Learning how to grow Basil will be beneficial to anyone who loves to cook as it has many uses in a variety of recipes beyond the Italian dishes we most associate it with.

As long as you have good light and the right temperature, growing basil is very easy to do. You can grow basil easily from seeds, or purchase an “herb kit” with everything you need. However, a packaged kit isn’t necessary; all you needs are basil seeds and some fertile soil.

Basil does need to grow in soil that is properly drained, so you need to be sure to get a container that has good drainage. Look for planters or pots with large holes or you can put some pebbles, rough gravel and rocks at the bottom to contain the water.

If you are planting the seeds directly into the garden, be sure to delay planting until after the last frost and sow the seeds thinly. When planting seeds in pots, sow enough seeds to yield several plants and later thin the smallest plants. Wherever you plant the seeds, cover them with a little soil and water them well.

If you are just learning how to grow basil, keep in mind that the plants will need six to eight hours of sun each day. Indoors the plant should be placed in a sunny window and outdoors you need to make sure the plant has sun for the majority of the day but that it is also kept away from the wind.

Water your basil plants a few times a week and fertilize them monthly. Try to place the water at the base of the plant. Avoid splashing water on the leaves in order to discourage disease and growth of fungus.

Remove any flowers from your basil plant, because this will produce better flavors. The flowers use up all of the plant’s energy, but removing them allows the plant to use the energy to produce very flavorful basil leaves.

The advantage of learning to grow basil is that you will be able to constantly have the fresh herb for use at any time you wish. You can grow it all year round by planting it in containers inside your house. It’s a good idea to have several plants on hand at one time, perhaps even growing several varieties of basil. Harvest the leaves at the top of the plant whenever you wish to use them and your plants should be productive for many years.

For more gardening tips including a video on growing basil, please visit http://www.gardening-ez.com/howtogrowbasil.php.