Basil Growing Guide

Ocimum basilicum

Basil

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous 

Soil

Rich soil.

Position

A sunny spot that is convenient for quick picking.

Frost tolerant

No.

Feeding

Not usually required.

Spacing

Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 5" (15cm) with 9" (25cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Make a late spring planting of seedlings started indoors or purchased. In summer, after the soil is warm, sow more basil wherever you want it to grow.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Cover transplants with flowerpots to shade them from strong sun for 2 days or so. To keep new leafy branches coming on, pinch off the upright flower spikes as they appear.

Harvesting

Harvest leaves a few at a time as you need them in the kitchen. In midsummer, cut plants back by half to stimulate new growth, and make big batches of pesto with the trimmings.

Troubleshooting

Plants that slowly wilt to death and show a dark ring on their stems near the soil line are infected with fusarium wilt.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Basil