There are few herbs that are as aromatic, as delicious and as versatile as the humble basil plant. Available in numerous varieties, useful for cooking and as a medicinal herb, and it is also a wonderfully beautiful addition to the garden, you won’t regret adding basil to your must grow plant list.
Basil grows all throughout summer and winter here in the Lowveld, although it will slow down during the winter months. Other areas of South Africa, where the winters are harsher and covered with frost, basil will need to be overwintered safely in doors, but the good news is that since it grows abundantly in a pot, you can keep it on a sunny kitchen counter and still enjoy oodles of fresh basil in your pasta.
If you are growing your basil in a garden space, the summer heat and a good amount of water will have that tiny seedling growing into an uncontrollable bush in no time. And when you have that much basil on your hands, it helps to keep a couple of preservation recipes and tips nearby to hold onto that flavour.
The basil plant has been a part of human history for almost 5000 years and although it might not look like it, it is a member of the mint family. The ancients believed that basil had magical properties and used it for healing, as an antidote to snake bites and for religious purposes.
Basil is native to tropical areas in South America and Africa, so if you are adding it to your list of must-grow plants, your basil will be right at home.
Types of Basil
Basil is a prolific herb, which can be used in countless ways. The majority of basil types are the culinary variety, meaning you cook with them or consume them fresh. But to figure out how you want to use basil, you first need to know a little something about the various types and then find the ones that will suit your requirements.
There are more than 35 types of basil, but when it comes to the ones that you will add to your garden, your list will be a lot shorter than 35.
Popular basil varieties grown in home herb gardens in South Africa include Sweet Basil, Basil Genovese, Lemon Basil, Dark Opal Basil, Thai Siam Queen Basil, Blue Spice Basil (which is a combination of Lemon Basil and Purple Basil), Italian Large Leaf Basil, Red Culinary Basil, Lettuce Leaf Basil, Newton Basil, Cinnamon Basil, Holy Basil, Lime Basil, and Romanesco Basil.
If you are just buying your basil from a mass shop type nursery, your options will be very much limited and as such you will probably end up buying a variety just called Basil. And that’s okay, this variety is quite tasty. If you are looking for something a little more unique, you can look at online seed companies.
The use of basil goes far beyond just cooking.
As a herb, basil can be used medicinally, to provide additional support for the body but if you want to explore that road, you should consult with a herbalist to ensure that you get the right basil and to further ensure that you prepare it the right way. Herbs can be incredibly potent and should always be treated with respect.
Holy Basil in particular is used for its healing herbal properties. Hailing from India, Holy Basil grows into a tremendous bush that can be harvested with vigour all throughout the growing season and dried and used as a tea. It is used to sooth flu symptoms like a sore throat, it is said to help aid with anxiety and it can be used to detox the body. Apparently, it also tastes quite delicious as an iced tea.
I grow, at the moment, just three types of basil: plain old sweet culinary basil, lemon basil, and dark opal basil. I also have a humongous African Blue Basil bush which is a perennial and great for feeding the bees. Before I knew there was more than one variety of basil, I tried to make a salad from my African Blue Basil. Needless to say, it was awful.
Sowing
Basil is surprisingly easy to grow from seed. It also helps that they are large enough to easily handle.
While some varieties might need a little more planning and care when sowing, the common seed that you can buy just about anywhere, needs very little effort.
If you live in a frost free area, you can sow basil all year round. It might take a little bit longer to germinate during the cold months, but you will still get little seedlings within about 14 days, provided you keep the seeds moist and warm.
Once you have your preferred seed starting mix in your seed trays or pots, simply make a small indentation, plant your seed, give it some water and wait. The seedlings are quite cute when they first appear. Look for 2 round little leaves, they almost look like tiny half balls. As small as they are, if you gently rub the leaves, you will get that refreshing basil scent.
Growing
Basil doesn’t need much fuss in order to get a bountiful harvest. Once your basil babies have their true leaves, and they are big enough to pot into a bigger pot or to plant out, all you need to do is dig their new home, add some compost, plant them and keep them happy with regular watering and some plant food. Basil is able to thrive in most soil types but you can always give it a boost.
Too much water can be a bad thing, but extreme heat and not enough water will cause the plant to unhappily and rather dramatically shed its leaves, leaving you with a stalk. If this happens, you should continue to care for and water the plant, and it will eventually start putting its leaves back on.
The plant can be susceptible to a bug invasion. Japanese beetles and slugs and snails tend to find it irresistible but they can be controlled. Keep beetles at bay by planting marigolds nearby, and remove slugs and snails when you see them. You can use bait, but I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if you have dogs and cats.
Basil grows well in compact spaces and is a superb companion for tomatoes.
The plant is mostly considered to be an annual, which means it lasts a season and either dies by going to seed or by being covered with frost. In my experience, here in the warm Lowveld, where winters rarely get colder than 20 degrees Celsius, basil can be a perennial, but only if you are smart about it.
Within a few months of having your basil plant, it will start producing flowers. If you have had your fill of basil, you can leave the flowers and collect the resulting seeds, but if you want to prolong the life of your basil, keep cutting the flower stems off. The more frequently you trim the plant, the better your chance of turning it into a perennial.
Harvesting
You can aggressively harvest your basic culinary basil plant leaves as soon as the plant is about 30 centimeters tall. The more you harvest the plant, the bushier it will get and the more leaves it will give you.
You can harvest individual leaves or, and this is probably better, pull the tops off of each stem, taking a couple of leaves each time. This will force the plant to make more stems and more leaves.
How you harvest the other varieties of basil you grow can depend on the basil variety.Â
The basil you use for making pesto or for adding to pastas, will be the larger leafed basil and it can be roughly harvested. But basil you make tea with or even use in a flower bouquet might need to be harvested more gently, as you could be taking more than just the leaves. I can’t list all the varieties and their harvesting techniques here, so be sure to look it up.
What to do with your Harvest
Basil is a culinary delight and this is how you can use it:
- Make Pesto! Get your leaves, your olive oil, some nuts (even macs are great for pesto), some garlic, and salt and pepper. Mix and mash it all together and keep it in the fridge for a fresh, cheap pesto treat.
- Make Pasta! Use chopped up basil, mixed with melted butter or olive oil, to coat your cooked pasta before adding the sauce of your choice, or make a delicious tomato and basil sauce for your Italian evening.
- Make Pizza! Pesto as a pizza base is out of this world, especially if you top it with mozzarella cheese and butter fried mushrooms. Basil can also be used as a topping on a tomato and cheese pizza.
- Make Cocktails! Lime, Basil, Sparkling Water and Vodka make for a refreshing summer cocktail.
- Make Sandwiches! Basil, tomato, cheddar, bacon, and melted mozzarella or brie is the summertime lunch you’ve been missing.
Seed Suppliers
General Suppliers
Kirchhoff Seeds – https://www.kirchhoffs.co.za/product-category/herbs/basil/
Mayford Seeds – https://mayford.co.za/herb-seeds/
Specialist Suppliers (for more variety and better prices)
Living Seeds – https://livingseeds.co.za/product/search?search=basil
Seeds for Africa – https://www.seedsforafrica.co.za/collections/herb-seeds/Basil
