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Ocimum basilicum
Sweet Basil

Basil is top of the Summer herb charts, you need it for so many sunny day dishes and all those home-grown Tomatoes are crying out for their favourite friend. Sadly, it's also the top of the charts for being a bit tricky to grow so here are few guidelines to make sure you succeed.

Basil needs warmth, it's a plant that thrives in the Mediterranean regions so bear that in mind when trying to grow it.

Rules of Basil success:

• Don't try Basil outdoors until June
• An unheated greenhouse will get too cold at night for Basil until June
• Make sure it has full sun
• Give Basil shelter (not shade) - don't expose it to chilly winds
• Water well, unlike Lavender and Rosemary it won't grow on stones
• Keep Basil well fed - Tomato feed will do, something a little higher in Nitrogen is better if you have it.
• Give Basil good soil, the best you have and in pots always use fresh compost with good nutrient levels.

Basil can be grown from seed, I always start them off in cell trays so that the babies don't get their roots damaged during transplanting. The biggest danger is that they can fall over with rots so water around midday so that by evening they are dry. If you can, try and water in such a way as to avoid wetting the leaves. A small can with a gentle spout is better than a rose.

In a good summer Basil will do quite well outdoors but usually it's safest to grow Basil in a greenhouse or conservatory. I have had good success with Basil in pots on a very sunny patio.

Basil is often planted among Tomato plants, it is said to repel troublesome bugs and it's handy to be able to pick a bunch each time you harvest Tomatoes.

Harvest Basil leaves from the top so that you get nice fresh succulent ones, if flowers start to develop pick them off and use them. If you let your Basil start to open it's flowers it will get woody and the leaves become less 'meaty' and the flavour changes for the worse.
You can preserve surplus Basil by freezing and drying, although dried Basil loses a lot of it's unique flavour, best to freeze it in ice cubes or freeze the leaves whole after coating with Olive oil to stop them sticking together.

A real treat is Basil leaves infused in Oil, ideal as a gift or to use yourself when fresh Basil is out of season.

As well as the large leaved Sweet Basil there is also Greek Basil Ocimum minimum. This is a pretty little plant sometimes called Bush Basil (not to be confused with Basil Brush). Being neat and compact it's ideal for window sills and where space is limited. Use it in salads and with cheese. There are several other variations of Basil including 'Thai Basil' and the red leaved 'Rubin Basil'

If you have Basil plants and they keel over, chances are the problem is cold related. Don't be put off growing Basil.....it's very easy as long as you wait for those long hot Summer days.