5. Sweet Basil
Basil is a tropical herb that craves three things: intense heat, high humidity, and consistent moisture. A summer rainstorm provides all three simultaneously. The high humidity that lingers in the air after a storm prevents the basil leaves from losing moisture through transpiration, allowing the cells within the leaves to swell to their maximum capacity.
This cellular expansion makes the basil leaves incredibly tender and significantly reduces any bitter flavors caused by heat stress. Furthermore, the nitrogen washed down by the rain encourages the basil to rapidly produce new pairs of leaves along the main stem.
Because basil has a relatively shallow root system, it benefits immensely from the thorough, even watering that a natural rainstorm provides—something that is difficult to achieve with a standard watering can. To capitalize on this post-storm growth spurt, harvest your basil frequently, cutting just above a leaf node to encourage branching.
