Basil  

To produce high quality basil, grow it in full sun in warm, well-drained soil.
Pinch or cut the leaves off as required, but always from the top. When the plants begin to produce flowers, pinch those out as soon as possible to encourage more leafy growth. Thin to strongest plants.
If growing Basil in containers or indoor pots then add a small amount of fertilizer every month or so.
Water every week (more often if growing in outdoor containers or indoors).
When watering your Basil make sure to water at the base of the plant avoiding showering the leaves and stems.

Basil is an annual and its goal is to flower. If you let it, it will cease leaf production. It is best to cut the entire plant back by half from the top when it is mature and starting to form buds to encourage is to grow more leaves—merely pinching the tips will cause it to simply try and grow more flowering branches.

Cover with finely sieved compost. Can be planted indoors.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Basil about 20 days before your last frost date .

All basils are tender annuals which are easy to grow, but are very susceptible to cold weather. They should be planted in late spring after all danger of frost is past, soil temperature is warm, and nighttime temperatures are above 15 C or 60 F. Can be grown in containers in full sun. Temperatures below 8 C or 45 F can kill the plants.

By our calculations*, you should look at planting out Basil about 40 days after your last frost date.

To preserve basil, you can either dry or freeze it.

Air drying Basil
To dry basil without a dehydrating machine, simply hang upside-down in small bunches in a cool, dark place. check that they are ready by crumbling a little in your fingers – if ready put into small airtight jars to keep until use.

Freezing Basil:
Pack ice cube trays with basil leaves and then cover with hot water (the hot water should blanch the basil quickly and keep the colour nice and green). Place in the freezer for at least 24 hours, then place in freezer bags and store to defrost when required.
Alternatively, blend basil leaves in a food processor with oil to a smooth paste consistency, then pour into ice cube trays. After 24 hours, remove from the trays and place into freezer bags and store frozen until required.

These plants have been known to grow well alongside Basil so consider planting:

chamomile, anise, tomato

• Basil loves Tomato

  Planting basil with tomatoes improves the flavour of tomatoes.

• Basil loves Potato

• Basil loves Asparagus

• Basil loves Bean

• Basil loves Beetroot

• Basil loves Anise

  It will boost the essential oils production of basil

These plants will not grow well with Basil so avoid planting these within close proximity:

common rue, sage

• Basil hates Common rue

• Basil hates Sage

These problems, diseases and pests are known to affect Basil plants:

Dampening off – seed thinly and wide and guard against humid conditions.

aphids, white fly

• Black Spot

  Fungal infection.

The word basil means “king” in Greek – it is believed to have grown above the spot where St. Constantine and Helen discovered the Holy Cross.

Believed to be an abbreviation of Basilikon phuton, Greek for “kingly herb”

Jewish folklore says that basil adds strength while fasting.
The Oxford English Dictionary quotes speculations that basil may have been used in “some royal unguent, bath, or medicine”.

Said to promote peace and harmony between lovers. A container of basil placed outside a woman’s window is said to attract courtship.

put a pot of basil on the balcony as a tacit sign that you are ready to receive a suitor ¹

Whoever has a better vocabulary of cuss words let him/her plant the basil…because it will only grow if cussed out properly²

In Ethiopia, it’s grown as a culinary herb and is also used to treat stomach upset, colic, scabies, coughs, asthma, irritated and inflamed bowel conditions, arthritis, and menstrual problems.³

Basilic

Ocimum basilicum L.

Misspellings: Sweet, Sweat, Sweat Basil

Our when to plant Basil estimates are relative to your last frost date. Enter your frost dates and we'll calculate your sowing and planting dates for you!

¹ Old Wives’ Tales, Folklore, Myths and Legends

² Old Wives’ Tales, Folklore, Myths and Legends

³ Assessment of the Microbial Effects of Some Ethiopian Aromatic Spice and Herb Hydrosols by Jemal Hussein, Chalachew Teshale, Jemal Mohammed in International Journal of Pharmacology, 2011