![]() ![]() The most annoying disease is downy mildew, an airborne disease that causes yellowing leaves and gray mold. Container plants will dry out faster, so keep an eye on them during heat waves or dry spells because basil doesn't tolerate water stress too well.īasil typically isn't too vulnerable to pests or diseases. Try to water the soil, not the plant, to keep down the risk of fungal diseases. Pinch off the flowers when they appear in mid to late summer so that your basil will keep producing lots of leaves.īasil likes to stay consistently moist, not soaking wet. Keep trimming off leaves to use throughout the season, which will encourage it to branch so that your plant will stay nice and bushy in form. $21 at Amazon When is it okay to start harvesting my basil?Īs soon as your plant has six to eight leaves, you can pinch off a few to use. The variegated cultivar Pesto Perpetuo doesn't flower so you'll have tons of sweet basil-citrusy flavor in a columnar habit all season long. Emerald Towers is a newer type that grows in a handsome and tidy columnar form with a sweet flavor. Purple Ruffles has deep purple, frilly leaves and an upright form that make it lovely in mixed container plantings. There are so many fun types to grow! Genovese is the traditional Italian style with large leaves and a sweet, spicy taste. Hydroponic basil kits are another option for providing your kitchen with a steady supply of this herb year-round. You'll typically need a grow light as most sunny windows aren't bright enough in the winter months, especially in northern climates. Most importantly, make sure to plant basil in full sun, which is considered six or more hours of direct sunlight per day. Thin seedlings to about ten inches apart once they're a few inches tall. Or you can sow seeds directly into the garden or outdoor pots. Plant the seeds 1/8-inch deep and keep moist. You can start seeds indoors under grow lights about four to six weeks before the last expected frost. Don't try to push it basil absolutely doesn't like the cold and will struggle or die. Kumacore // Getty Images When should I plant basil?īasil doesn't like cold weather, so make sure to plant about two weeks after the last expected frost date in your area to be on the safe side. Here's what else you need to know about how to grow basil. Ree herself ends up sprinkling it in "every dish imaginable." She admits, "I've been known to 'accidentally' overplant basil in the summer, so we end up overrun with it by mid-July." But of course, "It's a great problem to have!" Because it just wouldn't be summer without the flavors of this incredible herb that features in pasta recipes with pesto, homemade pizza as a topping, and fresh caprese salad. ![]() If you keep pinching it back for use, you'll have a steady supply of this herb all summer long. It also does well on a windowsill or in a small hydroponic garden if you don't have outdoor space. Basil grows equally well in large garden beds or a few planter pots and containers. Luckily, this annual is easy to grow from seed or transplant seedlings from the nursery. But even if you are able to buy herbs, there's something really satisfying about planting, growing and picking your own." ![]() "I've never had easy access to fresh herbs at a local grocery store, so growing them on the ranch is a necessity. The Pioneer Woman can certainly attest to that! "I grow a ton of basil in the summer-luckily the plants can handle the crazy Oklahoma weather," Ree Drummond says of her own basil garden. Basil is one of those amazing herbs that produces all summer long, thriving in high temperatures. ![]()
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