Container Gardening

Did you ever wonder why the flavors of dried herbs are so dramatically different from fresh?  It is because the main flavor of herbs comes from oils that are produced by the plant as they grow and mature.  If you are looking for the best flavor possible from your basil, then, you need to work to get the highest concentration of oil in the basil leaves.

The first secret to growing basil with richer flavor is to give up on the idea that bigger is always better.  It is easy to encourage plants to grow larger by adding fertilizer and watering deeply and heavily.  This does not, however, make the basil plant produce more oil.  The most beautiful and lush-looking basil plants are often weak in flavor.

Higher heat will help your basil get a fuller flavor.  There is not much point to planting before daytime temperatures consistently reach into the 70s: you won’t see much growth until then.  Once it is warm enough for the basil, plant it in as much sun as possible.

The more frequently you harvest your basil, the more it will produce and the more flavorful the leaves will be.  Start removing leaves when the plan is around six inches high, and always trim above a leaf joint: this will encourage the plant to fill out and produce more.  Any time you see flower buds begin to form, pinch them off.  If the plant is allowed to go to seed, you will lose flavor.

You don’t want to cook fresh basil much, if at all.  The oils in them are quickly destroyed by the high heat of cooking, causing basil to blacken and loose its flavor.  Always add fresh basil in the last five minutes of cooking, or sprinkle it raw over cooked dishes.  Tearing basil rather than cutting with a knife can also help it maintain its best flavor.

With these tips, you can get the most of your garden basil.