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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My seedlings range from just 2 to 4 inches in height (not 6 yet). But some do have 6 leaves or more. Should I prune them? Also, do I prune from the top or bottom?
You might want to wait until they are about 6 inches high, then remove the top few leaves until there are just one set (2 leaves) on that stem (prune back to a set of leaves just above where a stem forks). Note that this does not apply to bush basil (such as ‘Spicy Globe’), which have much tinier leaves and many more along the same length of stem. Prune these back to keep their shape, leaving at least 3 or so sets of leaves. For both types of basil, always prune out any developing flower buds.
Can I start basil by seeding indoors in a plant with some dirt?
Kathy, you can start baseil by seeding it indoors. Don’t use dirt from outside—you know, the ground. That’s too heavy for seedlings to push through. Get seed starting medium—it’s “soiless,” at a gardening supply store or nursery. You might even ask at a grocery; sometimes they carry this at this time of year. Follow the directions on the bag.
I live in Cairo, Egypt. I want to grow basil but the balcony I want to put the plant in does not get sun but not summer it's usually hot. The other balcony gets too much sun. I tried growing Basil in it years ago and it died. Please advice what to do
Basil plants certainly appreciate all the sun you can give them. As long as your plants are getting several hours daily, they should reward you with lots of healthy foliage. If they get enough sun but still appear discoloured, they may be in a place that is too hot or too dry. I remedy this by growing my plants inside on a sunny window where they get plenty of sun but are protected from the tropical heat. You could also try increasing your watering regimen.
Pls can I know the local name for basil e.g the Yoruba name because everyone around me says they don't know basil and m defending it on Monday.sum said it is efirin BT sum said efirin is scent leaves pls help me out.thnks
After I harvest the leaves, will the plant (roots) survive in the ground for the winter, or do I have to dig it up?
Thanks
Basil is a frost tender plant so any cold weather will kill it. You can try digging up the plant to grow indoors. Be sure to cut it back to a manageable size and put it in a sunny location to stimulate new growth. You might have greater success starting new plants from seed to grow inside. I also have had stem cuttings of basil root in a glass of water. Pot them up as soon as the roots get to be about 1/2 inch long.
Hi. Iam from India, Nagpur city. I want to grow Basil seeds. Wondering when is the right season to do that. Summers are 45-48degree Celsius and monsoon are 30-35degree Celsius. Winters go around 27-28degree Celsius and night temp drops upto 6-8 degrees celsius.. Please help..
