Basil has to be one of the most popular and versatile herbs in the UK. Often bought as plants in the supermarket, it's easy to grow at home with a little bit of knowledge and care.

Growing calendar
Sow indoors	Mar - mid May
Plant out/transplant	End May - Jun
Harvest	Jun - Sep

How to grow basil

Sow basil seed 0.1cm deep in pots. Keep seedlings well ventilated and not too wet. Transplant 30cm apart when 5-10cm tall. Choose fertile soil in a sunny, sheltered site.

Keep your basil well watered. Regularly pinch out growing tips to encourage bushy plants and delay flowering. Basil can be grown in greenhouses or on a windowsill all year round.

Harvesting and using basil

Pick young basil leaves for use fresh or store by freezing, drying or infusing flavour by submerging leaves in olive oil. Purple leaved varieties have less intense flavour.

Growing notes
Difficulty	Moderate
Germination time	5-10 days
Average time to harvest	From 12 weeks
Equipment needed	None
Average plant size	45cm tall, 30cm wide
Family group to grow with	Lamiaceae: lemon balm, sage
Seed saving notes	Annual, self-pollinating
Key nutritional content	Vitamins A and C, calcium and iron (when eaten fresh)