Basil - uses and properties

Basil, certainly a favorite in italian cuisine.

Food
Commonly used in tomato sauce, pesto, over sliced tomatoes, in salads. For getting the most favor out of basil, tear the leaves instead of chopping them. Best used raw.

Medicinal properties and other uses
Let a few leaves sit in wine for a few hours and use as a tonic. You could also steep some leaves in water and use as a tea to aid digestion.

Basil is said to deter flies when used on windowsills.

Landscaping
Basil is very fragrant and makes a great addition to your scented garden.

Growing and harvesting basil
Grows well in pots indoors, needs a lot of light. Either use a sunny window (like in the kitchen) or if you don't have direct sunlight, consider using fluorescent lighting. It is also fragile so make sure it is away from extreme temperatures (cold or hot).

Basil seeds germinate in about a week. Depending on the size of your pots, sow 2-5 seeds in each one and once the seedlings have developed 2 pairs of true leaves then you can thin out the weakest seedlings in each pot, leaving only the strongest plants.