My basil is very short lived. By the time the plants are big enough to harvest a goodly quantity of leaves, the flavor is bitter and the tips are going to flower. When planting, I always cut off the growing tips to encourage bushing out.
I was trying to avoid paying too much for fresh basil in the produce section of the grocery by growing my own, but this isn't working out. This is the third year this is happening.
My basil gets so big that by Autumn the original stem is thick and almost bark-like. I just plant it in the ground in full sun and water it daily. I only feed it Miracle Grow when I first plant it.
I have 2 small plants in my kitchen that my daughter planted in her Botany class in high school last year. She grew these from seeds and they seem to be pretty hearty. I've had them now for about 6 months and have just been pinching the leaves off and using them when I want to use some of it. It has all new leaves on it now, as I went on a wild pinching spree for a salad a week or so ago.
My secret is to use a HUGE clay pot (15 gallons?), plant the Italian large leaf variety (I buy at least 6 or more healthy 3 inch pot size plants from a good nursury) , plant it miracle grow potting soil (this is absolutely required!), lots of sun (but partial hot afternoon sun), good watering, pinch back leaves alot, and sing "O solo mio" to it once a week!
Things not to do. I didn't have any luck planting it in a barrel. Be careful with containers, I think it prefers to be in the ground so baby the soil & container. Also, I don't have any luck planting it with other herbs! Plant it all by itself.
This isn't a tip about growing basil because I can't manage to do it either. But, if you love basil, you might buy it at Trader's Joe's. They sell a big bunch for $1.99. Another good source is Asian groceries. I have one near my house where I buy fresh spicy Thai peppers (the little green ones) and a small packet of basil for 69 cents each. It is just enough for a stir fry.
Good luck, growers and let us all know how to do it too!
I've been gardening for over 40 years and have never been able to grow basil. I tried a couple of times in my garden and it always went directly into seed. I attempted to pinch the plants back, but they never got very big. I've tried growing basil in pots for years and never got anywhere either. The summers get really hot where I live, and we are often in drought conditions. I watered frequently, but I just couldn't seem to get my basil to grow. This year, I bought basil plants (a large leaf variety) and set them out (directly in the garden--no pots) early. I watered them with rain water that I'd collected, and they are thriving. I've pruned the plants drastically. So far I've made pesto 4 times. The difference between how my plants are doing now compared to earlier is like day and night. I returned to the store and the only type they had left was cinnamon basil -- a small leaf variety. I've planted it near my other plants, and it is not doing very well. It has not grown much, like my other plantings of the past. The only difference that I can tell, is the timing of my plantings. Planting early allowed the basil to get well established before the weather even got into the 70s. After so many failures, I'm really enjoying it this year. My point is, I think some plants are extremely sensitive to climate, location, weather conditions, and planting times more than others.
Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback (if you are a registered user). If you have not yet registered, click here to do so. It's FREE!.
Archives:
Request: Need Help Growing Basil
Archived on 06/25/2007
I consider myself good with plants, and have ZERO luck with Basil. Globe or any other doesn't seem to matter. They get all leggy and I've tried buying them different places, tried larger plants hoping for better luck. No one seems to be able to figure out what I'm doing wrong. What's the secret to good basil? I always plant it alone.
My herbs have to grow inside (garden window) or outside balcony, but I have one in front and one back, one AM sun, one PM sun.
Hardiness Zone: 9-10
MAnne from CA
Answers:
RE: Need Help Growing Basil
Growing basil from seed is easy. Start it outside in a sunny spot in a good potting mix like Miracle Gro. Basil grows great in containers. Keep it moist and as the delicate seedlings come up, carefully thin them out just a bit. When you water them, choose an organic seaweed/fish fertilizer diluted in filtered water. Water carefully in the mornings from the bottom and try not to wet the leaves. As they continue to grow bigger, thin them out to about one plant per half a foot. When they are good size, pinch the tops off, an inch or so, to cause the plants to become fuller, not taller. Growing basil from seed is not difficult and the varieties are amazing and fun to try. My other suggestion is that you try planting basil between your vegetables and flowers rather than all by itself. Good luck to you and hope this helps.
Definitely pinch it. Basil gets leggy if you don't. Plus, pinching means you get to use it early! Make sure it has lots of sun too.
RE: Need Help Growing Basil
The secret to growing basil and cilantro is to make successive plantings as both plants will go to seed within a short time. Make sure to pinch back the growing tips on a regular basis.
I have the red and the green varieties that do well at the base of my tomato plant in 6 hr. of sun, good drainage, and good watering. I will begin taking the top of the main stem off and drying or using it soon.
Don't believe you have enough sun for them, and agree that you need to constantly let it know that you are using some of it, or it may get more leggy, go to seed and die out...but dropping some seed.
Mine both grow in ordinary soil, but I'm certain it will grow in med. rich soil, as well, and prefers to be interspersed with other plants, especially at the base
of a tomato plant, it's companion plant which helps keep pests off the tomato as well. God bless you. : )
