Basil is a classic summertime herb. With its delightful
texture, sweet flavor and fragrant leaves, it's perfect in everything
from cocktails to pasta dishes to fruit salads. Make your own bottled
tomato sauce, pick a few leaves to chiffonade and garnish over
watermelon or muddle it into a strawberry mojito - no matter what you do
with basil, it's sure to be summery, light and delicious.
However, if you buy basil in the grocery store, you often end up taking home a huge bunch - and a lot of it will wilt before you get a chance to enjoy it. Instead of spending a fortune at the market, why not grow this herb right in your own garden? It's easy, simple and fun, and best of all, you'll have an endless supply of fresh basil to enjoy all summer long.
Although basil likes warm soil, it can't flourish if left out in bright, hot sunshine for too long. Explains Southern Living, "Eventually, all basils will bolt (send up flowers), and then the leaves will toughen and lose flavor. This will happen sooner if plants get too much sun. So plant them in a spot that has sunshine till midday and shade in the afternoon."
You can plant basil today, but you should also plant a second crop in July to ensure that you have enough for the whole summer, says the magazine.
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