Basil is an essential herb for every kitchen—and with the ability to grow basil at home and get fresh basil all year long, taste-compromised dry basil has become, well, mostly useless. And basil is so easy to grow that, really, anyone can do it!

Basil is such a cool herb that people have even named their children “Basil”—think British actor Basil Rathbone who played Sherlock Holmes in more than a dozen movies in the 1940s. Or, more recently, Grammy-award-winning songwriter Glen Ballard who has written songs for Alanis Morissette and won his Grammy for the song “Believe” in the move The Polar Express—his given name is Basil Glen Ballard, Jr.

From novice to advanced food gardener, cultivating basil for your kitchen is what you do! For experienced gardeners, some of this guidance might be refresher content for you. But, stick with it, because you’re certain to learn something new, especially when it comes to the folklore of basil and the recipes!

And when you grow basil, you really grow basil! For the prolific basil growers, you know what I mean when you clip and harvest it all the time, and the basil just keeps coming—you’ll have such a bounty of basil that you’ll need to give it away to neighbors and friends, so that the basil won’t go to waste. Pesto anyone?

That’s why we’ve prepared this all-in-one guide for you about growing, harvesting, and cooking with basil—so that you’re certain to have a beautiful and bountiful crop!

In this collection’s Introduction, you’ll first learn some background about basil—to get you ready for growing your own. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about growing basil—from tips on planting and soil preparation to watering, tending, and controlling and preventing disease.

In Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about six popular varieties of basil, so you’ll have specific details about the characteristics and best uses for particular varieties of basil.

Food Gardening Network is, after all, a network of food gardeners—for and by fellow food gardeners who want to enjoy all the benefits of growing your own delicious food at home. And basil is such a big part of everyday cooking!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. As you’ll discover, basil can be used in almost any kind of dish—even ice cream!

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Basil to find out exactly which nutrients are found in basil. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Basil will help you learn about some of the benefits of basil that can help your mind, body, and soul.

To help you explore basil even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you what you need to grow, harvest, and enjoy basil, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by clicking on the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection—just in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts about basil, herbs, and gardening.

Now, grow some great and bountiful basil and enjoy it in your kitchen!