Basil tree is a very beautiful and fragrant tree. Basil is famous around the world for its use and the benefits that it has on our health. Basil tree needs care in order to grow and have the amazing leaves that are used in our cuisines.
There are different types of basil trees that you can choose to plant. You can combine and have different types in your garden. It’s up to you which one you will choose. Below we are going to give you tips on how you can grow the basil tree.
Additionally, we are going to give you tips on how you can take care of the basil tree. Also, you will learn about the benefits that this tree has and you will find recipes that you can use basil in.
Basil Tree Types
There are different types of basil and basil trees. The sizes can vary from 8 inches to 4 feet tall. In this way, you’ll have many different types to grow in your garden and it could be more than one. There are 15 types that you can choose from, let’s have a look at them.
Greek Basil
Greek basil can grow 8 inches tall and is considered to be one of the smallest varieties. It has got small leaves with a pointed shape. Greeks use it in their salads and in their dishes. It is considered to be a very tasteful garnish. You can also grow it in a pot and place it around other plants and flowers.
Summerlong Basil
Summerlong belongs to the dwarf variety. What is great about it is the fact that it matures earlier than the other varieties. From 30 to 60 days you will have incredible basil. You can use this type to make your own sauces and this type forms small bushes. Why not try to plant it then?
Cardinal Basil
Cardinal Basil is one of the most beautiful basil types. It has clustered red flowers that grow 2 ½ feet. This variety has a spicy scent which makes it perfect if you want to add extra flavor to your olive oil or even your vinegar.
You could plant this variety in spring. Place the seeds 6 inches apart from each other and then cover them with ¼ of the soil. Try to keep the soil as moist as you can and you will be able to see the first results from 7 to 14 days.
Cinnamon Basil
Cinnamon is a type that is used in the Asian kitchen. They use it in salads, in noodles, and in fried rice. It is a spicy type with an amazing fragrance. The flowers have a pink color and the stems have a red and purple color. It is an amazing variety too.
Sweet Basil
Sweet Basil is the most well-known type. When you’re shopping at the grocery store you most probably are buying this type. It has a green color and round leaves that have a cup shape. This type is known to be also a mosquito repel.
Thai Sweet Basil
Thai Sweet basil is a variety that when you cook it can keep the flavor compared to the other types. It is famous in the Asian kitchen and it has small dark pointed leaves and a spicy flavor. It has also flowers of dark purple color and has a height of 2 feet. This type grows in 60 days.
Genovese Basil
Genovese basil has a strong flavor. It has got dark green leaves and is considered to be Italian basil that is used in pestos and other dishes. Its leaves are flat and some use this type with the Sweet basil in order to have a mixture of different flavors.
Purple Basil
Purple basil is different from all the other types because of its color. Its flavor isn’t sweet but if you use it in your salads you will have an amazing color. The particular type has a height of 18 inches. Its leaves can reach 1 2/3 inches when they grow and it will mature in 80 days.
Lettuce Basil
Lettuce basil has a mild flavor and large leaves. The leaves are 4 inches wide and up to 10 inches long. Even the leaves are big its height is only 1 foot high. It needs more time in order to give flowers compared to the other varieties. Its leaves are wrinkles, floppy and large.
Lemon Basil
Lemon basil is becoming more and more popular because of its fragrance. It grows from 12 to 18 inches tall and it has leaves with a light green color. You can use this variety not only in your salads and dishes but also in your tea too. Give it a try.
Lime Basil
Lime basil might not be as famous as the lemon basil but if you want you can plant both varieties in your garden in order to have a great result. Its leaves have a narrow shape and it can grow from 16 to 24 inches tall. You can use it in your dishes too and have an amazing fragrance.
Spicy Globe Basil
Spice globe basil is a dwarf variety that can also grow in pots. It has a strong spicy flavor and it has small leaves. This variety can be found with the name of Spicy Bush Basil too. It creates a tight clump when it grows.
African Blue Basil
African blue basil is a perennial; you need to make sure that it won’t freeze if you have it in your garden. This variety can reach the height of 4 feet. It has also a great fragrance of mint, peppers and cloves. It is great for your dishes too.
Holy Basil
As the name implies Holy basil is considered to be holy in Hinduism. It is used in order to treat the stomach ailments. Apart from that though, it has a spice and sweet fragrance. It is preferable to use it in the dishes because if you eat it raw you might feel that its flavor is a bit bitter. It is used in India mainly.
Green Ruffles
Green ruffles can grow from 20 to 24 inches tall. You will be able to harvest it in 70 days. It has curled ruffled leaves that give a mild and delicate taste. You can use this variety in pasta, salads, and your sauces. Let’s have a look now at how you can grow your basil tree.
How to Grow a Basil Tree
Growing a basil tree isn’t that difficult all you have to do is to follow our detailed guide in order to know how you can do it. First of all, you can start to plant your basil tree indoors about 6 weeks before spring comes. In this way, the soil won’t be that cold and when you plant it, it will flourish.
Basil tree needs to grow in a warm environment with a warm soil. Before you transfer it to make sure that the soil is at least 50 degrees in order to grow best. If the soil isn’t warm enough there is a chance that the basil tree won’t grow. This tree needs plenty of sunlight. At least 6 to 8 hours and the soil should be moist and it should drain the water very well.
When the time comes for you to plant the basil seeds you should make sure to plant them ¼ inches deep in the soil and leave between them 10 to 12 inches. If you plant smaller varieties then plant them a bit further from 16 to 24 inches. Their height will probably reach 12 to 24 inches depending on the variety.
If you are going to use the basil for in your dishes then make sure not to use fertilizers that have chemicals prefer to make your own so as to protect the basil. Also, keep the soil clean and plant them in place in your garden that isn’t close to the streets.
Watering the Basil Tree
Watering the basil tree can be quite tricky. Watering it varies from when it is young and when it matures. Remember that you shouldn’t overwater it because it will rot and this isn’t the result that you want.
When the basil is still at the early stage you could use a sprayer to water the top of the soil but you shouldn’t let the soil dry out. It needs water just enough so as to grow. When the basil grows you should water it once every week and it should be deep watering. You could also use a soil moisture meter that will show you how moist the soil is.
Basil Tree Care
Taking care of your basil tree is a very important task. You need to ensure as we mentioned above that the soil is moist but not too moist. Don’t overwater. A good idea would be to add mulch, in this way the soil will remain moist. When the first leaves grow, they will be around 6, prune them in order to above the next set.
You should repeat the pruning process when you notice that the leaves have from 6 to 8 leaves. You should always make sure that the basil tree branches will have the number of the first set of leaves. When six weeks will pass pinch off the center because you don’t want them to flower early.
If you notice that the weather is changing and it’s becoming cold then you should harvest it because the cold will destroy it. The right time to harvest the leaves is when the leaves will be from 6 to 8 inches tall. Freezing the leaves of the basil tree is a good way to preserve them and in this way, they won’t lose their flavor.
Greek Basil Tree
Greek basil is a very beautiful tree with a terrific fragrance of basil. The Greek basil tree can grow in a pot also and you can place it not only in your house but also on your patio too. You can trim it in order to keep its round shape but don’t remove more than 1/3 of the foliage.
It needs full sunlight in order to grow. Its height can be from 61 to 91cm and it grows very well in USDA zones 9 to 11. You can use the Greek basil in your salads, in your dishes, in your sauces, wherever you want to. It’s a herb that will offer a great taste to whatever you make.
How to Use Fresh Basil
There are many ways that you can use fresh basil. You can use fresh basil in your eggs, salads, on top of sandwiches, and to your pasta. Apart from that, you can use it in sweets like ice-cream, in dips, and you also make your own basil butter. There are many uses for basil.
You can also use it to prepare your drinks. There is no limit at all in the recipes that you can use basil. Basil can be good for our health too. It has many benefits that will help you feel better and your health will improve.
Basil Tree And It’s Health Benefits
First of all, basil has the ability to calm your stomach. You can create your basil tree and when you’ll drink it, it will help you with the digestion. You can add 3 leaves in a cup of hot water and you should drink it between your meals. You can also add honey to make it a bit sweet and to have a great taste.
You can also use basil for bites and stings. Basil oil is antioxidant and antimicrobial. If you apply the oil to the area that is affected you will feel relieved. Also, in emergencies, you can chew basil leaves and apply it in the area that you need to.
It is a great remedy for headaches too. It is a great muscle relaxant. Diffuse basil essential oil in your rooms and stay there and relax. You can also use it in your bath in order to calm. Add a few drops to your bath and you will feel relaxed and your skin will be very soft.
Finally, it lowers blood pressure and it regulates blood sugar. If you use it in your dishes and you have a healthy diet you will find that next time that you’ll run tests you will have better results because of the vitamins that basil has.
4 Surprising Health Benefits of Basil (Video)
Drinking Basil Recipes
Below we are going to give you some recipes that you can make on your own healthy drinks with basil. The first recipe is the honey basil lemonade.
The ingredients are the following:
- 1. ½ cup of honey
- 2. A pinch of salt
- 3. 3 cups of cold water
- 4. Basil leaves (for garnish)
- 5. 1 cup of fresh lemon juice
- 6. Ice
- 7. 2 cups of basil leaves (loosely packed)
How To: Mix the lemon juice, the basil leaves, salt, and honey in a blender. Use the high speed for 1’. Strain it through a mesh. Add cold water and ice. Whisk and your lemonade is ready. Add the basil leaves as a final touch.
Pomelo and Basil Cocktail is a drink that is great not only for the summer but the whole year. It’s an easy cocktail.
The ingredients are the following for the basil syrup and for the cocktail:
- 1. 1 cup of water
- 2. 1 cup of sugar
- 3. 6 basil leaves
- 4. 1 ½ ounce of gin
- 5. ¾ ounce of basil syrup
- 6. 1 ounce of fresh pomelo juice
How to: All you have to do in order to make the syrup is to mix in a saucepan the water the sugar and the basil leaves. Let the sugar dissolve and cook it for 10’ and then strain it. Then fill in a shaker with the ice, add the juice, the syrup and the gin. Shake and use a cocktail glass and the cocktail is ready.
The final drink is the Black Basil with Vodka.
The ingredients that you will need are the following:
- 1. 2 basil leaves
- 2. Tonic water
- 3. ½ part of lemoncello
- 4. ½ part of simple syrup
- 5. 1 part of lemon juice
- 6. 1 part of Vodka
How to: Use a shaker and fill it with ice. Add all the ingredients and shake them. Use a highball glass and fill it with ice and add the drink. Top up with tonic water and a few basil leaves for garnish. Your drink is ready! Enjoy!
How to Transplant your ‘Grafted Basil’ (Video Tutorial)
Conclusion
From what we saw basil tree needs the basic care that all trees and plants need. There are many varieties that you can choose and combine in your garden. It’s up to you to see which ones you’ll combine.
Additionally, there are many benefits to the leaves of the basil tree, not only for our health but for our skin too. You can use basil in any way you like. Apart from the food, you can use it in your drinks too. Enjoy every minute of it.
