[clkeiper]

kilroy.. the nicest looking basil I have ever grown is a new variety called "Everleaf". It is gorgeous and doesn't go to seed the whole summer. it is a little bit "bitier" according to one of my customers when he tasted it one day... but I never had to pinch it back.

I must not have finished reading the original post... duh. about the ants... they will place aphids on the basil to harvest for honeydew. maybe sprinkle DE around the plants too. if you have a plastic pot spray a residual action ant killer around the bottom of the pot to kill any that cross the surface of the pot to try to get on the plant. De dust for the surface of the pot. the other thing that works is to lace Boric acid with sugar and leave that out for the ants to "harvest". that is a good ant killer too.