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Growing Basil


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 858 Posts
April 28, 2011

Growing basil.Basil is one of the most popular herbs in the home garden. Known for its strong, peppery flavor (with hints of licorice), and its striking ornamental foliage. Basil is as versatile in the landscape as it is in the kitchen.

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Growing and Sowing

Basil is an annual herb that grows well in Zones 4 through 10. Depending on the variety, plants can grow up to 2 feet tall and 8 inches wide. If prevented from flowering, plants will continue to produce leaves and can remain productive for several months.

Site and soil preferences: Basil thrives in heat and full sun. Plant it in any well-drained soil amended with plenty of organic matter. It grows well in both garden beds and containers, and when planted near pepper and tomato plants, it is said to enhance their growth.

Starting seeds indoors: Seeds can be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected frost. Plant hardened-off seedlings outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil temperature average 50 degrees F or higher. As plants grow, remove flower stalks to maintain the best foliage flavor.

Mulching: Apply compost around the base of seedlings to keep roots warm, retain soil moisture, and discourage weeds. Side-dress with compost again in mid-summer to help enhance production.

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Harvesting and Storage

Basil can be harvested as soon as the plants have several pairs of leaves. To encourage more branching (and increase your overall harvest), pinch back terminal growth-the point where two branches leave the stem. Continue to remove the flower stalks throughout the season, which divert energy (and flavor) from the plant's leaves. By harvesting leaves weekly, you'll help encourage your plants to produce new growth.

Storage: Leaves harvested for immediate use can be layered between paper towels and placed in resealable plastic bags in the refrigerator. To enjoy basil year round, chop leaves in a food processor and freeze them in ice cube trays with water or a little olive oil. Then when a recipe calls for fresh basil, simply add a cube from the freezer. If you plan to freeze pesto, leave out the garlic until you're ready to use it.

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Cooking with Basil

For the best flavor, use basil fresh, rather than dried. The dried leaves don't retain their flavor very well for cooking, but steeping a teaspoonful of dried leaves in a cup of hot water makes a nice "digestive" tea. In the kitchen, basil is great in traditional in Italian, Mediterranean, and Thai dishes, or when used in vinegars and oils.

Types of Basil

The hardest part of growing basil may be choosing which type to grow. Varieties differ widely in foliage size, color, aroma, and growth habit. Here are just a few examples:

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May 2, 2011

Plant basil in a small container so you can easily move it around in your garden. Basil has almost no pests and is a natural insect repellent.

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It is also the easiest herb to grow and tolerates little water and any type of soil.

 
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4 Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

August 15, 2009

When growing basil, does it spread?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By tim from Traverse City, Mi

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 147 Feedbacks
August 16, 20090 found this helpful
Best Answer

Basil is a tender annual. The plants are fairly short-lived. It grows best in good, moist soil in hot weather. Good luck.

 
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June 16, 2012

What kind of soil is needed to grow basil? I bought a plant and planted it in Super Soil and it's not doing well.

By Tom from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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July 19, 20210 found this helpful

Maybe you should use some Osmocote fertilizer on them. No loss if it doesn't help.

 
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