Gardening Articles: Edibles :: Herbs Don't Baby Your Basil by
Susan Littlefield Most gardeners know that many perennial herbs
such as rosemary, thyme and sage are most flavorful when grown
in lean soil without a lot of fertility. But more fertile soil
has often been recommended for annual herbs such as basil. In
some interesting new research done at Southwestern University,
nitrogen fertilization was found to have a significant effect on
the levels of phenolic compounds in both 'Genovese' and 'Dark
Opal' basil. These are the compounds that give this herb its
healthful antioxidant properties. In the case of both basil
cultivars, the level of phenolic compounds was highest when
nutrient availability was lowest. So, although higher rates of
fertilization may result in lusher growth, for the highest
antioxidant activity and nutritional value, go easy when adding
nitrogen fertilizer to your basil crop. For more information on
this research, go to: Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on
Basil.