BASIL LICORICE AB
Ocimum basilicum
A very aromatic variety of basil with a delicious licorice scent. The leaves are green and the flowers are mauve. Widely used in Thai cooking and baking .
How to successfully sow basil
Basil requires a minimum constant temperature of 20°C to germinate, so you should sow your seeds in a warm bed or heated greenhouse . Start your seeds in pots at the beginning of spring. Choose a good , fine seed compost .
Do not push the seeds in, pack the potting soil into the cups or trays then, with your fingers, lightly brush the surface, place the seeds in it, possibly sprinkle a little soil on top and then pack firmly.
Water with a spray bottle until the seeds germinate. Be careful, too much moisture could cause your seedlings to die. Germination occurs in 6 to 8 days on average .
Place your terrine or greenhouse near a bright window.
Planting basil in the garden
Plant your basil plants in the garden after the last frost in May, when they have reached the 3-4 leaf stage. Wait until June if you are north of the Loire .
Plant your basil plants in well-drained , rich soil in a sunny location. You can add a little manure .
Keep 50 cm between each plant. Water without wetting the foliage and without overwatering.
Harvesting basil
Leaves harvested in May and June , just before flowering, will have the most fragrance, although you can harvest them year-round as long as the plant has leaves. The more leaves you harvest from your plant, the more it will grow.
To preserve your basil , chop the leaves and place them in ice cube trays filled with water.
You can also store it in olive oil .
