Basil is a wonderfully fragrant leafy herb, which can be added to sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes. It has a distinctive aromatic flavor that makes it popular in both western and eastern cuisine. Basil plants grow from seeds or from plant cuttings.
Prepare the soil by loosening it up and removing any weeds present. Water the soil a day before sowing the seeds or plant cuttings, as they require moist soil to germinate and grow. They also need adequate sunlight to grow properly. Sow either the seeds or cuttings in the soil around 1-2 inches apart. Cuttings will generally grow faster than the seeds. More compost can be added after sowing the seeds or cuttings. Water the plants regularly as they require a lot of water. Pinch off flowers when they start to appear, as it will cause the plant to bolt, and produce fewer leaves in the process. This also causes the leaves to lose its distinctive flavor. Basil can be harvested at around 3-4 months after planting, when the plant is strong and well established.
Basil is one the herbs I like the best! I have tried to grow from cuttings, I selected the strong and healthy leafy stem from supermarket and planted in pots in my balcony. The stems grow for sometimes and then somehow they stopped. Now I know that the flowers need to be pinched as it affect new leaves to grow.
Thanks for the tips that basil needs sunlight, I always put my plants in shade so may be this is another reason that they did not grow as leafy as it should be!
I must say basil just gives that zesty edge to both western and oriental dishes, be it pasta or fresh spring rolls…..
I like the fragrant of basil leave. You can add this to cold pasta salad, or make it into paste and use it as pasta sauce.