Growing Basil in Your Houston, Texas Garden

Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow in Houston, Texas, and it is also one of the most useful. Basil can be added to salads and sandwiches, or used to flavor sauces, stews, and soups. Some varieties are perfect for pesto or for making herbed butters. Basil can also add color, texture and fragrance to your Houston, Texas garden. Most varieties of Basil do best when planted in the full sun, and many survive the Houston, Texas winter without problems. If you would enjoy growing Basil in your own garden, try planting some of the varieties below.

Aussie Sweetie. This pretty Basil has a spicy, sweet fragrance that you will enjoy in your Houston, Texas garden. Plant it in full sun in the spring in your garden, and pick its bright green leaves to use in sauces and dishes that will be complemented by its strong Basil flavor. This herb will grow as high as 30 inches tall, and will do best in well-drained soil. This variety is not as tolerant of the cold as some varieties, so plant it in a container and bring it inside when the temperature threatens to drop to freezing.

Cinnamon. Named for its cinnamon flavor and fragrance, this is a very pretty herb for your Houston, Texas garden. It has purple stems and pink-tinged flowers that look perfect in a mixed border. Overall this Basil is hard to kill, tolerating heat and drought as well as cold temperatures down to 32 degrees. Plant this herb in full sun in your Houston, Texas garden, and it will reach heights of up to 30 inches.

Genovese. Genovese is a good choice for making pesto, and its huge green leaves are very fragrant. Plant this Basil in the full sun in your Houston, Texas garden, preferably in well-drained soil. This herb will reach heights of about two feet, and tolerates cold temperatures down to 32 degrees. This is a good choice for your Houston, Texas container garden.

Lemon. This is a terrific herb to use in a kitchen garden, as the strong silvery leaves have many uses. Use this Basil to flavor chicken or vegetable dishes, or to make herbed butters or vinegars. Lemon Basil can also be used for potpourri or tea. Plant this herb in the full sun in your Houston, Texas garden, where it can reach heights of up to 28 inches tall. This variety is drought tolerant, and tolerates the cold down to freezing.

Sweet. Sweet Basil is a good choice for your Houston, Texas mixed borders, where its purple and white flowers will bloom all summer. Plant this herb in full to partial sun in the spring, and use its leaves to add spiciness to vegetable dishes. Sweet Basil will die in an extended freeze, but is otherwise very hardy. It will grow to be about three feet tall.

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Personal experience

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