Basil 101: 5 tips for growing this healthy herb

Planting basil in your garden is a great way to make sure your family is eating delicious and nutritious meals all year round.

Basil is considered one of the world's healthiest foods. It has anti-bacterial properties and anti-inflammatory benefits. Given how high it is in magnesium, it is even good for your heart.

When you buy basil plants, don't be surprised if you find several seedlings in a single container.

• Gently separate them without pulling on the stems and transplant them to individual pots or directly to your garden.
• After transplanting, water the plants well and cover them with an upside-down flowerpot for a couple of days to protect them from strong sun.

Pinching back basil shoots keeps the plants from flowering (flowering reduces flavour and inhibits leaf growth) and promotes the growth of bushy branches.

• Pinch plants every one to two weeks, just above the point where two little leaf buds cling to the stem.

Be adventurous with your basil.

• 'Sweet Genovese' is popular and versatile, and there are wonderful basils with purple leaves, too.
• Small-leafed globe basil is ideal for small pots or for planting in a large container with other culinary herbs.

• Basil blackens when cut, so chop it at the last minute, just before adding it to a dish. Heat or vinegar-based salad dressing helps to fix its colour.
• Basil also blackens when you freeze it, but once thawed, frozen basil holds its flavour better than the dried version.

A warm-natured annual, basil cannot stand cold soil.

• Wait until your last frost is long gone to plant purchased seedlings in your garden or in pots kept in a sunny spot.
• If you can't get enough of this delicious herb, sow some seeds at the same time that you set out purchased seedlings.