Thai Basil
Thai or Lemon Basil is believed to be native to India and has been growing wild since ancient times. This vigorous, easy-to-grow variety is a hybrid of African and traditional basil. Lemon basil with its potent citrus notes adds a zesty zing to fish and salads and offers a warm welcome to bees and butterflies in your garden. This herb thrives in hanging containers and garden beds.
Lemon basil is admired for its delicate citrus scent and is best suited as a final element to your dish to maintain the herb’s flavor and aromatic qualities. it can be utilized in both raw and cooked applications. The leaves of the plant are a vibrant green tone and can be delicately torn and added to green salads, minced into dips and vinaigrettes, or stirred into beverages, including cocktails, iced tea, and lemonade.
Try adding a handful of the whole leaves to a favorite stir-fry just before you take it out of the pan, the basil pairs with spicy dishes, pork, seafood and most vegetables.
Lemon Basil snap beans are a summer staple with the beans showcasing the basil brilliantly, to create this tasty simple dish all you have to do is boil green beans in salted water until tender. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop their cooking. Turn the beans into a bowl and keep them at room temperature for up to 3 hours. When you’re ready to eat, toss the beans with a generous amount of coarse salt and 1 cup lemon basil leaves for every ½ pound of beans and they are ready to be enjoyed at room temperature.
Basil is the ultimate summer herb, these plants have tall flower spikes, with small white blossoms. This herb doesn’t require much difficulty to grow and the little effort it requires is certainly worthwhile. Lemon bail sprouts within 1-2 weeks and lasts up to 12 weeks. It grows best at temperatures between 17°-30
Lemon Basil needs average water and is naturally resistant to many pests. Harvest the leaves at any time, leaving at least half on the plant so it can continue to grow and produce more leaves. Pinch off the flowers for best flavor.