British Basil plants

British Basil

The sublime taste of Italy can now be yours at home! British Basil was bred in the UK for outdoor growing. It has been specially selected to cope with our cooler conditions and wind - the plants are more robust than traditional sweet basil. It has attractive, bright, green leaves that don’t discolour and they have a really good traditional, recognisable intense basil flavour. However there is a trade-off between taste and durability so you're looking for a basil that blows your senses but is better in a pot on a windowsill or in a really sunny, sheltered spot, then take a look at at our Genovese Basil instead. Or why not just browse the rest of our extensive range of herbs for sale, which includes culinary, aromatic, Mediterranean and salad varieties?

All you need to do with Basil is tear the leaves (never cut them with knives or scissors, as you get a much bigger release of essential oils this way) to release the aromatic smell so reminiscent of holidays! Another tip - always add at the end of cooking, as the essential oils that provide the smell and taste are unstable, so you'll preserve the flavour.

Great In Your Herb Garden...

Pots are ideal for growing British Basil in, or they can go into a sunny herb bed or at the front of the vegetable plot. Plants are easy to grow but prefer a well-drained sandy soil - never overwater. Water carefully at root level and avoid splashing the leaves and you'll have pickings well into autumn. Bring potted plants indoors on a sunny windowsill to prolong the season.

Harvest basil leaves little and often when required to promote new growth. Pinch out flowers as soon as they appear to prolong the harvest period - they also lower the amount of essential oils in the leaves.

Basil is the main ingredient in pesto sauce and is the ideal partner for tomato dishes. Think of the Italian flag and you get the classic tomato, mozzarella and basil salad. Tear leaves to pop onto a Margherita pizza fresh from the oven for a simple yet classic delight.

However, it's not just Italian dishes that basil is useful for - add it to a wide range of sauces, salads and dishes to give a Mediterranean flavour.

British Basil is also a great companion plant - grow alongside tomatoes, chillies and aubergines to protect them from aphids. Basil and tomatoes grown together are supposed to make each other taste better!

Features

• Uses: Italian and Mediterranean dishes, especially pesto and pizza.
• Taste: Traditional intense sweet basil flavour.
• Harvest: May-October.
• Storage: Use fresh, can be frozen or dried.
• Height: 30cm.
• Spacing: 30cm.
• Life: Annual.

Did You Know...

Basil has anti-inflammatory properties and is a good source of vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin C.