Growing Basil

Basil is really easy to grow!

SPROUTING BASIL SEEDS INDOORS

1. When sowing (germinating/spouting) put seeds in container and cover them with moist, normal all purpose compost soil or sifted sand about 1/4 inch deep and press down lightly on the soil. Keep out of direct sunlight. Keep the seeds 3/8 to1/2 inch from each other and keep well drained. Basil needs warmth to sprout and make sure to keep them moist and be sure the soil is well drained.

2. To keep from drying out cover with clear plastic wrap or in a plastic bag. They take 4 to 7 days to germinate indoors.

3. Then take out of plastic after the seedlings emerge and put in full sunlight. If you don't have a south facing window with at least 5 hours of sunlight a day get a florescent grow light. Grow lights can be found in most harware stores. Find one that fits into your current light fixture. Place plant 2-3 inches below the grow light.

4. The soil should stay at around 70 degrees F. Leaves will grow in two weeks time. When the plants are a few inches tall transplant and space around 12" apart in a deeper container.

GROWING INDOORS

1. Use a little organic fertilizer just once a month when growing indoors and in containers to keep the leaves from getting a pale green. It's best if basil can get 5-8 hours of sunlight a day.

2. A window facing west in the winter is unlikely to grow basil. Use a florescent grow light in that case.

3. Water every one or two days, preferably in the morning. Water basil near the base to avoid getting too much water on the leaves or stems.

4. Younger leaves should avoid hot mid-day sun as they can burn. When growing in containers make sure there is good drainage. Try adding gravel to the bottom of the container.

GROWING OUTSIDE

1. Sow the seeds in around 1/2 inch depth in garden soil, germination can take up to 14 days outdoors.

2. Do not plant outside until temperatures are in the 70s F and it is at least 50 degrees F.at night. Basil will die when exposed to the slightest frost.

3. Start seeds indoors 3 - 8 weeks before the last frost in the spring for transplanting outside. Basil can be brought inside before the first frost of fall for continued growth.

4. Water once a week if their is no rain and every couple of days if it is in a container. Basil can grow up to 2 1/2 feet high and just as wide.

5. As the basil grows keep the plants around "12 apart outside as they can get about "12-"24 wide.

DISEASE

Fusarium wilt is a disease that arrived in North America in the 1990s and it causes wilting and stems that have dark streaks. Throw away the plant, roots, and surrounding soil if this happends to stop the disease from spreading. To keep slugs or snails from getting to your basil put eggshells around each plant to create a barrier.

PRUNING

To produce as many leaves as possible keep basil from making flowers by taking off the top leaves once the plant gets to about 6" high, or just take off individual ones. Basil creates flowers after 6 leaves. Once it flowers it stops making new leaves. Basil will create white or lavender flower 8-10 weeks after it is planted. Pull off the blossoms as they form to keep producing more leaves.