The Beauty of Growing Basil

Basil is possibly one of many people's favorite herbs. Not only is it fun to grow, it has so many uses. As a member of the mint family, Basil is added to salads, sandwiches, and dishes. With its many varieties including Sweet Basil, Lemon Basil, Chocolate Basil, Lime Basil and Cinnamon Basil, those who love the taste of Basil have many tastes to choose from.

When growing Basil, whether indoors or outdoors, the first step is to make sure you have adequate drainage. If putting Basil in a pot, line it with coarse gravel. If growing outside, make sure your soil is well dug, leaving the ground beneath the plant loose and fluffy. Placing compost beneath your plant can help with this.

Basil loves sunlight, at least six to eight hours of it a day. If you are planting this herb inside, be sure to place it in a windowsill. Not only does Basil like sunlight, it doesn't like the cold, so if you are planting outside, try and avoid spots where cold winds come through. With that said, one shouldn't even plant Basil until daytime temperatures remain in the 70s F. and night temperatures are above 50 degrees F. Seeds can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before last spring frost date. Unlike many Mediterranean herbs, Basil likes a somewhat rich soil and doesn’t like to be kept dry.

Keep your basil plants at least ten inches apart, if placing outside, Basil likes to bush out. You can thin your plants by harvesting them simply in pinching the tops off once the plants reach about 6" in height. If you don’t pinch or harvest, the plants will grow tall and gangly, with few leaves and will bolt to seed. You can continue harvesting as long as there are leaves left on the plant to keep it going.

With outside plants, try and keep weeds away from your Basil plants. You can add organic mulch around the plant to help steer weeds away - the compost will also help your plant retain moisture.

If growing Basil in containers or indoor pots then add a small amount of fertilizer every month or so. Be sure to maintain the moisture level on your Basil if grown indoors. When watering, add to the base rather than pouring water over its leaves and stems.

Basil will put out flowers if you are not cultivating it often. Be sure to pinch out any flowers that appear as this will help preserve the flavor and promote more leaf growth. Simply picking a few leaves off here and there as needed will also keep your Basil producing for you. If you are saying, I don't eat Basil that often, you can harvest the Basil for future use. Basil can be used fresh or dried. To dry Basil, cut the stems at soil level and dry them in a dehydrator or hang bunches of stems up to air dry in a warm room, this should take about a week. Once the leaves are dried you can remove them from the stems and then store them in a dry airtight container for up to 12 months.


If using your Basil fresh, harvest the most vibrant green leaves that do not have dark spots or decay. You can layer your Basil leaves in damp paper towels and place them inside a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to four days. For Basil with stalks attached, place in a glass of water and cover with a plastic bag secured to the glass. Store in the refrigerator, changing water daily, and use within a week. Do not wash the leaves until you are ready to use them.

Another option is to put whole or chopped fresh leaves in an ice cube tray and cover with water or broth before freezing. Once frozen, pop the cubes out into an airtight bag. Use the cubes in soups, stews or sauces.

Basil is one of those diverse plants that not only spices up your dishes but just smells good to grow, attracts bees and is pleasant in appearances. Playing with its varieties just adds to the enjoyment of growing basil. If you haven't tried your hand at growing Basil, maybe it is about time to do so.

About the Author: Pamela Ravenwood is a freelance writer, journalist, and writing coach who lives in the desert. In addition to spending her days writing, she also loves to tend to her organic garden where she grows as much of her own food as possible. In this, she counts on her cord reel to keep her hoses from drying out from the desert heat.

The Preservation and Use of Herbs

The preservation and storage of fresh herbs from your garden is more simple a task than most may presume. For those who do not have access to a greenhouse or indoor garden space, it can become a convenient option during winter months. The quality of the finished product may fluctuate, due to the variety of ways in which to handle your herbs year-round.

With herbs’ natural oils can be contained, they are able to be three to four times as strong as those fresh leaves that are used immediately. Natural fragrances can, in fact, be held within the leaves. Methods varying from microwaving to dehydrating these greens have always been an option. To save on electricity and cost, there are other favorable techniques in which to attain similar results.

The timely effort in preserving herbs tends to be of importance. Directly after an herb is plucked from its plant, it begins to wilt and expire. Most herbs will naturally last between three and five days. Removing moisture from the herb, immediately, will post-pone this wilt phase. Shaking or patting them with a dry paper towel removes most dampness and/or dew. Also, placing a dry paper towel in your storage container can absorb some of the greens natural secretions.

Herbs with a small amount of moisture content, such as: thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, dill, small flowers and parsley can be bundled and hung. Separating these herbs into small, stemmed leaves, prior to hanging, can speed up the drying process. After separating leaves, bind in a dry, warm place out of direct sunlight. Optimal drying temperature for most greenery is between eighty and ninety degrees. If the conditions add up, your herbs could be completely dry in a matter of days.

Large-leafed herbs can also be dried using a shallow-rimmed tray; covered with cheesecloth. As some of the bigger leafs may not have lengthy stems, this option may be a better alternative. In this drying method, the leaves can immediately be removed from the stems after being plucked. Placing the leaves in a single layer, cover your tray with the cheesecloth in a well-ventilated area. Similar to the bundle method, it is best to keep these drying herbs out of direct sunlight.

When herbs are completely dry, using these or any other method, stems can be removed. Airtight plastic or glass containers seem to produce lengthier results for the ‘keep’ of your leafy varieties. Herbs can then be placed in your freezer, and held for use at any time thereafter. Signs that leaves that should be discarded, include: darkness of color, brittle to touch or any mold.

Soup, stews, and other creative recipes seem to now be inclusive of more fresh herbs to their ingredient lists. Attempting to cut back on sodium, mostly, but also allowing for an alternative to the receipt of antioxidants in your diet. Crumbling the dried herbs between your fingers before including them in your cuisine can not only enhance your senses and the aromas of your kitchen, but can also add more flavor to your dishes. Adding your herbs in the last twenty minutes of cooking will keep the tastes alive, in not overcooking them.

Regardless of the methods or use for drying, storing or cooking with your herbs, the time commitment is small. It can be fun to experiment with new flavors, while also getting your green time in, regardless of the outdoor conditions.

About the Author: Pamela Ravenwood is a freelance writer, journalist, and writing coach who lives in the desert. In addition to spending her days writing, she also loves to tend to her organic garden where she grows as much of her own food as possible. In this, she counts on her cord reel to keep her hoses from drying out from the desert heat.

Indoor/Outdoor Herb Garden

Herb gardens can be therapeutic, fragrant, beautiful and delicious. Planting an herb garden is easy and fun. You can grow it indoors or out. Even starting from seed, you can start to harvest your own fresh herbs within about a month.

Start with small pots, window planter or plant directly in your garden. Planting in small containers can give you a little bit more control over your herbs’ sun and weather exposure. Make sure that the containers you choose allow for plenty of drainage. Most herbs have delicate root systems that can easily rot if they are kept too wet. You can add rocks, moss or sand to the bottom of each container to encourage drainage.

The next step is to prepare the soil for your herb garden. You can just use potting soil, but a little extra effort can go a long way. Ideally, twenty-five percent of your mix should be compost material. Manure, humus and peat make good compost if you do not have your own compost bin. If your soil has a lot of clay, you may need to work in a little sand. Clay soil is usually orange or reddish in appearance. It is hard and does not drain well. If your soil has too much sand, it may drain too much. In this case, add more potting soil or compost.

Once your soil is prepared, you will be ready to plant. Sprouting from seeds will help you avoid soil borne diseases that may be lurking in nursery potted plants. Soak new seeds in water overnight if you have time. Another method is to place the seeds on a wet paper towel inside of a plastic sandwich bag for a few days. Make sure that you keep it sealed. When sprouts are about an inch long, very carefully transport them to their permanent location. If you want, you can plant seeds directly in their containers. Make sure that you cover them with plastic wrap to protect them while they are so little. Soil should be moist when you plant.

When plants are about two inches tall, remove the plastic and let them get some sun. Be careful about temperatures over eighty degrees at this stage. Baby plants can easily get too hot or too dry and die. Bring indoors at night if you are in an area that is still experiencing any colder weather. Most people choose to keep their herb garden inside until plants are more mature. A window sill is a great place to ensure that you are letting your herbs get enough light.

Watering is very important. Since you want your planters to drain well, you will also have to watch for dryness. Ideally, the soil should be moist, not wet. Water your herb garden about daily. Watch for wilting, yellowing, crusting or extra dry soil. If your herb garden is outside, use a hose reel to keep your water hose close at hand for easy watering. Enjoy harvesting your herbs for months to come!

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Time To Grow Thyme? Of Course, Always!

Everyone surely is aware of the delicious attributes thyme brings to the dinner table, but besides cooking, thyme has many other uses that help to make it one of the most popular herbs grown by gardeners today. Its edible medicinal properties extend helpfulness into many areas of daily life, and its wondrous scent is intoxicatingly fragrant, making it a wonderful addition as décor, inside and out. Thyme’s hardiness allows it to flourish in many geographical locations, including many in the United States, making it a favorite for gardeners in the Americas. Growing thyme in your garden, inside or out, is an endeavor well worth undertaking.

An extremely attractive attribute of thyme, especially from a grower’s standpoint, is its ability to for the most part take care of itself once it has taken root. Equally happy under paving stones, lining a wispy garden path, or even as part of an entire “lawn” bed, thyme is able to flourish even in harsh, dry climates where water is scarce. Of course, in your garden, water should be plentiful, supplied by your hose reel when the soil feels dry to the touch. Thyme is more easily started in your garden from a start, rather than seed, and many varieties should be present at your local nursery that would grow most hospitably in your area. There are nearly 350 species of thyme, each with different characteristics, including flower color and scent. As thyme is a member of the mint family, some varieties possess a minty scent, while others display scents of rose, lavender, lemon, and even orange. Imagine how delightful an evening stroll down your garden path would be surrounded in the emanating scent of orange or lemon!

Thyme will grow well indoors in containers if the space at your home is limited, and its scent wafting throughout your sunroom, kitchen, and the like will be much appreciated. Keep in mind, if you have space outdoors, that thyme will grow and flourish, even in winter months, so do not shy away from putting it near an outdoor swing, reading nook, or meditation bench, as it is hardy and will provide pleasurable scents all year. To harvest thyme for whatever use you have in mind, simply clip off a bit of the extended sprigs, and you’re good to go. Thyme may be used fresh in cooking or dried as well. Dried thyme is an excellent addition to a hot bath, a digestive aid and throat soother in a cup of warm tea, and can even aid in dandruff treatment and prevention in hair rinses. With so many uses for thyme and its relative ease in growing and tending, there is always time to grow thyme!


About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reel and landscaping.

Seasoning for All Seasons: Grow Your Herbs in Pots

Gardening is a productive hobby that should and can be enjoyed by all, not only those who are backyard endowed. An exciting project for the budding gardener, and even children with a hint of green thumb interest, is growing herbs of various sorts in pots and containers. Container or pot gardening is extremely beneficial for city dwellers, as little space is to be had, and little space is needed. A fire escape terrace can be made oh, so much more inviting by adding a little greenery to all that metal. Small spaces are actually quite conducive to herb growth, making an herb garden an ideal candidate for one’s first foray into backyard gardening, especially if space is limited, as when there is no backyard at all.

If your household is one that enjoys eating well, and you and your family especially enjoys cooking, an herb garden should be especially attractive. Adding herbs to your favorite recipes, especially fresh herbs grown in your own little garden will only increase exponentially the wonderful tastes you bring to your dinner table each and every night. Depending of what kinds of cooking you naturally gravitate to, be it Mexican, French, Italian cuisine, etc., a special pot or grouping of pots can be tailored to grow for each style. Now for the growing preparations, because taste buds are growing impatient with all this tasty talk!

Find a pot or pots that have excellent drainage, because you never want the water added from your hose reel to sit in your potting soil, increasing the chances of mold formation. Your potting soil will need be of a high grade and can be purchased at your local garden store. While you are at your garden shop, of course, you’ll peruse the seed section, and find the herbs you require for your styles of cooking. Cilantro would add savory goodness to your Mexican dishes, and you can never go wrong growing basil or thyme because they add so much to a wide range of dishes from poultry to vegetables. Now that you’ve picked out your soil, pots, and seeds, it’s time to go home and get that growing started. Set up your pots, either inside or on your back terrace (fire escape will do nicely) and fill them 3/4s full with your high quality soil. Plant your selected herbs, water them nicely, and then cover them with a little straw or similar mulching material in order to keep the precious moisture in. Watering your herbs diligently each day, while allowing them ample, but never too much sun, will ensure quick and successful growth. In no time, you, your family, and lucky dinner guests will be reaping the taste rewards from your potted paradise!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reel and landscaping.