Sweet Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Description

This popular annual herb has dark green or purple leaves and may reach a height of 12 –24 inches. By mid summer, small white flowers are produced on spikes. The beautiful foliage has made this plant a popular addition to the home landscape.

How to Grow

Basil prefers both warm soil and air. It should not be planted in the garden until all danger of frost has passed. It may be easily started from seed. It is also available as small transplants. You can increase your number of plants by rooting basil stems in water. Be sure to thin plants to a spacing of 10–12 inches apart. To promote bushy plants, pinch back growing tips. Also, remove flowers before seed matures.

Harvesting

For fresh use, wait six weeks after planting to begin harvesting the leaves. Make your final harvest before the first frost in fall. For drying, harvest leaves just before the plant produces flowers.

You may want to try potting up a few plants in potting mix and over-wintering them as houseplants in a bright south or west window.