People have been using basil in a variety of ways for centuries from its use in the culinary arts to use in candles to aiding in home remedies for minor ailments.
Benefits Of Basil
Basil is a beautiful plant to have in any garden. It is a must-have in herb gardens and one of the anchor plantings to consider. It is easier than most plants to grow, as well. With basil, even a novice gardener can feel like a professional.
It is most thought of in Italian cooking and the main attraction in a host of its recipes. It is handy to have around for infusing drinks, oils, and rubs of many kinds. Medicinally, basil can also aid in relieving a variety of minor problems.
How to Grow Basil
Growing basil is relatively simple. Most plants are fussy, but not this one. It can be grown from a seed or planted from a seedling. Sow the seeds not too deeply in potting soil or the ground in a protected area, especially if you have chickens. They love the herb and will devour if it is left unprotected.
Fence off the garden bed area and make sure that your plants have lots of sunshine, as basil loves warmth. If container gardening, make sure that the pots are placed in a well-lit area. The ideal mixture is sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
When harvest time comes, pick the fresh leaves from the top of the plant down to the bottom encouraging a fuller plant with more blossoms. And finally, the blossoms should be picked and discarded unless you would like to save the seeds for the next planting season.
Uses for Basil
Besides being a beautiful plant in gardening, basil can offer a host of benefits. Medicinally, it can be used in treating numerous conditions from headaches to insect bites to digestive problems and even relieving nausea.
A pesto recipe of any kind is probably the most popular way most people use and include basil in their cooking, but it is also a great ingredient to use to infuse oils and alcohol, butter, salts and soups, and sauces. If basil’s essential oils are extracted, they can help in aiding with stress reduction, nausea, and uneven skin tone.
There is no question basil is a fabulous leaf to lavish onto pizza, pasta, and pesto. But don’t forget to experiment with its lesser-known uses to add to your repertoire of home remedies. The next time you have an upset tummy, relief is just sitting in your basil patch. And if you must, give some to the chickens.