A woody, branching plant, basil is a warm-weather annual that grows very fast in 80- to 90-degree weather. When growing basil, note that two or three plants will yield plenty of fresh leaves for a family of four — unless you plan to make pesto. (To make and freeze a winter’s supply of pesto, plant a dozen or more.) Many gardeners mix various types of basil in their flower beds, where it is ready for a quick harvest anytime. It is also great for containers.
Why you should grow basil?
How would you feel if you could just clip off a few aromatic leaves of basil from your kitchen garden and use it in your cooking? We think, anyone would love the idea of adding fresh ‘out of the garden’ produce to their food, instead of buying from stores. The aroma that is exuded from the basil leaves freshly plucked from the garden has a soothing effect on our minds.
There are other reasons why you must go in for growing basil at home. These include the plant’s capability to grow well even in small spaces like pots, on windowsills and practically all places that receive ample amounts of sunlight.
How to Plant Basil?
As its been already mentioned above, growing basil indoors or outdoors at home is not at all difficult, provided you show ample amount of sunlight to your basil plant and protect it from extreme cold. Basil grows all year round and can be grown in limited spaces like pots.
Steps in Planting Basil
For those that want to know as to how to grow basil, we are listing down a few important steps that will help you grow them easily. So, read these carefully:
Growing basil is simple, but, you must know the exact or proper time to start planting. Basil grows best during June. In case you are planning for growing basil indoors in pots, do place 2 to 3 seeds per pot. The required diameter of each pot must be at least 5-7 cm. Before placing the seeds, fill the pots with moist potting soil and compost. Also, make sure that the pots have enough holes for drainage. Once the seeds have been placed, dust compost over them so as to cover them. Place the pots near sunlight like a windowsill.
You may also cover the pots with cling film to fasten the process of germination of basil seedlings. When you see the first signs of seedlings germinating from the soil, pull back the film so as to allow the flow of air. Do this couple of times and then put back the cling film. After a few days of repeated showing of air, remove the film.
Now, place the pots in shallow dishes filled with water. This has to be done for the seedlings to receive good amount of moisture that will enable them to grow. Wait for 14 days until you see the seedlings fully emerged from the soil.
Wait for another 3 weeks after which, you need to clip off the weak seedlings away from the healthy ones. Select the healthiest of all the seedlings in each pot.
The process of transplanting will begin soon after the stems of the seedlings have grown taller and have formed strong leaves. You can transplant these into a larger planting pot with at least 10 cm diameter, or else, you can also transplant them in the garden outdoor. If you plan to grow the basil plants inside, then you have to place them at spots that get direct sunlight, like a windowsill.
However, if you are planning for an outdoor growing of basil, then spot selection is a priority because it will determine the future of your basil plants. The place selected for outdoor growth has to be sunny, but at the same time must not be prone to get affected by wind and frost.
Once the spot is selected, the seedlings have to be removed from the pot and then placed in a hole measuring at least 1 cm in diameter. Be gentle when you remove the seedlings and then cover the hole with soil and press down gently. Start watering soon after.
How to cultivate basil?
If you are keen on knowing how to grow basil, then you must have the following points marked in your mind that will clear your doubts regarding its growth and cultivation:
The soil
For basil to grow properly, it is a must that the soil chosen as potting must be well moisturized or well drained. It must have a neutral pH which can be added when you treat it with compost, preferably organic. However, try not to add too much of compost that will make the soil richer. This will ultimately affect the flavor of the basil leaves that will loose much of their aroma.
The sun
If you want to cultivate basil to the maximum capacity, then you need to show the plants enough sunlight daily. Anyone that has a spot like a windowsill can grow basil well as this herb needs at least 6 hours of sunlight. However, make sure not to over expose them to direct sun specially at noontime.
The water
When watering, make sure that you water the base of the basil plants and not the leaves. Keep the soil moist but do not over water.
The space
Basil plants grow to reach heights of 12-24 inches, which makes it essential that you space them at least 12 to 16 inches apart in pots or garden beds. Among the basil varieties, it’s the Globe basil that grows nicely in small pots, and therefore, is best for pot cultivation.
The neighbors
Basil tends to extend its aroma and flavor to other plants or herbs grown along with it. You can plant parsley or tomatoes along with basil. But, always choose such plants that have the same needs as that of a basil like water and light.
How to harvest your basil?
After you have cultivated basil, its time for harvesting it. Since it grows fast, basil can be harvested whenever you feel there is enough quantity of leaves present on the plant. Here are a few tips on harvesting basil:
Always start harvesting basil when the plants have grown 10 cm tall and you can see a mound of fresh green leaves all over them.
You can either pinch or cut the leaves, or, even snip the stems that have the maximum green basil leaves. Do the clipping ritual daily as it will enhance the growth of more leaves and also prevent the plant from getting leggier.
However, some people refrain from snipping off the stems as this affects the health of basil plants. They only cut away the leaves as they keep growing after their first harvest.
Another important tip is to harvest the basil before it starts producing flowers. This is because the leaves are healthier before flowers arrive. In case, you spot any flowering, just snip or pinch these off. You can use the flowers as these are edible. Once the flowers are snipped off, the basil plant can grow healthier and produce more aromatic leaves than before.