Basil Bush is a dwarf, compact variety, approximately half the size of sweet basil, it is ideal for planting in pots and probably the easiest basil to grow, it is perfect for the kitchen window sill and for container gardening.The leaves are smaller than sweet basil, with a slightly milder flavour.

Tiny white flowers will appear in the summer. Though lovely looking, they will detract from the flavour of the leaves making them slightly ‘woody’. Trimming the flowers will quickly restore the lovely basil flavour that so becomes tomatoes, Italian cooking and just about anything that you would use sweet basil for.

Basil is an incredibly versatile herb. Its medicinal qualities are the subject of many a herbalist tome, both historical and contemporary. Store any spare seeds in your first aid box: they are meant to be a great cure for serpent bites. We are apparently advised to “Take ‘some’ and spread the remainder on the wound” !

Position:
Basil should be grown in a position that receives sunlight for around 6-8 hours a day. It can be grown indoors on a sunny windowsill or outdoors in containers or soil. Position the Basil in a sheltered spot that avoids cold winds.
Sow at any time if the plant is to be kept indoors. If sowing inside and planting outside, you can sow in late February onwards. It is vital that Basil is not exposed to the last spring frosts so if sowing outside be patient and sow in late May.

Prepare the site:
If growing outdoors: Basil likes a fertile soil that has been well dug to allow good soil air circulation. Introducing well rotted organic compost or manure into the soil a month or so before sowing will help this. Before sowing ensure that the compost or soil is weed free and moist.
If growing in pots then a general purpose compost is a suitable soil solution. Ensure that adequate drainage is allowed from the base of the pot.

Sowing:
Sow the seed thinly and if growing in pots sow enough for a few plants in each pot. Cover with 6mm (¼ in) of compost and firm gently. Basil seeds germinate in under a week. Once the seedlings have developed 2 pairs of true leaves, thin out the weakest seedlings, leaving each pots strongest.

Tending:
If growing indoors in pots then weeds shouldn't be a problem. If growing outdoors then you can add organic mulch around the plants to help aid soil moisture retention and prevent weed establishment. Add a small amount of fertiliser every month or so to any pot plants. Water at the base of the plant avoiding showering the leaves and stems. Be sure to pinch out any flowers that appear. This will help preserve the plants flavour and also channel the plants energies into more leaf growth.

Harvesting:
Basil is a pick and come again crop. Pick a few leaves off a number of plants, harvest the top most leaves first. Basil will grow all year round indoors but outdoor plants should be dug up and brought indoors before the first autumn frosts if you want to extend the plants growing season. Never harvest more than one third of any herb plant so that it can recover from the pruning.

Storing: Basil can be used in fresh or dried form. Cut the stems at soil level and hang bunches up to air dry in a warm room for about a week, then remove them from the stems Store in a dry airtight container for up to 12 months. Basil can also be frozen for later use

Companion Plants:
When interplanted, basil is said to improve the taste of tomatoes and peppers, as well as repelling hornworms and aphids. Basil is also the one herb reputed to repel mosquitoes around its growing place.

Nomenclature:
Basil's English name and botanical specific may come from the Greek, basilikon, meaning king, or the Latin basilicus, meaning royal.