You can use basil for flavoring everything from soups to sauces to pesto. It’s easy to love basil, which is why so many people choose it to include in their cooking. The problem comes when people don’t know how to grow it properly. There are a few simple steps that will help you get started growing basil in your herb garden.

Basil grows best when it gets morning sunshine but it will also grow equally well if it gets a bit of afternoon sun too. Wash the basil well and put it in a strainer to dry. Then take about five or six leaves and put them in a cheesecloth basket and set them on top of a flat bowl in the refrigerator. Make sure the basil drops drop down to the bowl but don’t place it on the bottom. If you wait too long, the flavors will be lost.

When you’re ready to add the basil to your dishes, place it in small pots first. Choose a pot with small leaves, because the smaller the leaves, the more sun they’ll get. It’s also important to make sure the leaves are only covered by a thin layer of soil so that the basil doesn’t rot. Since growing herbs indoors can be difficult, keep in mind that you’ll want to put your herb pots in a sunny window.

The first step of the process is to decide what kind of basil you want to grow. You can have them all in one big pot, but there’s a better chance that some of them will mature faster if they’re being grown in individual pots. Select plants that are known to have good flavor and high medicinal values. Basil, chives, dill, and mint are common growing herbs that are used for this.

As the plant grows in the pot, watch it closely for buds that may begin to appear. This is the time to cut the basil leaves open and remove the flowering buds. Wait for them to dry before using them. They usually have a lot of flavor when they’re freshly harvested so keeping them for a few days is the best way to enjoy your herb.

To keep the basil fresh, store it wrapped in cheesecloth or kitchen wrap when not in use. Make sure the basil is covered and stored in a cool, dark place. The leaves will last from three to seven days after the flowering period is over but most herbs start to go bad within a week after harvesting.

After you’ve harvested and picked your basil plant, be sure to get rid of all of the leaves, stems, and buds. Store these in sealed containers and don’t let them sit around for a long time. Like many growing herbs, basil will repel insects so if you’re not planning on eating any of your basil leaves, don’t worry about them being eaten by insects. If you plan on freezing the herb, be sure to wrap and store it in the refrigerator.

If you’re growing basil as a hobby, you should prune the plant every couple of years for optimal health. You can pinch off the flowering buds if you want to reduce the amount of oils produced but remember to leave the plant’s roots alone. You can also trim away any dead flowers but don’t cut down to the root. When it comes time to harvest your basil, you’ll want to be sure and leave the insides of the containers alone because basil leaves can burn if they are exposed to air.