I started my first batch of basil seeds under grow lights this morning! For the past 2 years I have been pretty successful at growing basil and wanted to share some of my tips and tricks with you. In years past I had simply scattered seeds in the garden and hoped for the best. But two years ago I babied the seeds a bit by starting them under grow lights and then growing the basil in our greenhouse the whole season.
And holy cow what a difference it made. We had more basil than I knew what to do with. Luckily this year I have a ton of new recipes I want to try so I am going all out and planting oodles of seeds. Weeeeeeee!
Brief description: An annual herb, used in a huge variety of dishes.
Where to Plant Basil: Plant in raised beds, garden beds, or containers. In the winter, Basil can be planted indoors and kept in a south-facing window in most climates. Once outdoors, choose an area with full sun.
Planting Seeds: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Plant seeds 1/4″ deep. Thin to 1 per pot when about 2″ tall. Basil is VERY sensitive to frost, so don’t transplant too soon.
Growing Tips: When transplanting outside, mix a little compost into the soil to encourage growth. Pinch leaves and flowers frequently to encourage regrowth. Water regularly.
How to Harvest: Pinch off leaves as needed, or cut top 3″ or so off. It tastes best harvested right before it flowers.
Are you ready to start your garden but you’re not sure when you should plant your seeds or set out your transplants? Head on over HERE and you’ll be taken to a handy dandy chart that is broken down into what vegetables should be planted {or transplanted} each month in your area.
Anyone can do this. Dirt + Seeds+ Water = Food!
~Mavis
Gardening books hold kind of a special place in my heart. I wouldn’t be the gardener I am today {or maybe not a gardener at all} if it weren’t for a few gardening books I picked up years ago. I spent almost the entire winter of 2008/2009 reading up on gardening. I found some incredible reads that taught me so much and made me realize how much I didn’t know. So I’ve never stopped reading gardening books.
Here are just a few of my favorites, although if we’re being honest, narrowing this list down was virtually impossible. Gardening books are right up there with the bible {okay, not quite, but you get the idea!}.
My Favorite Garden Books:
- Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting
- The Complete Compost Gardening Guide
- Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre
- Sugar Snaps and Strawberries
- The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
- The Kitchen Gardener’s Handbook
Kerry Countryman says
Does basil grow well in a container? I grew some last year but my tomato plants grew over it. I was thinking about putting it in a planter this year since my garden is teeny tiny.
Shana says
Basil grows beautifully in containers – we have it growing year round & use it for Caprese (sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella & Basil) several times a week, with plenty of Basil left for other dishes 🙂
Kerry C says
Thanks. If I had read the post instead of skimming it, I would have read that.
Mavis says
Yes it does!
Holly says
I grow A LOT of Basil….and most of it goes into making Pesto. I freeze the fresh pesto and have it available all winter…it’s my kids’ favorite….I use the Ball Freezer Jars….
Shannon says
Another way to freeze pesto is in ice trays. Once frozen, throw the cubes in a freezer bag or other container. They stay pretty well separated if you let them freeze solid and don’t let the container set out on the counter.
Krista says
i LOVE basil, we had sooooo much of it last year and i let a few of the plants go to seed and kept the seeds and i have about 30 new baby basil plants right now, when i make chicken cordon bleu i put a basil leaf inside with the ham and cheese and omg its sooooo good
Ashley says
Love growing basil in containers! My daughter (she just turned 3) is growing some basil and other herbs from seed for me and they are doing awesome. She planted and watered them herself and did a great job, except some of the sections have 2 sprouts and some have like 15, lol! But that’s okay, she’s enjoying herself 🙂 I’m hoping she’ll still want to do the watering when I transplant them to larger containers….hehe.
Pam says
While waiting for my seed order to arrive, I’m doing a germination test with basil seeds dated 1999. Do you think I’ll have any luck? Or am I wasting my time?
Mavis says
It’s always worth a try. 🙂
Wendy says
Hi Mavis! Do you ever fertilize what you grow from seed? Just curious if you do, what you use and how often you use it.
Thanks.:)
Mavis says
I’m kind of a lazy gardener. I used Miracle Grow in my garden once last summer. That’s it. My garden soil is a mixture of soil, compost and chicken fertilizer. That’s it. 🙂
Tasha says
I grew basil for the first time last year in pots with my tomatoes! It was amazingly beautiful….I vowed from now on to grow my basil with my tomatoes.
krista S says
we grow basil here like crazy every year, Just in november i harvested the last of our basil for the year and had over 5 lbs of it, through out the summer we probably had close to 25 lbs of it and all the seeds i saved. I did send some to some friends around the country as well. Our basil seeds originally came from an heirloom plant we bought about 5 years ago. My daughter being the rabbit she is will go out in the morning, pick a bell pepper and pull the stem and seeds out, stuff some basil in it and some cherry tomatoes.
Catherine Foster says
I’m in Southern Oregon (which has a more Bay Area-like climate than Portland), and I have not had much success with basil in the six years I’ve been here. Finally, someone told me that we have TOO MUCH sun and that in this climate, it helps to have a little shade cloth part of the time. I will try it this way this year. I’m really hoping it turns out because I love making pesto and usually have to buy a bagful from someone who is more successful at it than I am. (!)
Randi says
Oh Mavis, you are my guide of when to start seeds indoors. I live near Everett Wa so the same climate as you. I JUST got back from Big Lots buying two folding tables to set up my grow lights on. (They were on sale!! $37 for a 6 foot table) they also had those peat starter pods that you add water too and they expand, then plant directly later.
Now to get my basil seeds. How long does Botanical Interests take to ship?
Jennifer Kashuba says
How do you keep all your tons of indoor plants from getting the dreaded soil/fungus gnats? I always get them, but this is the first year that the infestation is so bad that the larva are killing my plants 🙁
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
Could you clarify “water regularly”? Does that mean when the soil is dried out? Perhaps a schedule of M-W-F? Everyday?
Also, should you water at the base or is it ok if the leaves get wet?
I am asking as I have not had good luck with my basil. 🙁
Edwin says
Basil and tomatoes in containers on the front porch. Makes me happy each time I see them and how sorry I feel for those who have never tasted heirloom tomatoes or fresh homemade pesto.
Tabitha says
Great basil recipe: Grilled cheese with tomato and whole basil leaves. Yum.
Amanda L. says
I grew basil last year. When I transplanted it into containers outside it was early-July. I live in Michigan and it was already too hot, they got too much sun. They did not grow much at all! I think I’ll try starting seeds early this year and plant a spring crop. Thanks Mavis! Your readers are the best!
Christine Graham says
While I was visiting a farm in NH, the farmer said he planted basil between tomatoes. I guess the smell kept away some pests (it wasn’t a huge deterrent but it helped). However, he primarily did it because of space issues. Since he kept the basil compact (he would cut to sell) it was a great use of space. I’m going to try it this year.
JudyB says
Me too Christine! A great idea!
Nancy says
Two years ago I planted 1 pot with basil seeds They did beautifully. Last year I planted many, many pots of basil. All these plants were massacred by Japanese Beatles. What do I do? I don’t use pesticides on my plants.