Basil Genovese
Basil Genovese
An Herbs Guide for Beginners
Growing herbs at home can be a great way to add freshness to the home and flavor to your cuisine. When you are just starting out and looking for an herbs guide, you will probably get all kinds of advice from friends and read conflicting information in magazines on what herbs you should grow from seed, what herbs you can buy already grown, and what herbs are acceptable dried.
Depending on whom you talk to, this advice will vary greatly and sometimes it can be baffling and confusing. I felt that way when I became interested in growing my own herbs a few years ago. I often searched for a beginner herbs guide to help me through the first steps. It was overwhelming trying to decide which herbs to grow.
A tip is to take into account your style of cooking because depending on your cuisine your herbal needs will vary. Here are three herbs that have amazing flavors and are the ideal choice if you are just starting out and need a herbs guide.
Basil is a must have in any new herb garden and on top of the list in any herbs guide. Fresh basil is the perfect topping for almost all Italian and Mediterranean dishes. As a general guide, basil is an annual plant; if you decide to plant it outdoors it will last for a season and then it has to be replanted the following year, that’s why some herbs guide suggests that, since it takes basil approximately three months to mature, if you keep three or four pots of basil in continuous rotation, you will be able to have fresh basil all year round. Basil is best grown in small pots on the kitchen windowsill where it is known to keep flies away. In the kitchen basil is used to make delicious pesto ‘genovese’ or to top pasta and pizza.
Any beginner herbs guide has to include sage. This herb grows in the shape of a shrub and can reach around two feet in height. Sage is hearty enough to withstand most Northern Hemisphere winters, however many people will take their sage indoors after the first frost and return it to the garden after the snow melts. Some herbs guide say that some varieties of sage can be grown from seed, but it is easier to grow sage from a cutting. In fact once you have your sage plant, take cuttings from it at least once a year and start a new plant; sage is rather short-lived and you will want a good supply of new plants. A medicinal herbs guide would indicate that sage can be used for headaches and coughs. I use sage mainly in my cooking as it adds a robust flavor to any roast. It can overwhelm other spices, so it is best added at the beginning of the cooking. It also aides the digestion and so is often paired with fatty food like pork.
Parsley is never missing in a beginner herbs guide. It has a germination time of four to six weeks and takes two years to mature (flower) but it is well worth the effort. Parsley does best outdoors and can handle all but the hardest of frosts. As an herbs guide for beginners I would suggest that if you are going to plant your parsley in a pot and leave it indoors, consider putting it near a well-ventilated window or on a porch so that it does not get too hot. In the kitchen, parsley can be added to soups or curries to add both color and flavor and it is used often as a garnish.
Other popular herbs like oregano, tarragon, fennel and coriander are not quite as robust and universal as the other three, but they add unique qualities to your food, teas, and medicine chest and should certainly be part of a beginner herbs guide
About the Author
Lisa Summerfield is an herb garden lover and author of “Secrets To A Successful Home Herb Garden” – compulsory reading for anyone considering to grow a thriving herb garden. Her website is a great herbs guide and contains valuable information on using and growing herbs… Even if you have never grown a garden before!
For a FREE 10 part mini-course on “The Secrets To Growing Delicious Herbs at Home!” go to http://herbgardensolutions.com
Can my desert tortoise eat basil?
My dad is growing hydroponic herbs..including genovese basil..can i feed my turtle the basil?
it is important to remember that plants destined for consumption by chelonians should be free of residues from pesticides, fungicides or herbicides. Very little information exists on the effects of these powerful chemicals on “cold blooded” animals; therefore, it is wise to be scrupulous in avoiding the exposure of your tortoises to these substances. Granular (pellet) fertilizers are also potentially dangerous and should not be used in areas in which tortoises live and/or graze. Snail bait is extremely toxic and should be rigorously avoided.
The scientific or botanical names for the plants reviewed in this article are provided in parentheses. Common names for plants vary locally, but the botanical names are used worldwide, recognized from the Antilles to Zambia. The reader will be assured of getting the exact plant being described when it is identified by its botanical name.
Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) flowers and leaves are nutritious favorites of many tortoises. This large evergreen shrub may reach 15 feet at maturity and requires frequent, deep waterings for best performance. It also requires some protection from hot afternoon sun in the warmer inland areas. Many flower colors are available, from white through yellow and pink to orange and red.
Blue Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii) is in the same family as the Tropical Hibiscus. It requires full sun, grows well in less-than-perfect soils, and is quite drought tolerant once established in the garden. Blue Hibiscus is an evergreen shrub which reaches a height of 5-8 feet at maturity. Its lilac blue flowers are relished by many tortoises.
Chinese Lantern (Abutilon hybridum) has flowers which many tortoises find delectable. This evergreen shrub grows at a moderate rate and requires regular watering for best appearance and flower production. It reaches a height of 8 to 10 feet with an equal spread at maturity. Flower colors include white, pink, yellow, red and several bi-colors.
Rose (Rosa species) blossoms are enjoyed by tortoises. Floribunda roses produce masses of flowers, stay a manageable size and are often more pest- and disease-resistant than Hybrid Tea roses (the most commonly grown of the roses). Floribundas generally require less pruning for flower production than Hybrid Teas. Rosa rugosa species are said to have the most delicious flowers of all roses. Rosa rugosa “Cecile Brunner” and “Belle of Portugal” are highly recommended for quality of flavor, but these grow to huge proportions and one must have plenty of room for them.
Geraniums (Pelargonium species) are also enjoyed by tortoises. Many varieties of geranium are commonly available. The best performer is a type of Ivy Geranium known as the Balcon Geranium (Pelargonium peltatum). It is resistant to geranium bud-worm and flowers profusely for most of the year, bearing pink or red flowers. Scented geraniums are said to have superior flavor compared to other geraniums, particularly Rose Geranium (P. graveolens) and Peppermint Geranium (P. tomentosum).
The Mulberry Tree (Morus alba) bears leaves on which tortoises will feed. It should be borne in mind that Mulberry Trees can produce fruits which stain patios, paths and clothing. For this reason, the home gardener often chooses a fruitless type. For ease of harvesting and for maximum shade, a weeping form of Mulberry is best. Morus alba “Pendula” (fruiting) and M. alba “Chaparral” (non-fruiting) are highly recommended.
The much-maligned Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a delicious treat. Both leaves and flowers of this “weed” (a weed after all, is a plant out of place) delight tortoises and other vegetarian reptiles. If you cannot tolerate them in your garden, consider growing dandelions in a container and harvest them for your grateful chelonians.
Many commonly grown ornamentals have edible flowers. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus), day lilies (Hemerocallis species), violets, Johnny-jump-ups, and pansies (Viola) all have pleasant-tasting flowers which are used in human cuisine. Some members of the Chrysanthemum family are edible while others are toxic, so be cautious about offering chrysanthemums to tortoises.
Commonly grown culinary herbs often have edible flowers. Fennel (Foeniculum), thyme (Thymus), rosemary (Rosmarinus), sage (Salvia), basil (Ocimum basilicum) and arugula all bear edible blossoms. Many items from the home vegetable garden are also received enthusiastically by tortoises. Young leaf lettuces (red-leaf in particular), flowers from the Squash family (Cucurbita species, pumpkin, zucchini, etc.) cucumbers, Brussels sprouts, and many other commonly grown vegetables will provide substantial nutrition.
And, finally, there are garden snails, a garden product which flourishes, like it or not. Many tortoise keepers report the routine consumption of snails (sometimes after being crushed by the keeper) on the part of their tortoises as well as their box turtles. Some professionals have expres
Basil Pesto – “Pesto alla Genovese”