Cottage Garden Living, Gardening, Herbs, Jacki Kellum Garden

Basil – Beautiful Herb to Grow – Invaluable in the Kitchen – Includes Recipes

Posted by jackikellum on

Basil, Ocimum basilicum, Sweet Basil, Genovese Basil, Thai Basil, Purple Basil, Lemon Basil, Holy Basil, Italian Large Leaf Basil, Napoletano Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Spicy Globe Basil, Lettuce Basil

Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Image Credit: gardenia.net
There are many varieties of Basil, but many sources say that Sweet Basil is the variety that every gardener should grow:
“This herb is known around the world for its wonderful fragrance and flavor. The key ingredient in classic Italian pesto, Sweet Basil has big leaves that are fast and easy to grow so that you can make your own pesto to freeze for year-round use. It loves hot weather, so always wait until all danger of frost is past before planting in the garden in the spring, then harvest before the weather starts to cool down in fall. Great for containers, but be sure to keep watered. If you were to grow only one herb, this should probably be it. Dried basil just doesn’t have the aromatic quality of the fresh leaves….” Bonnie’s Plants
Genovese Basil
Image Credit: Burpee
Height:
Genovese Basil is a type of Sweet Basil.

From Seed Indoors

Start: Feb 09 – Feb 23

Transplant: Apr 19 – May 03

From Seed Outdoors

Start: Apr 19 – May 03

From Plant

Start: Apr 19 – May 03

Days to Maturity
Days to Maturity 60 – 90
Light Requirement
Light RequirementFull Sun
Mature Spread
Mature Spread 10 – 14 IN
Mature Height
Mature Height 18 – 24 IN
Burpee
Although Basil is a tender plant, it might survive winters in Zone 7. I believe I’ll try that in my next garden.
I am placing most of my herbs right outside my back door, I’ll place the Basil in a semi-protected spot and take it from there.
My main reason for not having grown herbs before is that I don’t know how to cook with them. I always grow tons of cherry tomatoes, I’ll try the following recipe this summer:
https://ohsweetbasil.com/20-minute-cherry-tomato-basil-angel-hair-pasta-recipe/
20-Minute Tomato and Angel Hair Pasta Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 Pound Angel Hair Pasta – Boiled in Salted Water and Ready to Use.
  • 5 Garlic Cloves, large, thinly sliced”
  • 2 pounds Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
  • 1 Cup Basil, loosely packed, roughly chopped
  • 3/4 teaspoon Salt, plus more for seasoning
  • 1/2 Cup Granulated Parmesan, plus more for garnish, see note
  • 1/2Lemon

https://www.skinnytaste.com/basil-oil/

Ingredients

How To Make Basil Olive Oil

  1. Wash and dry the basil.
  2. Place the basil, water, garlic, salt and red pepper flakes in mini-food processor and blend.
  3. Add the olive oil and pulse a few times until you have a smooth sauce.

How long does basil oil keep?

“It’s best to use infused oil the same day. To avoid botulism, according to the USDA, garlic in oil should be made fresh and stored in the refrigerator at 40For lower for no more than 7 days. It may be frozen for several months. and can be stored in the refrigerator 2 to 3 days, although the color may change.

Making basil oil is so simple and the end result is so amazing, trust me you’ll want to drizzle it all over your chicken, fish, tomatoes, vegetables or just eat it with some crusty bread!

Health  Benefits of Basil

“Basil is not only a popular folk remedy for ailments like nausea and bug bites but also widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and other holistic medicine systems….

Recipe for Classic Basil Pesto

4 to 6 Cloves Garlic
4 cups shredded fresh basil leaves
1 cup olive oil
1 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, preferably a mix
Salt

“Place the…garlic, basil and oil in a food processor and blend as fine as possible. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and stir in the cheese. Add salt to taste. Use right away of store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
“Note: If freezing the pesto, don’t add the cheese until ready to serve.” Gardener’s Community Cookbook

Potential Benefits of Sweet Basil

“Below is a summary of potential benefits of extracts of sweet basil, primarily based on mouse and test-tube studies. Whether the same results would occur in people is uncertain.

“Preliminary studies suggest sweet basil may:

  • Reduce memory loss associated with stress and aging
  • Reduce depression related to chronic stress .
  • Reduce stroke damage and support recovery, whether given before or right after a stroke.
  • Improve fasting blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides.
  • Reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension
  • Relax blood vessels and thin your blood, similar to aspirin
  • Protect against aspirin’s damage to your gut, particularly preventing ulcers .
  • Prevent certain cancers, including of the breast, colon and pancreas
  • Increase mental alertness when inhaled as aromatherapy.
  • Inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause dental decay
  • Improve food safety, such as if integrated into food packaging by manufacturers
  • Provide an alternative to antibiotics for infectious diseases, including combating antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria
  • Repel insects, such as mosquitos and ticks ” Healthline

Basil Has Antiseptic Properties. Mix Oil of Vapor with Other Cleaning Fluids