Organic Herbs - Healthy Basil

One of the most common Organic Herbs grown in the home is basil. Basil is the well-known name for “Ocimum basilicum”. It is a sweet herb of the mint family. Basil is used in cooking. It is also used by some for medicinal purposes.

Basil is a tender, tropical herb, and does best in an indoor Organic Herb garden, at least until the weather is warm.

This Organic Herb can be grown easily from seed. If you intend to put it in an outdoor Organic Herb garden, start it indoors under fluorescent or HID plant grow lights.

Planting Basil

Plant this Organic Herb in medium rich to rich organic soil. Be sure the soil is well drained. If you are growing basil in an indoor Organic Herb garden, plant seeds in individual pots. Thin plants to 10″ apart when they are about 2″ tall. Outdoors, plant seedlings (started indoors) about 9 to 12 inches apart in full sunshine.

Indoor Organic Herb Garden

When planting this Organic Herb indoors, set your pots on a windowsill facing south (northern hemisphere) or north (southern hemisphere). Avoid drafts, and be sure the plants have plenty of natural light or fluorescent/HID grow lights. Water your basil regularly, but be careful not to give it too much water. If the leaves look wilted, basil needs more water. Water it thoroughly, and place it in sunshine immediately. It will usually recover.

Pinching Flowers

Basil produces small purple or white flowers. This Organic Herb is not known for its flowers, however, except to bees, birds, and butterflies. It is grown for its leaves. Flowers should be pinched from the stems of this Organic Herb so they will not slow or stop the leaf growth. A few may be left for their beauty - or to produce seeds.

Pinching Leaves

The leaves of this Organic Herb are green, or green with a purple tinge. They are cut during the growing season, used fresh, or bundled to hang until dry. Pinching basil leaves to use fresh will make your Organic Herb grow more leaves. This will keep basil in an indoor Organic Herb garden producing continuously.

Using Healthy Basil in Cooking

This Organic Herb is delicious in green salads. It is also good in recipes that combine tomato and cheese. Basil is the main ingredient in Italian pesto, which is a mixture of basil, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese. Try fresh basil in egg white omelets to perk up the flavor.

In addition to being delicious, this Organic Herb protects the body’s cell structures and chromosomes from radiation and oxygen-based damage. Basil protects, too, against unwanted bacterial growth.

Buying Basil Seed

A good source of basil and other Organic Herb seeds is Main Street Organic Seeds - which we review on this website. To read our review of Main Street Organic Seeds, click here or on the blue Organic Seeds tab at the top of this page.