Basil and fertilizers

Q: I love basil and would like to grow my own but I need some instructions. Also, once I have basil plants outdoors, will I have to protect them from deer?

A: Basil is easy enough to grow, once you know its likes and dislikes. And yes, you need to cover the basil plants or surround them with netting all summer long. Deer may not love basil more than you do but they do consider it a delicacy.

Because basil came from the Mediterranean, it likes warm weather. It may fold itself up and die if it is chilled. Choose a sunny place to grow basil, with the best shelter from wind you can find. (Because...