| Growing herbs, especially basil, in your square foot | | | | last spring frost date, or choose to start seeds |
| garden is an excellent way to have a kitchen | | | | outside well after all danger of frost has passed |
| garden right outside your back door. Herbs mixed | | | | and the soil is warm. |
| with fresh vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, | | | | The second way to grow basil is by purchasing |
| carrots, radishes, leeks, and beets is easy to do | | | | transplants (plants ready to set out) from your |
| with Mel Bartholomew's method of square foot | | | | local garden center. These are usually sold in 4 |
| gardening. | | | | inch pots. |
| If you haven't picked-up a copy of Mel's book | | | | One good rule of thumb for when to plant is that |
| entitled All New Square Foot Gardening, you really | | | | if you need a sweater outside, it's too cold for |
| shouldn't delay. In it, you will find a wealth of | | | | basil. To give your plants the best chance to |
| information about growing basil. Along with learning | | | | flourish, plant them outside after all chances of |
| to grow basil, you will find helpful information on | | | | frost are gone and it's nice and warm. |
| growing other herbs like cilantro, mint, and | | | | One of the benefits of square foot gardening is |
| oregano. There are many varieties to choose | | | | that you can put plastic over your raised bed to |
| from. | | | | warm the soil up. If you get surprised by a cold |
| Basil, particularly 'Sweet Genovese', is the best for | | | | snap after the frost-free date, as we did a few |
| Italian pesto. But, be sure and experiment with | | | | years ago, simply pace a glass cloche or |
| basil flavors like cinnamon, licorice, and lemon | | | | greenhouse hoop over your bed for protection. |
| which are also good in many dishes. Six plants of | | | | When planting basil in your square foot garden, it |
| "Sweet Genovese' will yield enough leaves to | | | | is a good idea to plant it next to your tomatoes |
| make pesto all summer long without you being | | | | in order to help them grow stronger and more |
| overwhelmed. Of course, it's easy to freeze any | | | | flavorful. Plant basil one per square foot if you |
| variety of this wonderful herb if the need arises. | | | | don't plan on harvesting very often. Plant two per |
| Another variety to try, especially if you are fond | | | | square foot if you do plan on harvesting often to |
| of Asian cuisine, is 'Siam Queen'. A spicy Thai basil, | | | | use fresh, dried (least desirable), or frozen. |
| with an intense flavor and fragrance all its own, | | | | During the growing season pinch off flower buds |
| makes it a great choice. Another great choice is | | | | to save the plants energy for leaf growth. Pinch |
| 'Holy Basil' which was introduced to Europe in the | | | | stems just above the leaf nodes where new |
| sixteenth century as a culinary and medicinal herb. | | | | stems will sprout. If you have two basil plants |
| You will want to experiment and have fun | | | | planted per square foot, concentrate on |
| growing all the different varieties of basil in your | | | | harvesting the lateral stems to keep them from |
| garden. | | | | becoming too crowded. |
| Many varieties of basil seeds are available at | | | | Harvest basil anytime and use only the leaves for |
| garden centers starting in February. Even more | | | | cooking. Stems may be placed in the compost pile. |
| varieties, like the ones mentioned above, may be | | | | You will quickly see that growing herbs, especially |
| found online from seed companies. Some | | | | basil, is easy to do using Mel's method of square |
| companies, like Pinetree Seeds, cater to square | | | | foot gardening. It has been a proven system for |
| foot gardeners by offering smaller number of | | | | over 25 years all over the world. Create your |
| seeds per packet. | | | | own kitchen garden on your deck or anywhere |
| Growing and Caring for Basil | | | | next to your house for easy access and to make |
| There are two ways to grow basil. The first way | | | | growing herbs that much easier. |
| is to start seeds inside 4 to 6 weeks before the | | | | |