Basil is a popular green herb that is in the same plant family as mint and pairs beautifully with a wide variety of vegetables in both raw and cooked dishes. As an added benefit to your garden, the smell of basil can help to deter certain pests like beetles, mosquitos, and whiteflies.
Basil makes a great companion plant to tomatoes, asparagus, and peppers - providing protection from the pests that typically target these vegetables and also drawing nutrition to the soil to help feed the plant roots. Because of its high content of Vitamin K and Calcium, basil is an excellent, easy-to-grow herb to add to your daily diet.
Growing basil in GardenSoxx® | Plant Family: Lamiaceae
Nutritional Information For Basil
Nutritional Facts - per 100/g
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 22 | - |
| Total Fat | 0.6 g | - |
| Sodium | 4 mg | - |
| Potassium | 295 mg | - |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.6 g | - |
| Sugar | 0.3 g | - |
| Protein | 3.2 g | - |
| Vitamin C | - | 30% |
| Iron | - | 17% |
| Vitamin B6 | - | 10% |
| Magnesium | - | 16% |
| Calcium | - | 17% |
How to Grow Basil in Your GardenSoxx®
Basil grows quickly and easily from seed, and can be sown outdoors once the soil has warmed, well after the last spring frost. Basil seeds are very small and should not be planted too densely, as that will require the seedlings to be thinned out as they emerge. Basil seeds should be planted about half an inch deep, in holes that are about 8 inches apart. Dropping in 3-5 seeds per hole will yield the best results.
Basil Seed to Harvest Time: 65 days
How to Harvest Basil
While the time to maturity for a basil plant is approximately 65 days, you should be able to start harvesting leaves earlier than that. Once there are a few sets of leaves on your basil plant, pinch off the top sets of leaves regularly to encourage the plant to grow bushier and to prevent it from bolting (flowering and going to seed).
