Basil

Choosing among the several small home gardening ideas can get extra challenging, particularly
when you are at a beginner at gardening. There are numerous gardening tips, ranging from
garden landscaping ideas to vegetable garden ideas. But, at the end of the day, what you really
want is to have a useful garden.

Also known as Saint Joseph's Wort, Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an herb belonging to the family
of mint called Lamiaceae. Basil is native to the tropical areas of Asia, including India. The
International journal of Agronomy and Plant Production states that the word Basil originated
from the Greek word "basileus". Basileus means "king". Researchers believe that it is because
the herb was used by royals for bathing, or medicinal purposes. If you want a useful garden,
then you might want to consider Basil in your garden planning.

There are basil varieties that have been cultivated for more than 5,000 years already. Most of
these varieties are grown as culinary herbs. These varieties differ in taste and smell. Commonly,
basil herb is used as a seasoning in cooking, often on Italian cuisine. Basil is also used on
Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine. The most popular among the several varieties of
basil is the sweet basil which is used in Italian cuisine.

There are different types of basil, which differ in taste and smell. Sweet basil is common among
Italian dishes. It has a strong clove scent because of the chemical agent eugenol that is highly
concentrated in it. Whereas lime and lemon basil have a strong citrus scent due to their high
concentration of limonene.

Since there are several basil varieties to plant and basil does not require too many growing
requirement, choosing the best one may be the most challenging. There should only be full sun
at least six hours a day, warm temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees F, and a highly
moisturized fertile soil.

Uses of Basil

It may help to know how to use basil so you can choose the best variety. Using basil to color the
landscape or as a food ingredient are just two of the many common gardening ideas. To have
the fullest flavor, within the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking time, add fresh basil. You may put
fresh basil in dishes with tomato, soups, sauces, salads, and pasta. The flavor should mix well
with parsley, rosemary, or oregano among others.

To help you with your selection, listed below are the 10 basil varieties and their uses.

10 Varieties of Basil
1. Christmas Basil

Christmas basil is one variety of basil that adds fruity flavor to salads and drinks. This look
amazing in the landscape and it's also a pretty border plant averaging 16 to 20 inches in length
with its 2-inch, green leaves and purple flowers.

2. Cinnamon Basil

This variety is 25- to 30-inch and it is pleasant in fragrance and spicy in flavor with purple stems
and flowers and small leaves. t’s my favorite basil to use for fresh arrangements and in fruit
salads and garnishes. It is perfect for fresh arrangements and fruit salads.

3. Dark Opal Basil

You would love to have the Dark Opal basil in your garden as this is the type of basil that adds
color to floral displays. It can be made into pesto, adding beauty and spice to pasta or
bruschetta . These plants with purple stems, flowers and leaves range from 14 to 20 inches in
height.

4. Holy Basil

The Hindu religion hold the Holy Basil (also called Sacred basil or Tulsi) in the highest regard,
Holy basil. You can make tea out of its leaves to boost your immune system. Growing to about
12 to 14 inches tall, the Holy Basil has spotted green and purple leaves.

5. Lemon Basil

Summer could not get even more perfect with a glass of iced tea formulated with a sprig of
Lemon basil. The 20- to 24-inch plants are light green with white flowers and 2½-inch-long
leaves.

6. Lime Basil

Lime Basil has small green leaves and white flowers with lime scent and flavor suitable for fish
and chicken recipes. A simple syrup infused with Lime basil is a delicious addition to tea and
margaritas.

7. Spicy Bush Basil

With tiny leaves on small, mounded and soft green plants, Spicy Bush basil can be used as pots
or for lining the garden like the bonsai plants do. It is only about 8 to 10 inches tall with leaves
having a width of 1/2- to 1-inch-long.

8. Purple Ruffles Basil

This feathery Purple Ruffles should be a great addition to your garden and floral arrangements
or garnishing. It is similarly flavorful to Opal basil and it is 16 to 20-inches tall with 2 to 3 inches
long leaves.

9. Sweet Basil

If you want the best choice for Italian sauces and soups, then you have the Sweet Basil. The
Sweet Basil plants range from 14 to 30 inches tall. They are abundant in places that are usually
sunny and hot.

10. Sweet Thai Basil

There is an Asian variety of the Sweet Basil called the Sweet Thai basil that has a unique
spiciness into its anise-clove flavor which is different from the common sweet basil. Its purple
stems and green leaves reach up to 12 to 16 inches.

Health Benefits of Basil

Notice that all these varieties make a perfect addition to food recipes. But, Basil is a lot more
beneficial than you could ever think it would be. It is actually considered as one of the
healthiest herbs. It has an extraordinary list of nutrients that are essential for internal and
external purposes. According to the USDA Nutrient Database, for every 100 g (3.5 oz) of basil,
you can take advantage of the following nutrients:

Energy - 94 kJ (22 kcal) Carbohydrates - 2.65 g

Dietary fiber - 1.6 g
Protein - 3.15 g
Vitamin A - 264 μg
Riboflavin - 0.076 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.155 μg
Choline - 11.4 mg
Vitamin E - 0.80 mg
Calcium - 177 mg
Magnesium - 64 mg
Phosphorus - 56 mg
Sodium - 4 mg
Fat - 0.64 g
Water - 92.06 g
Thiamine - 0.034 μg
Niacin - 0.902 mg
Folate - 68 μg
Vitamin C - 18.0 mg
Vitamin K - 414.8 μg
Iron - 3.17 mg
Manganese - 1.148 mg
Potassium - 295 mg
Zinc - 0.81 mg Source: USDA Nutrient
Database
Notably, Basil is rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, iron,
magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Below is a list to elaborate the health benefits of basil to
compel you even more to include basil planting as one of your home gardening ideas.

 Vitamin K can be helpful for blood clotting. Potassium is also a vitalt part of cell and
body fluids, in controlling heart rate and blood pressure.
 The vitamin A containing beta-carotenes can act as powerful antioxidants that will
protect the cells lining in your blood vessels and other body structures which will
prevent high level of bad cholesterol that results to heart attacks and stroke among
others.
 Basil, in general, is a good source of vitamin A as it is called "pro-vitamin A." 100 g of
fresh herb basil leaves contain the daily required doses of vitamin A that is not only
essential to keep your vision healthy, but also to protect you from diseases such as oral
cavity and lung cancers.
 The antibacterial properties of basil fight the growth of harmful bacteria which include
listeria, E. coli, staphylococcus yersinia enterocolitica, and pseudomonas aeruginosa. It
also works as an anti-inflammatory herb that relieves the body from pain and diseases
such as rheumatoid arthritis. The herb's (E)-beta-caryophyllene (BCP) helps treat
arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. Holy Basil also has properties that can kill
harmful molecules and prevent damage caused by some free radicals brought about by
again in your liver, brain and heart.
 Basil, through its magnesium content, promotes cardiovascular wellness by relaxing the
muscles and blood vessels and improving blood flow and reducing the risk of heart
issues.
 Basil leaves produce essential oils such as eugenol, citronellol, citral, linalool, limonene
and terpineol which are also anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.
 You can also find Manganese in Basil. This mineral is used by the body as a co-factor for
the enzyme, superoxide dismutase antioxidants.

Plus, basil leaves are a huge source of iron. The fresh leaves have about 26% of RDA of iron.
Iron, known to many, is one of the major determinants of how much oxygen your blood can
carry.

To maximize, the benefits of Basil for different purposes, knowing the different ways to store
basil can be very beneficial.

Ways To Store Basil

Fresh basil is superior in flavor compared to the dried one. You will be able to determine a fresh
one from the dried one through the leaves of basil. The leaves should look The leaves of fresh
basil should look lively and very green. The leaves should also be spotless.

Wrap the fresh basil in a paper tower. Then, store it in the refrigerator. Actually, you can have it
frozen in airtight containers. You may also freeze the basil in ice cube trays so you can easily
add it in a soup or sauce. In storing dried basil, use a tightly sealed glass container and keep it in
a cool but dry place so it will stay fresh for as long as six months.

Have you been thinking about planting Basil? Planning a garden may take months for
preparation alone. Exerting an effort does not stop there, though. You want to produce more
out of your basil so it can be a rewarding project.

Gardening Ideas On Harvesting Basil Leaves And Producing More Out Of It

The minty smell of Basil may be used to make a room smell good and it can also be used to
spice up your pizza. Among the best gardening ideas, if you have basil plants, is to know when
the leaves should be harvested and what should be the proper ways to pick the leaves and to
encourage it to produce more. You want to produce as many harvests so Basil can serve its
purpose in your garden.

Steps for picking the leaves are as follows:

The night prior to the day you want to pick the leaves, water the plant thoroughly to wash off
the dust. The leaves also absorb water so they should last long after being picked. Remove any
dead or spotted leaf.

As part of garden planning, harvesting basil leaves is best done on late morning and before the
intense afternoon heat. Pick or cut each stem just above the second set of leaves. This should
be done to increase leaf production.

If you want to pull each leaf, use your fingers to avoid it from unnecessary breakage.

Among the many effective garden tips is to cut each tip of each branch if you want to harvest
weekly. If you prefer to pick basil monthly, cut the entire plant by half or just above the second
leaf set. Remember that the frequency of cutting must depend on the pace of sprouting.

To continue the rapid growth of basil leaves, pinch off any flower spikes immediately.

If you see a sign of frost, then cut the entire plant back to the ground to prevent leaves from
blackening.
For first timers, you might want to see the basil leaves untouched and retain its natural beauty.
Given the small garden ideas as said above, you should not hesitate to cut them out. Harvesting
basil is the key to produce a healthier basil bush.

Energy - 94 kJ (22 Carbohydrates - 2.65

kcal) g
Dietary fiber - 1.6 g Fat - 0.64 g
Protein - 3.15 g Water - 92.06 g
Vitamin A - 264 μg Thiamine - 0.034 μg
Riboflavin - 0.076 mg Niacin - 0.902 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.155
Folate - 68 μg
μg
Choline - 11.4 mg Vitamin C - 18.0 mg
Vitamin E - 0.80 mg Vitamin K - 414.8 μg
Calcium - 177 mg Iron - 3.17 mg
Manganese - 1.148
Magnesium - 64 mg
mg
Phosphorus - 56 mg Potassium - 295 mg
Sodium - 4 mg Zinc - 0.81 mg