Basil herbs are royalty, meaning \”King\”the name originated from the Greek word basileus. But you new that. Rumour has it that, many years ago, the Romans & Greeks associated the word and the herb became somewhat malicious. And get this… some good citizens believed that the only way to get herbs to germinate was to scream a curse at them. This has since proved to be incorrect but it is difficult to argue against the fact that basil herbs are a \’strongly perfumed\’ if not too strong.
In later times, basil came to represent love, and men in Italy would give women a sprig of basil as a romantic gesture. When it comes to cuisine, basil is usually identified with Mediterranean food, along with Italian and Thai specialties. However, did you know that this herb actually came from India? Yes, it was Vishnu and Krishna\’s own personal choice.
Growing Basil Plants
Basil herb plants grow as perennials in some tropical regions and are often used as annuals in temperate zones. The first and most important thing to understand about basil herbs is that the plant is very sensitive to temperature. It is best grown in warm and sunny weather. In fact, it\’s more preferable to keep pots or gardens indoors rather than expose it to outdoor weather.
Basil prefers soil that does not hold the water too much along with premium quality compost or well \’matured\’ manure. It needs a constant supply of water along with good drainage. Basil will wilt quickly if it doesn\’t get enough light or it\’s positioned where it gets a breeze. Additionally. those looking after basil will need to add mulch to the soil to maintain it properly. The stems will need to be removed along with the flowers when it starts to get going.
And don\’t worry about cutting the flowers off, it\’s that very act that gives us basil, surely the most flavorsome herb available. Try tasting the leaves prior to flowering, that\’s when the flavor is the strongest.
The Use of Basil
Basil herbs are not traditionally used as a homeopathic extract, its greatest resources are discovered in culinary use. However, basil does have certain antibacterial and antiviral properties. Basil is actually related to mint, and it has some value as a digestive aid, not to mention a smooth and comforting tea.
Many say there are lots on varietis of basil yet to be revealed although there currently is over sixty varieties. The most popular of the family is sweet basil although certain soups & beverages contain lemon basil. Other members of the group include Opal herbs & cinnamon.
Growing your own basil herbs gives you a rare opportunity: you can use it as seasoning when the herbs are extra fresh and straight off the leaves of the plant. Basil you find at the common store has been sitting in a container for days or even weeks and is not anywhere near the same quality.
Just imagine the meals you could make with a fresh serving of real basil!
Peter Williams is a mad herb gardener & loves spreading the \’herb word\’… so for more great information about the secrets of basil herbs check out What Are The Healthiest Herbs? You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.
