How To Grow Basil

by: LeeDobbins
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Word Count: 403

Basil is a useful ingredient in many Italian recipes as well as in salads, on sandwiches and in casseroles. So, it stands to reason that learning how to grow basil is a surefire way to ensure you always have a fresh supply to use in your cooking.

Basil is an easy herb to grow provided you give it plenty of sunlight and warm temperature. Basil seeds grow quickly with plenty of water and rich soil. If you really want to go the easy route, you can buy a simple herb kit which contains what you need to get started growing basil.

Basil requires excellent drainage so choose a flower pot that has holes drilled in it. You can also use rocks, clay or charcoal in the pot before adding the soil so the water has a place to pool up.

The best time to sow the seeds directly to the ground is when there are no more threats of frost. If you want, you can sow the seeds thinly to avoid overcrowding later on. If you choose to sow in pots, put enough seeds in each pot and then you can thin out the weaklings later on. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and water regularly.

One of the important things to know when learning how to grow Basil is that it requires 6 to 8 hours of sun each day. So if you are growing Basil on pots, place them in areas where they can still be reached by sunlight, like the patio or by the window. If you are growing them outdoors, choose the area that gets sun for most of the day but are protected from harsh wind.

Water your basil plants a few times a week and fertilize them monthly. Try to place the water at the base of the plant. Avoid splashing water on the leaves in order to discourage disease and growth of fungus.

As flowers appear on your basil plant, remove them by pinching them off. In that way the plant uses its energy to produce tasty leaves instead of flowers, providing you with the most flavorful product.

Once you learn how to grow basil properly, you will be rewarded with a constant fresh supply. Grown in a container, basil will flourish all year round. Be sure to have several plants growing. To harvest it, pick the upper leaves of each plant. This way, the plants will always keep growing.

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You can get more great gardening tips including more on how to grow basil at http://www.gardening-ez.com  

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