Basil 

Basil is just about my favorite herb and I grow quite a lot of this. I have been growing Basil for many years, even before I started growing it in a High Density Garden, and I recommend you do the same as I did if you like this herb.

Basil is a popular addition to many Mediterranean dishes and also pizzas and this has helped it grow in popularity. I used to buy Basil many years ago from a supermarket already growing in a pot, but even planting these out they never seemed to do well in the garden. I think that reason for this is that they are designed to grow in the pot and are forced into a quick growth to look good on a supermarket shelf and last a few weeks - not for planting out for long term growth. You can buy plants at a garden center for growing on in a good soil mix but it is so easy just to grow your own.

I tend to stick to growing one variety, the Genovese Basil also known as sweet Basil but there are many more varieties for your to try including red types and lemon types. As usual, my mantra is only grow what you will eat.

I start all my herbs in small plug trays and where possible sow in individual cells. When these are large enough to transplant, they are moved into their final growing positions. For a nice big bush I put 1 plant in a mini plot and several for smaller plants. If the plants get too tall, pinching out the growing tip will encourage the plant to become bushy and make more leaves which is what you want with Basil. I make sure the soil I plant it into has been enriched with home made compost and I also dig in a quantity of fish, blood and bone meal before planting. I try to feed throughout the growing season with fish, blood and bone meal at a lower dose than when planting and will also add chicken manure pellets if I think the plant needs it.

Basil is supposed to be high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C as well as having useful levels of calcium and iron. I am sure you all have your favorite recipes which use basil and I love to eat it with tomatoes and brie cheese on crusty bread sandwiches as Basil really complements tomatoes. Another way I eat it is with a tomato salad of sliced tomatoes and chopped onion which are layered and then have a dressing added made from good quality olive oil and lemon juice, infused with a couple of cloves of garlic which are later removed. I also add sugar for some sweetness and salt to taste and finely sliced or chopped Basil. Leave this to chill before serving with crusty French bread. Lovely but a little fattening due to the oil. As I grow a lot of tomatoes I also add basil to the tomato soup I make.

One final point. Basil tends to be grown in spring for planting out and growing over the summer. The first fall frosts will kill the plant. However, you can grow it at any time of the year in a plant pot in your house and this is something I do so that I always have fresh basil in the house.