Growing Basil

Basil is an herb that is more than 5000 years old. Contrary to what you might think, this one does not come from Italy, but originally native to Southeast Asia. It is now known all over the world. In Italy it is grown and eaten a lot. Especially in pesto or as an addition to many dishes. Basil is a member of the mint family.

You can sow basil all year round

Basil prefers heat, it needs a warm and sunny spot to thrive. It is wise to maintain temperatures of at least 22-25 degrees to allow the seeds to germinate. Don’t let your basil plants dry out! They like moist soil, not soaked and not dry

From the end of April (start indoors) to September you can sow basil in the open ground or in pots. Growing them in pots is preferable because the soil warms up faster that way and it’s easier to move them when it gets cold outside or during a period with a lot of rain. 

Growing basil in the vegetable garden

Basil is one of the must have herbs in the vegetable garden! It tastes best if you use the picked basil right away in a dish. The fresher, the tastier! But if you aren't going to use the basil right away it is possible to store the basil in a container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also dry the leaves. You can grow basil in the greenhouse next to the tomatoes. They will give the tomatoes an extra flavor and that smell you get in the greenhouse is amazing! Ofcourse it is absolutely not necessary to have a greenhouse to grow basil. Basil grows perfectly in a pot and can be grown by anyone. What could be better than your own freshly grown basil that you sowed yourself?!

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Basil Plants

There are many types of basil. The plants vary in height, color and firmness of the leaves. The process of sowing the basil is usually the same. The most famous is the Genovese basil with the bright green leaves that often have a slight curve downward but nowadays they are also available with firm leaves, curled leaves, purplish leaves, etc. with different unique flavors such as cinnamon, anise, and lemon.

Growing basil from cuttings

Growing basil from cuttings is actually very simple. Cut off one of the stems of the basil and put it in a glass of water. Over time, roots will appear. After a while you can put it back in the soil to grow a new plant. Ofcourse it’s also possible to grow a new plant with basil seeds.

Drying and freezing basil

It’s easy to store basil. First dry the leaves and then freeze them. It is advisable to dry the basil in the oven (35 to 40 degrees) or in the drying machine to retain the taste longer. If you just let the basil dry out in the open, a lot of the flavor will be lost.

Is it healthy to eat basil?

The basil plant contains many vitamins and minerals. Think of Vitamin A and Vitamin K and minerals like Potassium, Magnesium and Iron.

You can also make basil tea to prevent colds. Another health benefit of basil is that it is also good for the eyes and good against anemia and nausea. In short, it is definitely worth growing this beautiful and tasty plant in the vegetable garden and ofcourse enjoying it in homemade dishes.

Basil seeds

The basil seeds are quite small, black in color and a little shiny. The basil seeds are the foundation of future success and it’s a delicious herb to have in your collection. 

In our webshop we have 10 different types of basil ( 4 organic varieties basil seeds). Think of the most famous basil Genovese (italiano classico), Basil Dark Opal, Basil Thai, Basil Rosi etc.

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