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Growing basil
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Basil booms when grown with tomatoes
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Growing your own basil is simple. You can grow basil easily from seeds
or you can get ahead and buy a punnet of seedlings. Either way you know
you'll soon have some of this great tasting herb. We normally grow sweet
basil which is great in cooking and makes a mean pesto.
Growing conditions
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Basil is usually grown in the warmer months of the year.
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It loves sunny well drained beds.
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This herb prefers a well manured soil.
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Basil can be grown anywhere - in a herb circle or on its own. But
the best way to grow basil is by planting it with your tomatoes. Basil
and tomatoes are companions. Their growth is substantially boosted
when planted together. Some of you might scoff but its true. A few
years ago we tested this by growing two groups of basil. One group
of four was planted in the herb garden, sharing the bed with mint,
chives, marjoram, parsley and thyme. The other group of four was planted
with the tomatoes. The first group faired well and grew to about knee
high. The basil with the tomatoes grew phenomenally. It grew to almost
shoulder height and tasted great.
Garden care
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While gardeners are familiar with sweet basil there are many other
varieties you might like to grow. Lemon and cinnamon basil have wonderful
exquisite aromas and tastes. Thai basil is also very good. I've tended
to find though that purple basil is more subtle in flavour. But you
can't go past the original. Sweet basil grows so prolifically. And
when you walk past it the aroma is amazing.
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Seeds can either be directly sown where your basil is to grow, or
sown into seed raising mix.
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Basil seedlings in seed raising mix can be transplanted once their
first "true" leaves are grown.
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You can also grow basil from cuttings (although they're not as sweet
in flavour and are a bit more licorice in taste). Cut off a stem and
take off the leaves of the bottom 10cm (4 inches). Then put it in
a glass of water on a window sill for about 14 days. Don't forget
to regularly change your water! It'll quickly form roots along its
stem. Then you can transplant it into a pot outside to harden off
for a week. Next it goes into the garden and before you know it you'll
have another basil bush.
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Your basil will retain its flavour better if you pinch off their
flowering tips.
Harvest time
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It's easiest to cut sections of basil using scissors or a knife.
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You can harvest basil leaves whenever you need them.
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At the end of your harvest pull out your basil bushes and hang them
upside down in a dry place (eg shed or garage). After 7-10 days the
leaves will dry nicely. Cut the leaves finely and you've got dried
basil for cooking.
Last Updated
17 November, 2008
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