1. Basil – Originated in India and is a member of the mint family. Sweet or common basil is used in Italian cooking and pesto sauce. There are a variety of Asian and Thai basils that are used in Asian recipes.
Wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_basil_cultivars ) lists about 30 different varieties of basil including one “Lettuce Leaf Basil” with leaves so large they are used in salads. Herbs2000.com/basil states 150 varieties of basil are cultivated around the world so you can find the ones perfect for your cooking tastes.
Sweet Basil has a strong clove scent when fresh. It is a spicy herb with hints of mint and clove that goes well with almost any tomato dish or sauce. Use it on salads, hamburger, chicken or cottage cheese. Basil is also reputed to be an anti-inflammatory, the fresh leaves used for insect bites and for some respiratory problems.
Windowsill Greek Basil
Starting – Can be started from seed but a nursery plant will get your indoor garden going sooner. Tagawa Gardens in Aurora, CO charges about $4.00 per plant in a 4 inch plastic pot in season. One plant properly taken care of should be all you would need. The mature plant grows to about 18 inches tall so allow both lateral and overhead room. Basil can tolerate a wide ph range from 4.3 (very acidic) to 8.4 on the basic or alkaline side. (A ph of 7 is neutral)with the best range about 6.3 ph. Use a soil test kit or soil meter to determine the ph. Soil test kits I researched range from about four dollars to eighteen dollars. They are available from most seed and nursery companies or your local nursery. A soil test meter will range from about nine to 15 dollars and is much easier to use than a soil test kit.
Temperature – Basil will not tolerate temperatures much below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. So make sure to keep your plants in a warm sunny location or under artificial lighting for plants. If necessary, use a heat strip to keep your pots and the plant roots warm.
Containers – porous, breathable terra cotta clay pots with the large drainage hole are good for growing single basil plants. SAVE MONEY HINT -- check a local Dollar Tree store in your area. (Poundland in the UK.) Everything is $1 or less. They do carry terra cotta and plastic pots. Also Google (terra cotta pots ) and do some research. Hey research can be fun. A 6.5 or 7 inch pot per one plant should be about right.
Almost any container can be used for your indoor garden. Just make sure it has adequate drainage. Nothing will kill a plant faster than overwatering with bad drainage. Your plants will get root rot and die. Water when the soil is dry to the touch about 1 inch down. Place container in sunny location to receive around six hours a day of direct sunlight. Supplement as needed with artificial grow lighting up to 10 to 12 hours a day.
Harvesting – Individual leaves can be plucked and used anytime. For larger harvests for drying or using in oils and vinegars, wait until the flowers bloom. Then pick the flowering tops and leaves for sorting and use. Using a sharp knife or scissors will cause the least damage to the plant. Make sure to leave at least 4 or 5 leaf sets and flowers on the plant to keep it alive.
When using in recipes, individual leaves will give the most flavor by tearing rather than cutting. But using a blender or food processor to make pesto is the only way to go.