A container of basil by the back door or on a deck provides easy access for harvesting. The container should have drainage holes in the bottom or sides. Fill it with a soilless mix, which is more lightweight than garden soil and also is free of diseases and weed seeds. With mixed plantings, place most basils near the center of containers or at the ends of window boxes. Use dwarf basils to edge a container planting or on their own in smaller, 8-inch pots and place the pots around a larger planter, marching up steps or along a walk.
Basils combine nicely with other herbs and annuals.
Keep the plants evenly moist through the growing season. Basils complement many kinds of dishes. Many gardeners are unable to eat their juicy, homegrown tomatoes without fresh basil and a dash of premium olive oil. Freshly harvested basil leaves added to mesclun or lettuce salads liven up the flavors. Pesto is another favorite use for basil.