Growing Thai Basil
Thai Basil (pictured right) is a fairly recent addition to the varieties available in Australia. Used widely throughout South East Asia and known as ‘horapha’ it is a sweet basil with a sort of aniseed / mint taste. The leaves are different to other basil and it does prefer a warm humid climate.
An excellent addition, and even essential ingredient in a range of recipes including curries (think green curry), stir fries, salads etc it is fairly easy to grow as long as you start it a little later in the season if you live in a temperate climate.
We actually like the pretty pink flowers as well as the taste. If you were in Thailand you might even think that this basil would bring you good luck.
So if you grow it from seeds, or simply buy some seedlings Thai basil is well worth a place in the kitchen garden, you could even use it as an ornamental border, with a little fragrance if you wished.
Growing Thai Basil
Warmth, moisture and sun are the ingredients to successfully grow this basil. A humus rich moist soil in a sunny position will do nicely, although pots and containers will also work well, we grow ours in a ‘self watering pot’ near the barbecue, seems to like it. We add extra water regularly with a little seaweed fertilizer and Thai basil seems to thrive. Start from seeds or for a quicker result seedlings.