Basil is probably one of the best loved herbs - especially the annual sweet basil that is available during the summer months, but if you are like me, I like to have basil throughout the year and so I turn to perennial basil.
Perennial basil grows quickly and develops into a really nice bush.
The leaves are bigger and coarser than the annual basils, but the flavour and scent is truly amazing.
One bush will keep you in basil for the whole year - to use it in salads as well as cooking.
Towards the end of summer I pick loads of it, then wash thoroughly, strip off the leaves, pat dry and pop into plastic bags for the freezer.
This way, when I need some for cooking, I do not have to go out into the pouring rain - just take it out of the freezer, and crumble some into my bolognaise or whatever I am cooking at the time.
There are many varieties of basil available, but trust me - grow some perennial basil so that you never run out.