Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Basil
Planting
Basil will grow best in a location that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily, though it can perform well in partial sun, too.
Soil should be moderately fertile and moist but well-draining. Basil works great in containers or raised beds, as these allow for better drainage. The pH of the soil should ideally be in the range of 6.0 to 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral).
If you plan on cooking with these plants, plant in clean soil, don’t use insecticides, and grow them away from driveways and busy streets so exhaust won’t settle on the plants.
When to Plant Basil
- To get a jump on the season, start the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting outside. (See local frost dates.)
- To plant outside, wait until the soil has warmed to at least 50°F (10°C)—preferably around 70ºF (21°C) for best growth. Nighttime temperatures shouldn’t drop below 50°F (10°C).
- Don’t rush basil. Without heat, the plant won’t grow well!
How to Plant Basil
- If you are sowing seeds directly into the ground, sow no more than 1/4-inch deep. Seeds should germinate within 5 to 7 days. Once they have developed 2 to 3 pairs of true leaves, transplant them.
- If you are planting the germinated seedlings or starter plants in the ground, spaced 10 to 12 inches apart; basil should grow to about 12 to 24 inches in height.
- A 2- to 3-inch mulch of compost or ground-up leaves retains soil moisture and minimizes weeds around the plants.
- Tomatoes make great neighbors for basil plants in the garden—and on the plate—so many gardeners will plant the two warm-weather friends around the same time.
Growing
How to Grow Basil
- Make sure that the soil is moist. Basil plants like moisture.
- If you live in a hot area, use mulch around the plants (the mulch will help hold in moisture and suppress weeds).
- During the dry periods in summer, water the plants freely.
- After the seedlings have produced their first six leaves, prune above the second set. This encourages the plants to start branching, resulting in more leaves for harvest.
- Every time a branch has six to eight leaves, repeat pruning the branches back to their first set of leaves.
- Fertilize sparingly throughout the season with a 5-10-5 fertilizer.
- After about 6 weeks, pinch off the center shoot to prevent early flowering. If flowers do grow, just cut them off.
- If the weather is going to be cold or if a sudden frost is imminent, be sure to harvest your basil beforehand, as the cold temperatures will destroy your plants.
- Cinnamon basil, to add a hint of cinnamon to a dish
- Purple basil adds some nice color to your garden (when steeped in white vinegar, it creates a beautiful color)
- Thai basil adds a sweet licorice flavor to a dish.
Cooking Notes
Make herbal vinegar using basil; it retains the flavor and makes a great gift! See how to make herbal vinegar.
Catherine Boeckmann
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It sounds like dodder, a parasitic weed that feeds off nutrients meant for your basil. Remove it as well as the portion of basil to which it is attached. Unfortunately, is very persistent. If it has flowered and gone to seed, you may be fighting it for a few seasons.
I sure wish someone would answer this one! I've grown basil for years & never saw this before.. but now have 1 (potted) that has a mass of these .. my daughter says its a "female" plant & that I should re-plant the whole thing (?) When I first saw them, I tried picking them off, but they just kept coming back.. I can't see that they're growing from anything separate, so wonder if she's right?
My purple basil plants leaves keep falling off. It's get tall with leaves at the top and not getting full. What can I do to help it?
Hi, Juuls: Please read the sections above about Care and Harvest/Storage. Once (and every time) your basil gets to 6 sets of leaves, harvest and then cut it back so that only 2 sets of leaves remain. Also, pinch off any flowers that may appear at any time. This will help the plant to focus its energy on leaf production, rather than stem growth. Good luck!
Hello,
I Bought Bonnie's sweet basil from the nursery today and planted them in a rectangular container. There are 3 plants, and I am now questioning whether or not I need to space them out or not. They have blossomed somewhat. I was actually thinking of planting them closer but wasn't sure if it would be an issue.
Did you read the plant tag? Most nursery plants “come with” a tag or “stick” that describes basic care, and that often includes spacing. Spacing might vary a bit depending on the type of plant (basil or anything else).
As indicated at the top of this page, thriving plants can grow to a foot or two in height and have proportionate foliage spread. The distance between plants should be 10 to 12 inches. Only you know the distance between them now and whether that is suitable. (Remember that replanting will add stress: The plants will go through a period of adjustment during which they will probably look a bit limp. Consider that they may not all survive a move. They may all survive…just be prepared.)
I have wanted to grow basil and other herbs in my front yard in place of grass and I have dogs and want to know if it is safe? I've been told that their "poop" can get on it and cause Salmonella. Is this true?
Dog poop can contain bacteria and parasites (it is not recommended as a fertilizer for edible gardens because of this). It’s best to prevent your dogs from going near your garden (such as by fencing it off, using row covers, or planting in high raised beds), but if they do, be sure to wash the herbs thoroughly before using. Also, it’s good to check what herbs are safe for your dogs, in case they get curious and want to nibble. Basil is said to be non-toxic (unless your pet has allergies). For a list of plants, see:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list
i did not properly store the basil seeds i harvested. they have been kept dry, but were stored in loosely sealed paper cups and have been exposed to indoor light since i harvested last fall. are they still viable?
You can only tell by trying, jk. Get some new ones and start them, too. If they all come up—well, can’t have too much basil, can you? (If you do, make and freeze pesto.)
