Kubanischer Strauch Basil - Cuban Basil

The Cuban bush basil, also known as Cuban basil, is a vigorous and bushy variety of basil, with particularly aromatic foliage and not prone to flowering. This plant produces a lot more leaves that can be harvested throughout the season, depending on the needs. It is a perennial but sensitive to cold, so it can be grown in a pot and protected from the cold in winter, or as an annual in open ground. Its small leaves will add flavor to your salads, marinades, or can be used to make pesto. Plug plants of this variety can be planted from April to June, after the last frost.

Apart from a few perennial varieties, basil is an herbaceous annual plant, native to India, which reaches a height of between 30 and 50 cm (12 and 20in) depending on the variety. It has upright, ramified stems with a square section like most Lamiaceae. The leaves are oval and generally green, and very aromatic. They are commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine, especially Italian. There are many varieties, some with leaves that release notes of lemon, cinnamon, licorice, thyme, etc. Some varieties have purple foliage.

Basil is sensitive to cold and requires temperatures above 15°C (59°F) to grow. It can be grown in a pot or in open ground depending on the climate, preferring sunny and sheltered locations. Fun fact: Basil repels mosquitoes and carrot flies!

In terms of cooking, basil leaves go wonderfully with tomato salads, pasta dishes, and are used to make pesto.

Harvest: It is best to harvest the leaves as needed, preferably in the morning.

Storage: Ideally, consume the fresh leaves quickly to fully enjoy their aroma. You can also put them in a bottle of olive oil to flavor your dressings. For longer storage, you can freeze or dry the basil leaves, but they will lose some of their aroma.

Gardener's tip: To reduce watering, we recommend mulching the soil with thin successive layers of cut grass, if possible mixed with dead leaves. This protection keeps the soil moist and also reduces weeding.