Garden Decoration on for 14 hours a day.

There are many cultivars of basil. Two that are particularly popular are: O. basilicum 'Dark Opal'- only herb , The Dangers of Chlorine Free Pool Chemicals to win the All American Award of Excellence - can be used the same as sweet basil; O. basilicum 'Citriodorum'- strong lemon scent - nice for tea and with chicken and fish. , What Is A Black Orchid - Fascinating But Elusive

In the garden, , Home and Decor basil can be planted with tomatoes , Decorate Your House With Specialty Trees as it helps to overcome both insects and disease. , This Fall, Give Your Trees Some TLC Basil also repels flies and mosquitoes. In the kitchen, , Seeding a Lawn use basil in tomato , What Type of Gazebo is Right for You? Top Questions You Need to Ask dishes (both raw and cooked), pesto, sauces, salad , How to Win the War Against Slugs and Snails dressings, soups, fish , This Is How You Grow Sprouts dishes, mushroom dishes, egg and rice dishes, mixed with other herbs, , What Is A Black Orchid - Fascinating But Elusive omelettes, pasta dishes, vegetables , Dangers in the Garden: Animals such as carrots, eggplant, cabbage, squash, and zucchini. Use fresh leaves in salads , Manage Algae and add fresh leaves to vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Basil can be used fresh, frozen, or dried. Use basil with discretion, as it is one of the few herbs , Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 5) Plant Growth that increase in flavour when heated.

Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden , Plastic & Resin Patio Furniture – What You Don’t Know consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place , This Is How You Grow Sprouts Of Peace - Gardening , Gardens: They are Fragrant, Breathtaking— the Perfect Idea for More Outdoor Decor For The Soil, , A Teak Chair - Create a Livable Outdoor Space with One Gardening , Turn Your Patio Into A Voluminous Vegetable Garden For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening , Want a Garden but Not Enough Room or Soil? Then Hydroponics could be for You Products. She owns the website Gwen's Healing Garden , Pruning Trees where you will find lots of free information , What You Should Know About Miniature Roses about gardening , Want a Garden but Not Enough Room or Soil? Then Hydroponics could be for You for the soil , How to Win the War Against Slugs and Snails and gardening , 3 Easy Steps to Growing Plants from Seed for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca

Gwen Nyhus Stewart Â© 2004 - 2005. All rights reserved

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Basil: The King of Herbs

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