Tag: Basil

While sweet and Genovese are probably the most common varieties of basil, they are many other wonderful variations to choose from. Is there different types of basil? BasilLower classifications How do I know what kind of basil I have? The easiest way to identify basil, without even looking at it, is to smell it. Anyone […]

Tearing basil with your hands (as opposed to using a knife) helps slow the process, as tearing tends to keep more of the cell walls intact. But either way, the basil will discolor over time, so your best bet would be to make sure that you chop or tear basil immediately before using it. Should […]

Basil is one of the most popular herbs grown in the world. It is native to Asia (India, Pakistan, Iran, Thailand and other countries) and can be found growing wild in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Because of its popularity, basil is often referred to as the “king of the herbs”. What country […]

When tested as fumigants, thymol, carvacrol, linalool (common in basil) and camphor (camphor tree) were most effective. Four of the compounds did not kill bed bugs over a 24-hour period. It took about 70,000 times more of the most effective compound to kill a bed bug by contact than a control synthetic insecticide. Do bed […]

Fruit flies can’t stand the smell of basil, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender and clove. If you’ve had a fruit fly problem in the past, try placing these fragrant herbs in muslin sacks or tea bags and hanging them around the house. Why does my basil plant have fruit flies? Potted basil plants require well-drained soil […]

This is the classic Italian basil that most people think about when talking about the aromatic herb. It’s typically used in most pesto recipes and tomato-based dishes. It has dark green leaves and a spicy aroma, and the taste is pungent but leans toward a sweet, clove-like back end. Is Italian basil the same as […]

First, you can plant herbs around your garden, sort of like a protective wall to repel rodents. Herbs that have the strongest smells such as mint (especially peppermint), catnip, rosemary, sage, lavender, oregano, and basil are the most effective plants at keeping these unwelcome creatures away. What herbs keep away mice? Mice have very sensitive […]

Basil has certain aromatic oils which are known to repel creepy crawlies, such as ants, spiders, summer houseflies and mosquitos. It can actually be used to make a DIY bug-repellant spray if you mix it with witch hazel. Evie recommends simply spraying the mix onto a surface and then wiping it down. What Herb keeps […]

Basil is undoubtedly the most loved and popular herb in Italy. Although we tend to associate it with Italy and other Mediterranean countries, it actually originated in India, and was brought to the Mediterranean via the spice routes in ancient times. Is basil an Italian herb? Basil. Basil (basilico, in Italian) is another major herb […]

Do mice eat plants? Yes, and they will eat garden plants and houseplants, too. Do rodents eat basil? Pets and other small animals. It’s not just bugs and insects that are eating your basil plants. If you have pets, especially cats, they will be very tempted to take a bite out of the leaves. Basil […]

Adult cabbage loopers are moths that lay their hundreds of eggs in deposits of up to seven eggs at a time on sweet basil plants. Within four days, the hatched larvae chew and consume leaves. What animal is eating my basil? The most frequent assaulters of your precious basil plant leaves are Japanese beetles, slugs […]

Planting certain herbs in your backyard or around the perimeter of your home can keep flies, mosquitoes, ants and other insect pests away. Basil controls flies and mosquitoes, as does garlic. Rosemary controls mosquitoes, flies and ticks. Sage repels ticks, and spearmint keeps ants away. What does basil keep away? Basil. An ever popular herb […]

One of the best ways to keep the creepy crawlies away is to place fresh basil around the home. Like other strong herbs, spiders despise the smell of basil — and will stay away from its presence. What is the best plant to keep spiders away? 13 Plants That Keep Away Spiders Basil. Any variety […]

As one of the most pungent herbs, I can easily see why basil makes the list as a natural mosquito repellent. It makes sense, because basil is known as the perfect companion plant to tomatoes to help keep bugs away. How do you use basil as a mosquito repellent? One alternative is to make your […]

A handful of insects are attracted to the basil plant. The Japanese Beetle, slugs, thrips, aphids, spider mites, and some caterpillars. Smaller insects can be removed with a strong water spray, while larger garden pests can be picked off by hand. How do you keep bugs off basil? Insecticidal Soap Insecticidal soaps are available in […]

What animals and insects eat basil? Aside from people, there are a variety of things that eat basil. Japanese beetles, slugs, and aphids are the most common basil pests. Other pests include whiteflies, spider mites, caterpillars, and thrips. What is eating my basil at night? Slugs and snails also tend to eat basil at night. […]

The intense scent and oil in basil and many other herbs are often used to deter common household pests. The pungent herb seems to repel flies and basil pest control has been used since ancient times. Basil is intolerant of cold temperatures and needs a full day of sunlight. What does basil plants attract? Basil […]

The flavor of basil is a balance between sweet and savory, with hints of mint, anise, and pepper. While the initial flavor has pronounced tones of black pepper, this aromatic herb ultimately adds a hint of sweetness to any dish. Why does my basil taste so strong? Most herbs keep best at 32 to 41 […]

Yes, you can! It’s actually fairly easy to dry basil leaves in the oven. You start by leaving your fresh basil leaves to dry at room temperature for a few days. After this time, preheat your oven to 170ºF (or the lowest temperature possible), then lay your basil leaves out on a baking sheet lined […]

Basil. Basil and oregano are basically cousins, being a part of the mint family. Both are also quite similar, so much so that you can use basil in almost every recipe that uses oregano. The herbs are complementary to each other and work best with savory ingredients commonly used for pizza-making. Do you put basil […]