The three most important things for a basil plant owner to remember are to water the plant regularly and consistently, harvest the leaves often to encourage growth of new leaves, and to prevent flowering by pruning the plant, because the basil leaves lose a lot of flavor after the plant has flowered. Do not fret if the plant flowers, though, because flowering means the plant has also seeded, so you can always keep those seeds and save them to plant in the spring.
What is basil?
Basil is a popular herb that originates from Asia and the South Pacific. This is why Thai cuisine often uses basil. It is a member of the mint family and is quite easy to grow. It is known for its aromatic leaves which are often used in Italian and Mediterranean cooking.
Basil is considered a tender annual and grows very quickly. It usually only takes three to four weeks to grow it from seed to harvest.
Basil is so easy to grow that it is, in fact, great for beginner gardeners.
Types of basil
1. Cinnamon basil
This fragrant basil is full of spice but has a mild flavor that complements Asian dishes as well as fruits and vegetables. It has tight, serrated leaves and dark purple flowers. Not only can you cook with it; it will make your kitchen look more beautiful too.
2. Spicy globe basil
This basil is perfect for growing in a container indoors because it does not spread out as it grows, but instead forms a tight clump. This is a dwarf basil with a peppery flavor.
3. Lemon basil
One of the more popular varieties of basil, the lemon basil can be found in most nurseries. It goes well with light dishes such as those with vegetables, chicken, or fish. Interestingly, it can even be consumed in the form of tea.
4. Purple basil
This variety of basil is often used as garnish on dishes because of its unique deep burgundy to purple color. Its color is what ultimately makes it stand out in prepared dishes, but it does bring a clove taste and is also not as sweet as most other basil varieties.
5. Sweet basil
This is probably the most common of all the basil varieties. When a person says they have a basil plant in their garden, it is most likely going to be this one. The basil you find in the grocery store is often sweet basil. It is the most versatile because it can be used in pestos, pastas, and even salads. This plant has round, cup-shaped leaves that are green in color.
How to plant basil
If you want to plant basil from seed, you will need the following:
- Basil seeds
- Seed starting mix
- Starter pot
- Starting container
- Spray mister
First, prepare your starter pot by adding the moist seed starting mix until it is an inch below the top of the pot.
Then add the basil seeds into the pot. It is wise to plant several seeds to improve the chances of growing a strong plant. Some seeds can be duds, so adding extra seeds to one pot will increase your chances of success.
Cover the seeds with more seed starting mix and mist the soil with water. Use a spray bottle with a fine spray.
Now you need to maintain the humidity by placing the pots in a starting container with a plastic dome. If you do not have one, you can just use a shallow pan and cover the tops of the pots with a sheet of plastic wrap.
Place the starting container in a part of your house that is approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Because you are trapping the humidity with the plastic dome or plastic wrap, you will not really need to water the seeds until after the seedlings have emerged.
The basil seedlings usually take between seven to ten days to emerge. You can then remove the plastic dome or plastic wrap and transfer the pots to a windowsill. You need to make sure that the soil is always moist with regular misting.
When the basil’s true leaves start to appear, choose the strongest plants from among the seedlings. Remove the other seedlings from the pot, leaving the main seedling.
Now that you have chosen your strong seedlings, and when they have three pairs of leaves each, you can transplant them to their individual 4-inch pots. You can add a weak fertilizer solution to help them grow.
Let your basil plants adjust to living outdoors by gradually exposing them to the sun. If the outside temperature is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, you can place the plants in a shaded location outside for up to one week.
Tips for basil plant care
Water consistently
It is imperative that you keep the soil in your basil plant’s pot moist so that it grows well. Watering it in the morning is ideal and, if it is summer season, consider adding mulch to the soil to hold in more moisture.
Harvest often
It is important to harvest the leaves of your basil plant so that it can grow more new leaves. If you do not harvest regularly, the plant will start to flower. After the plant has flowered, the leaves will lose their flavor and will not be suitable for cooking. You can try picking off the flowers as this can help bring back the flavor, or you can collect the seeds and plant new ones when the weather gets warmer.
Fertilize your basil plant
Although basil plants grow quickly without the help of fertilizer, adding a weak liquid fertilizer twice each season can really help them grow, especially if they are being grown indoors.
Conclusion
Basil plants are very easy to grow and are a great choice for beginner gardeners. The main thing to remember when caring for a basil plant is to make sure you keep its soil moist at all times, while also making sure not to overwater. Basil plants love the sun, but you should also keep an eye out for signs of wilting.
You should also harvest the leaves on your plant regularly so that it can grow more leaves and to delay flowering.
You can fertilize your plant twice each season to help its growth.
Image: istockphoto.com / Zbynek Pospisil