Why not accompany those second crops of tomatoes with their natural flavour companion, basil? This fast-growing summer herb grows well while temperatures are warm and the days are long and sunny. It thrives in any warm garden, in a raised vegetable garden or in a pot on a sunny windowsill or the back steps.
It's a must-have herb for summer eating, easy to grow from seed or seedling (a faster option for this time of the year) or by taking cuttings, which strike readily in the warmth of summer.
At this time of the year, basil starts to reach maturity, which means it will form handsome spires of white flowers. To keep the plant leafy for longer, remove any early signs of flower stalks and plan to harvest the leafy growth to use for making pesto.
It's also time to get new seedlings planted to keep the flavour coming.
Despite all attempts to prevent it, basil will bloom. All is not lost, though, as those flower spires are highly attractive to beneficial visitors such as bees, wasps and predatory insects, which are after nectar in the basil flowers.
DIFFERENT CHOICES
If you're a fan of basil, grow as much as you have room for to add to tomato sandwiches, pizzas and tomato-based dishes, or pick armfuls to make into pesto or caprese salad.
As well as tasting good, basil is rich in vitamins A and C as well as calcium, iron and magnesium. It's also prized for its antibacterial properties.
Annual basil (Ocimum basilicum) is the variety best known in gardens over summer. It is also sold as small potted plants in fruit shops and supermarkets and is the best choice for pesto.
It is, however, just one of the many differently flavoured and scented basils that add interest to the garden as well as to your cooking. Some of these different basils are varieties of O. basilicum while others are closely related species or hybrids.
Bu hikaye Backyard & Outdoor Living dergisinin Backyard & Outdoor Living 63 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Backyard & Outdoor Living dergisinin Backyard & Outdoor Living 63 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Eco chic
Do your bit for the environment without compromising on style
Overachiever
Get the most out of your outdoor space
Backyard cabin fever
Tips on building a flatpack shed in your backyard
All decked out
What is the better building material to use around the home?
Make your garden glow
Amp up the wow factor in your backyard and extend your living after sunset
Colour chard
Though many aren't sure of the difference between silverbeet, kale and spinach, there's no mistaking rainbow chard
A savory character
This tasty Mediterranean herb has long tradition in both cooking and folk medicine
Allium invasion
Unbelievers may call it stinking rose, but cooks and gardeners have long prized fragrant garlic
Keep it natural
Elevate your outdoors with stone pavers
Get ready for spring
Winter is the perfect time to prepare for the growing season, as long as you have the right partner