BASIL! Basil is one of my favorite herbs and it is also another extremely easy herb to grow and to make more plants from. Basil is an herb that will easily create more roots if left to sit in some water for a week or so. There are also many different kinds of basil, just like mint, that will give you the same abundant result. They range from different flavors, different colors, different sizes and different shapes of the leaves. This basil in the picture is a regular, full-leaf basil, which is most common. This particular basil I bought at the local farmer's market for $2 for a bag full of it. Usually in the grocery store you pay about $3 for a very small container of basil that might hold 5-8 leaves.
Here is my windowsill full of my basil from the market. This can be a little tricky sometimes depending on how your basil was cut. The stems on these were not too long so I had to find a way to hold them in the jars so they will stay fresh. I've read so many times to keep your basil fresh put it in water and put it in the fridge with either a plastic bag over it or a damp paper towel. Not necessary! Put it in some water and let them hang out on a windowsill. Not only do you get a light fragrance of basil in that area, but they give some nice color and life to an area. When you have basil growing in the ground or in a pot you do need to pinch off those long stems of flowers that grow out the top, but since mine are just sitting in water waiting to be used I've left them on because they look pretty.
The only important this is to make sure the stems are in the water. A small glass or jar is really best, I've used half-pint canning jars for mine. If the water gets too low you'll know right away because the leaves will wilt slightly. Just add more water and they'll be happy again! The basil will keep for quite a long time like this and will start to develop roots after about a week and continue to grow some (I still have lemon balm from my mother sitting in water that has yet to be planted, but is going strong!). If you don't end up using all your basil after it roots, then plant it! The basil will be perfectly happy in a pot on a sunny windowsill or out on the steps. In the meantime, just keep plucking the leaves off as you wish to use them! I like basil torn up onto a pizza or with pasta.
One of my favorite summer meals is a fresh tomato salad. Cut up tomatoes of any kind (I had various cherry tomatoes at the time), put in some chunks of mozzarella, roughly chop some basil, drizzle it with some extra virgin olive oil, and season it with salt and pepper. Yum! Chop up the tomatoes a little more and scoop it up with some toasted slices of baguette and you've got bruschetta! Then if I have some leftover brushcetta, since I make a good amount, I make a pizza and use that as the tomato sauce - delicious. I don't ever get tired of tomatoes and basil. Basil is also an herb that is very easy to grow from seed if you so choose. You'll have a monstrous plant by the time summer comes around.
PS: I hope those that got hit with the recent hurricane didn't get too much damage to their gardens! If a storm is coming, harvest, harvest, HARVEST! It's better to harvest a lot than to loose some due to heavy rain and wind. I brought in all my herbs from my steps outside so they wouldn't blow over..
