Herbs from My Garden: Basil

One of my favorite herbs is basil. Unfortunately, this aromatic and flavorful herb is not good for storing fresh. Basil starts to decay almost as soon as it is picked. That is why it is a great idea to have basil in my garden. I can pick my fresh basil any time I want (during the growing season that is).
To conserve the limited growing space in my garden, I grow basil in pots on my deck. Basil is a very adaptable plant, and grows well in containers. The one that I am growing is called “Genovese” basil and is a cultivar of sweet basil. Harvesting basil is easy – simply pinch out the topmost set of leaves.
I once dried some basil, but I ended up with very small amount of final product. I decided that it is wiser to buy dried basil rather than make it myself. Even though it is a good addition to many dishes, dried basil is not as flavorful as when fresh. That is why I now use my fresh basil to full extent – in salads, in some tomato-based dishes, and, of course, in pesto.