"A pasta or tomato dish without the taste of basil seems quite naked these days, but basil has a host of lesser known attributes. Basil leaves, used fresh with cold food, aid digestion, and the juice of basil leaves rubbed onto skin repels mosquitoes. But don't water after midday - 'Sir Basil' hates to go to bed with his roots wet! "Jekka McVicar
In Elizabethan times, Sweet Basil was used as
a snuff for colds and to clear the brain.
Basil is steeped in history
and intriguing lore. It's common name is believed to derive from
Basilikon phuton, Greek for
'Kingly herb'.
Basil was said to have grown around Christ's tomb after the resurrection. Some Greek Orthodox churches use it to prepare their holy water, and place pots of basil below the altar. However, there is some question as to its sanctity: both Greeks and Romans believed one should curse whilst basil is sown to ensure germination. In Western Europe is was thought to be a remedy against witches. In the 17th century Culpeper wrote of basil's uncompromising if
predictable appeal "It either makes enemies or gains lovers but there is no in-between".
All basils can be grown from seed: sow direct into pots or plug trays in early spring and germinate with warmth.
Propagation
Seed: Avoid using seed trays because basil dislikes being transplanted. Plugs also help minimize damping off, to which all basil plants are prone. Water well at midday in dry weather, even when transplanted into pots or containers: basil hates going to bed wet. This minimizes damping off and will prevent root rot, a hazard when air temperature is still dropping at night. Plant out seedlings when large enough to handle and all danger of frost has passed. The soil needs to be rich and well drained, and the situation warm and sheltered. Prolific growth will only be obtained usually in the greenhouse or in large pots on a sunny patio. Plant basil amongst your tomatoes because:
being a good companion plant, it repels flying insects
you will remember to use fresh basil with your tomatoes and you will remember to water it.
whenever you pick tomatoes, you will tend to pick basil, which will encourage bushy growth and prevent flowering, which in turn stops the stems becoming woody resulting in a bitter leaf taste.
Garden Cultivation Basil can only be problematic in areas susceptible to frost and where it is not possible to provide for its great need for warmth and nourishment. In such areas, plant out after the frosts have finished; choose a well drained, rich soil in a warm, sunny corner, protected from the wind.
Plant basil companiably amongst your tomatoes, as it repels flying insects - this will also help you to remember to use fresh basil with tomatoes.
Container Growing Basil is happy on a kitchen windowsill and in pots on the patio, and purple basil makes a good centrepiece in a hanging basket. Pots of basil, strategically placed, help to repel flies, and other flying insects. Water well at midday, but do not over-water. If that is not possible, water earlier in the day rather than later.
Harvesting Pick basil leaves when young and always from the top to encourage new growth. If freezing to store, paint both sides of each leaf with olive oil to stop it sticking to the next and to seal its flavour. If drying, do it as fast as you can. Basil leaves are some of the more difficult to dry successfully.The most successful course, post-harvest, is to infuse the leaves in olive oil or vinegar. As well as being useful in your own kitchen, both basil oil and basil vinegar make great Christmas presents, when fresh basil is out of season. Gather flowering tops as they open in the summer and early autumn. Add fresh to salads, dry to potpourris.
Basil leaves are an aid to digestion
Tear basil leaves and sprinkle over green salads
Uses
Medicinal: Once prescribed as a sedative against gastric spasms and as an expectorant and laxative, basil is rarely used in herbal medicines today. However, leaves added to food are an aid to digestion and if you put a few drops of basil's essential oil on a sleeve and inhale, it can allay mental fatigue. For those that need a zing it can aso be used to make a very refreshing bath vinegar, which also acts as an antiseptic.
Culinary: Basil has an unique flavour, so newcomers should use it with discretion otherwise it will dominate other flavours. It is one of the few herbs to increase its flavour when cooked. For best results, add at the very end of cooking.
Ideas & inspirations:
Tear the leaves, rather than chop. Sprinkle over green salads or fresh tomatoes.
Basil combines wonderfully with garlic. Tear into French salad dressing.
Use lime basil to accompany a fish dish - it has highly aromatic lime fragrant leaves
Mix cream cheese with any of the basils and use in baked potatoes.
Use the tiny leaves of Greek Basil to make a herb butter, because you can keep them whole.
Stuff chicken with a combination of Sweet Basil,crushed garlic, breadcrumbs, lemon peel, beaten eggs and chopped nuts.
Make your own Pesto Sauce!
Other uses: Keep it in a pot in the kitchen to act as a fly repellant, or crush a leaf and rub it onto your skin, where the juice repels mosquitoes.
How to Order: we currently grow over 15 varieties
of Basil. The herb farm team's favourites are listed below, or use our Search page to see all of the varities grown organically here on the farm.
