Sweet Basil is one of the most popular kitchen herbs around the world.? Known for it?s anise-like flavor and intense clove-like aroma, Dried or fresh, basil is great for cooking or for creating an invigorating atmosphere anywhere in your home.? Basil also offers several medicinal uses, including as a deodorizer, anti-arthritic, topical antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insect repellent.? When eaten, Basil provides us healthy doses of vitamins A, K, and C, as well as magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium.
Grow your own basil from seed by sowing indoors in the early spring, then transplanting outdoors at least two weeks after danger of frost has passed.? Basil can also be easily grown from clippings.? To get the most fresh basil leaves from your plants, be sure to remove the flower stalks from mature growth when they appear.? (Alternately, you may want to leave some flower stalks as basil blossoms smell wonderful and will attract pollinators to your garden.)
Germination: |
5 ? 10 days |
Hardiness: |
Annual (very frost sensitive) |
Light preference: |
Full sun / Morning sun, afternoon shade (hotter climates) |
Soil conditions: |
Rich, moist, well-drained, pH 6 ? 7 |
Fertilizer: |
Incorporate compost or blood meal at time of transplant
high-nitrogen (2:1:1 ratio) every two weeks thereafter. |
Height: |
24 ? 30? |
Spacing: |
12 ? 18? |
Time to Harvest: |
10 weeks
|
Much like other Alliums (garlic, onions, shallots) growing chives can help to drive away harmful insect pests like aphids and mosquitoes from your garden.? Also characteristic of Alliums, chives are high in sulfur ? a natural antibiotic.? When ingested, chives offer anti-inflammatory and digestive properties.
Dried or fresh chives make excellent additions to fish, soups, potatoes, and vegetable dishes.? Dice up immature, unopened flower buds for a light onion-like flavor that is slightly more pungent than chopped chive leaves, but less over-powering than onions themselves.
Grow your own chives from seed by sowing indoors, then transplanting outdoors in the spring or fall.? Chives may also be sown directly outside.? After several years, divide and replant clumps in early spring.? To get the most fresh chives from your plants, remember to harvest by cutting completely across the base of the plant, leaving about 1/2? stubs above ground.? Removing all of the leaves at once will encourage the plant to regrow.? Preserve chives at the end of the season by drying or by adding fresh herbs to oil, butter, or vinegar.
Germination: |
7 ? 14 days |
Hardiness: |
Zones 3 ? 9 |
Light preference: |
Sun / Part shade |
Soil conditions: |
Rich, moist, well-drained |
Fertilizer: |
Incorporate compost at time of transplant and fish emulsion
or other balanced plant food every 3 ? 4 weeks thereafter. |
Height: |
12 ? 18? |
Spacing: |
4 ? 8? |
Time to Harvest: |
varies |