Basil is one of the most versatile herbs to grow, and it adds a fresh flavor to everything from tomato sauce to pasta dishes. Basil is also easy to care for and can grow well even in small containers.
Ready to add basil to your own garden? Read our guide to growing basil below.
Where to Grow Basil
Basil is a warm weather plant. It grows best in temperatures ranging from the low 70s to the mid-90s, with an ideal temperature range of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Basil also needs at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, so if you live in an area where it’s cloudy or rainy for most of the year, basil plants may grow more slowly.
Basil prefers well-drained soil that isn’t compacted. If you’re planting in a container, it’s best not to use a heavy soil or one that has been amended with peat moss or vermiculite because these materials can retain too much moisture and kill your plant (though vermiculite provides some drainage).
When planting directly into the ground, amend your existing soil with compost before planting your seeds so that they’ll have access to nutrients throughout their growth cycle.
When watering your basil plants–which should be done regularly–water them until water runs out through drainage holes at the bottom of each pot or from around each stem node, but don’t overdo it: overwatering can cause root rot which will eventually kill even healthy plants!
Types of Basil
If you’ve ever grown basil, you know that there are many varieties and each has its own distinct flavor. The most common types of basil include:
Sweet Genovese—a sweet, fragrant herb with green leaves; it’s a good companion plant for tomatoes.
Clary Sage—a delicate herb with grayish-green leaves; it’s a good companion plant for other herbs.
Purple Ruffles—a widely used variety that has purple ruffled leaves and a strong flavor. It will grow well in most climates but can tolerate cooler temperatures than other varieties.
When to Grow Basil
Basil is one of the most popular herbs because it grows quickly and easily. You can grow basil from seed, but if you want to get started right away, it’s best to use a starter plant or cuttings of the herb. Basil grows well in summertime, and you can start seeds indoors in March or outdoors in May or June.
When planting your seedlings outside, ensure that they get plenty of sunlight and water plants on a weekly basis.
Basil plants will continue to grow throughout summer and into fall as long as you keep them watered regularly and provide enough sunlight.
Start Basil From Seed
When you’re planting basil from seed, the first step is to create the proper environment for germination by using a good potting mix and placing plants in a warm, sunny spot.
You can find starter soil at garden centers or hardware stores in bags or bulk bins. If you want to save money, look around your house for household items that are similar to potting mixes. Compost, sand, and peat moss all make great filler for homemade pots.
Plant seeds in a warm, sunny place outside with plenty of space between each plant so they don’t crowd each other out as they grow up toward sunlight.
Maintain Basil Plants
Basil needs well-drained soil and frequent watering. It will not tolerate soggy soil, so if you have a heavy clay soil you’ll need to amend it with compost or other organic matter before planting.
If your basil is wilting, that means it needs water. Watering too much is better than not enough with this plant, but be careful not to overwater because basil has very shallow roots and will rot in standing water.
Harvest Your Basil
Don’t harvest the plant more than once a week during the early phases of growth.
Harvesting too often will cause your basil to become leggy, which means that it will be shorter and have fewer leaves at each branch point.
In addition to being unattractive, this can make it harder for your plant to grow new shoots and flowers. This can ultimately lead to a smaller harvest overall because there are fewer buds available for pollination and seed production.
Fertilize Your Basil
During the growth phase of your basil plant’s life cycle, you should fertilize it regularly with a balanced fertilizer. The best time to fertilize your basil is when you are transplanting or repotting it, but you can also add fertilizer at any point during the growing season if you feel that your plant needs more nutrients. You can also add compost or worm castings at these times as well.
When your basil is flowering and producing seeds, it doesn’t need any additional nutrients. In fact, adding fertilizer will only prevent seed production and inhibit flowering by making sure that all of the plant’s energy goes into its leaves instead of reproducing itself.
How to Grow Basil: Final Thoughts
Basil is a versatile herb and one of the easiest to grow at home. Basil is an essential ingredient in many dishes—from pasta sauces to salads and soups.
It’s also a good companion plant because it repels aphids and other garden pests while attracting bees and other pollinating insects that help plants bear fruit.
As you harvest fresh basil from your garden, download the Lil’ Broc app to track and monitor the freshness of your produce.
