Basil leaves are added to salads and sandwiches to enhance the taste and give it an added zing. Growing basil is fairly easy when the temperature and light is according to the requirements of this herb. Basil can be grown in pots as well as directly in the soil. The pots should have good drainage with gravel at the bottom before putting in the soil so that the water drains out. If you are planting it in the soil then ensure that the soil is dug sufficiently and free of weeds before you sow them. The ground should be watered well a day before you sow and the soil and compost should be well moist.

Basil should be sowed sometime towards the end of March and not while the ground is still frosting. The other option is to sow it in pots and then plant it later in the soil. The seeds should be sowed thinly and then covered with compost of about ½ cm. It takes about a week for the basil seeds to germinate, after which the unhealthy ones should be removed from the pot, and only the strong seedlings left to grow. There should be at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight in the spot where basil is grown. If grown in a pot you can have the pot on a windowsill or ledge where it gets sufficient sun light. Direct cold winds should be avoided.

The soil has to be fertile and dug up to allow air circulation. Manure or organic compost should be put into the soil at least a month before planting the basil. For outdoor plants a mulch of organic matter should be placed around the basil as this helps to retain the moisture in the soil. Watering should be done regularly and more around the base of the plant than on the leaves.