I can't imagine how it would do in full sun in a warmer climate. Skip to main content. You are here Gardening » Growing Guides. Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Basil. By The Editors. When to Plant Basil To get a jump on the season, start the seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last spring frost.
See local frost dates. Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site 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 moist but well-drained. Basil works great in containers or raised beds, as these allow for better drainage. They should grow to about 12 to 24 inches in height. For larger varieties, plant farther apart about 16 to 24 inches. Tomatoes make great neighbors for basil plants in the garden—and on the plate!
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 to 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. 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.
Aphids Powdery mildew Variety of bacterial and fungal leaf, stem, and root diseases. How to Harvest Basil Start picking the leaves of basil as soon as the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall. Harvest in the early morning, when leaves are at their juiciest. Make sure to pick the leaves regularly to encourage growth throughout the summer. Store them for later use! If you pick regularly, twelve basil plants can produce 4 to 6 cups of leaves per week.
How to Store Basil The best method for storing basil is freezing. Freezing will prevent the plant from losing a good portion of its flavor. To quick-freeze basil, package whole or chopped leaves in airtight, resealable plastic bags, then place in the freezer. Another storage method is drying the basil although some of the flavor will be lost.
Pinch off the leaves at the stem and place them in a well-ventilated and shady area. After 3 to 4 days, if the plants are not completely dry, place them in the oven on the lowest heat setting with the door slightly open. Remember to turn the leaves for equal drying and check them frequently.
See more about drying basil, tomatoes, and paprika. Cinnamon basil , to add a hint of cinnamon to a dish Purple basil , to add some nice color to your garden when steeped in white vinegar, it creates a beautiful color Thai basil , to add a sweet licorice flavor to a dish.
Basil has a lovely fragrance. Pick from the stems and put in water for a few days as you would with cut flowers! For other greens to use in your cuisine, see our Leafy Greens: Health Benefits page. Where salt is good, so is basil. Vegetable Gardener's Handbook. What do you want to read next?
Basil Varieties for the Garden. How to Make Pesto Basic Basil How to Freeze and Dry Herbs. Companion Planting With Herbs. Vegetable Garden Plans. Planting Calming Herbs for You and Growing Herbs in the Garden. Basil-Zucchini Extreme. Overwintering and Growing Basil Growing Herbs Indoors. Drying Your Own Herbs for Tea. Herb Recipes: Cooking with Fresh Which variables affect the flavor and scent of a basil plant? Any insight into the flavor variations is appreciated!
Great Article! My Basil plants suffer a lot from leaf miner infestation. Simply chop leaves, stuff them into ice cube trays, cover with cold water, and freeze. The frozen basil bits will turn black as soon as they thaw, but they will still taste like basil.
Frozen basil cigars are a great way to store basil with large leaves that can hold up to brief blanching. Dip branches of basil in boiling water for 10 seconds, and then pinch off the leaves and stack them about five deep. Roll up the blanched leaves like tight cigars, wrap the cigars in waxed paper, and then freeze them in airtight containers.
When removed from the freezer and unwrapped, the cigars can be thinly sliced into ribbons that transform a homemade pizza into a truly unforgettable masterpiece. Packing basil in sea salt can extend its storage life in the refrigerator by two to three weeks.
First wash your basil and prepare a bowl with ice water. Next bring a pot of water to boil on the stove, blanche leaves for a couple seconds and place immediately in ice bath to cool.
Remove from ice bath, wait until basil is thoroughly dry and then seal and freeze. Try placing basil on a cookie sheet to dry and also try to be patient. Works best if completely dry.
Basil can also be frozen in ice cubes as well as cleaned, chopped and prepared with olive oil before freezing. Living in northern mid-west, basil will not survive the winter in the garden like my oregano and mint. I would like to bring the plant indoors for the winter months.
Last time I tried this with another plant I had an outcropping of small bugs — think gnats. Any suggestions on transitioning from outdoor crop to indoors? Hi Tracy, Thanks for writing! I know these small bugs — so pesky! Basil is susceptible to white flies and other pests. There are other basils, like African Blue Basil, that are perennial.
You may want to give a few different varieties a try to see what grows best in your indoor environment. Hope this helps! Happy growing! I have basil that needs to be replanted, but I think it needs to have some harvested.
Thanks for any advise,. Hi Pat, great question! Thanks for writing. Harvesting when replanting or potting up is good.
Good luck! Hi Angelica, thanks for writing! Happy to hear the article has helped — the more basil the better! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Privacy Policy. Password recovery. Pass the Pistil.
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