Possible Health benefits from Basil

Possible benefits of including more basil in your diet, may include:

Possibly helping to prevent cancer of the bladder and prostate
Aiding in digestion
Can be used to treat flatulence and an upset stomach
As an antibiotic, it may help to fight colds and the flu

Just a few more great reasons to add and extra dash of basil to your dishes. I am always very generous with the basil I use in recipes.

Growing Basil from seed in your own garden

Planting Basil can be a very rewarding experience. It is an annual herb. If you want to get a head start on your basil, plant the seeds about 6 weeks before the last frost date for your area. You can set them near a sunny window for best results. The seeds take about 5-15 (depending on what seeds you have) to germinate. You will want to plant them about 1/8-1/4 inch deep in the soil. They will grow to about 18-24 inches high.

After the danger of frost, transplant your seedlings to an outdoor area, about 10 inches apart. You will want them to be about 3 inches tall. If you have no seedlings, now is the time to plant your seeds directly into the soil. You can thin out your plants as they grow to about 3 inches. Grows well in pots.

Tip, pinch back flowers to encourage more leaf growth. Begin to harvest all but 2 or 3 leaves at the base of the branch before flowers bloom.

Preserve leaves by drying or freezing, if you have to many to use fresh as an ingredient.
Enjoy!