Basil
Tender perennial
18 inches

Cultivation

Site	Warm Sun. Protect from wind, frost, and scorching, midday sun.
Soil	Well drained and moist.
Propagation	Sow thinly in heated location. After all danger of frost, sow in pots, or in position.
Growing	Avoid over watering seedling as they are prone to "damping off". Thin to 8" avoid transplanting. Always water at midday, not in the evening.
Harvesting	Pick leaves when young. Gather tops as flowers open.
Preserving	Freeze leaves (first paint both sides with olive oil) or dry them. Store whole leaves in olive oil with salt or dry-pack them with salt. Infuse leaves in oil and vinegar.

Uses

Culinary	Leaf - Pound with oil or tear with fingers rather than chop.Add at last minute to cooked dishes. Sprinkle over salads and sliced tomatoes. Used in pesto sauce and many Mediterranean dishes, and to flavor vinegars.
Household	Whole Plant - Place potted plants on window sills to deter flies.
Cosmetic	Flowering top and leaf - Add a fresh infusion for an invigorating bath.
Medicinal	Leaf - Steep a few leaves in wine for several hours as a tonic. Infuse as tea to aid digestion. Put a drop of essential oil on a sleeve and inhale to allay mental fatigue. Basil has many uses in aromatherapy.