Today I want to share with the HIVE BLOG community some photos of my basil plant plus a dose of information about the benefits of having one at home.
I really like having plants and when I eat fruit I always save some seeds and then make them germinate, once the plants are ready I plant them in the family field, I see them grow there and I wait for the harvest, the richest fruit is the one you get of your own harvest.
I have plants of cambur, papaya, banana, lemon, orange, soursop, among others. But here in the city it is essential for me to have a basil one.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an annual herb that can be found in all tropical regions of the world, but it is native to Africa and Southeast Asia, it is characterized as an aromatic plant for culinary and medicinal use.
My favorite place to put basil plants is in the living room window, family and visitors spend most of the day there, and many times when the breeze comes in through the window, that rich aroma that characterizes it disperses. . .
Here it is common to hear "umm smells good" and that delicious perfume is what I like most about this plant.
On the other hand, it has a very beautiful appearance and a very remarkable bright green color, which makes this plant perfect for decorating balconies.
Culinary use
Basil is commonly known for its culinary uses, it is generally used to make pestos, casseroles, and sauces just to name a few.
My mother always prepares her tomato sauce and adds basil leaves, they are essential in this recipe, she also adds fresh basil leaves to the salad, in addition, she prepares a very good mixture of condiments with dried basil leaves with oregano and rosemary, with This seasoning makes crispy lentil croquettes, ideal for snacks.
With this plant, it not only adds flavor to meals, but we also benefit from some elements such as iron, calcium, copper, phosphorus, among others, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B3, C, E and K.
Basil flowers and how to extract their seeds.
It has beautiful very particular white flowers, which protrude from an elongated spike.
detailed flower image
How to extract the seeds?
If you want to extract basil seeds, wait for the calyx to dry, you will know when this happens because it will have a brown hue, at that stage the seed is fully done, separate the calyx from the spike and remove the seeds.
The seeds are small, oval, and black. Finally, save them and use them when necessary or preferably in spring, to take advantage of the weather and enjoy their leaves for a longer time. I recommend keeping the seeds in airtight bags for better conservation.
I hope you liked this humble edition. We will continue to see each other in this great community. Your great friend 