Beautiful Basil
Spring is here and the gardens are near! Do you love to plant herbs? If so, allow me to elaborate on the beautiful botanical of Basil. It is one of the easiest plants to grow, and often yields a bountiful harvest of sweet greenery! Read on to learn more about this herb- its benefits, uses, and growing tips...
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Basic Growing & Harvesting
Tender annual.
Almost all basil loves to bask in the heat of the full sun.
Most basil types savor rich, moist soil, and takes well to compost infused ground. However, Holy Basil (Tulsi) prefers to grow in rocky, hard, soiled, and dry areas.
Sow seeds inside during early spring in pots, or outside in the late spring when the temperatures are at a minimum of 60 F/ 15 C.
Basil seeds should be planted about 12 inches apart.
In mid-summer, feed the plant natural liquid herb specific fertilizer.
Pick the leaves before flowering occurs, when the leaves are at their greenest and shiniest. Once flower buds appear on the plant, the leaves lose their flavor.
Benefits- Note: Sweet basil oil is considered to be the mildest and safe.
This essential oil can assist in sharpening the mental state & relieve fatigue.
Basils are in the medicinal herbal category of Antipyretics. These are herbs with the characteristics and ability to cool. Basil can help in preventing fevers.
An effective insect repellant. See recipe below.
Some studies show that basil essential oil can ease plantar fasciitis.
How to use-
Add fresh basil to salads, sauces, salsa, pesto, and sandwiches
Use the essential oil, topically only.
Try this natural insect spray: In a 4 oz. spray bottle pour witch hazel 3/4 full. Add 4 drops each of the following oils: Peppermint, geranium, citronella, catnip, lavender, lemongrass (or eucalyptus), sweet basil. Top off the bottle with alcohol (it helps with the evaporation of liquid when sprayed on the skin). Shake well with each use.
Resources-
The Basil Book www.etsy.com/listing/266800084/the-basil-book-e-book-pdf-instant
Grow Organic, seeds https://www.groworganic.com/collections/basil-seeds
Organic Dried Basils, Frontier Co-op https://www.frontiercoop.com/frontier-co-op-holy-basil-tulsi-herb-organic-8-oz
www.frontiercoop.com/frontier-co-op-sweet-basil-leaf-cut-and-sifted-organic-1-lb/
Sweet Basil Essential Oil https://bit.ly/3bonMhL
Capri Essentials Hand Soap Sweet Basil 16 fl oz https://bit.ly/2YXKE59
Sonoma Canyon Extra Virgin Olive Oil Fresh Basil Infused - Gluten-Free - Non-GMO & Vegetarian 8.45 fl oz https://bit.ly/2LrwSjg
Delallo Simply Pesto Traditional Basil 6.35 oz https://bit.ly/2YYZp7T
Happy planting!
In Grace,
Cara