Growing Basil - Learn How to Grow Basil Easily!

This is YOUR Date! Know When You Can Start Growing Basil Outdoors As we patiently await for spring to arrive, the question we are asking ourselves is when can I start planting outside? The short answer to this is as soon as we can guarantee that there will be no frost. This simple question can be challenging to answer. Without looking through 30 years of meteorological data you won’t really know when the last spring frost will occur. Right? Well… I made this answer easy for you. Me (and a team of...

How to Grow Basil Outdoors Basil is an annual plant, and like me, it enjoys a somewhat tropical environment. Care should be taken not to plant basil outdoors until after the last spring frost has passed. It prefers full sunlight (6+ hours a day of direct light) and a warm climate, meaning more than 70 °F (21 °C) during the day and no colder than 50 °F (10 °C) at night. The herb should be planted in soil that drains well. It does best in soil that is combined with...

Basil Varieties There are dozens of types of basil, including such unique basil varieties as purple basil and cinnamon basil, which are appreciated for their color, smell and taste. There are also a number of different species that are highly regarded for their use in cooking, medicine and for their ties to religion as well. Two such species include Thai basil and holy basil. Other types of basil are excellent choices for decorative designs...

How to Grow Basil Indoors In contrast to growing basil outdoors, you will need to pay careful attention to providing proper levels of light, hydration and nourishment for the plant. Mother nature provides most of what a healthy herb needs naturally. However, if you are growing indoors then you should follow our suggestions below to ensure an abundant harvest. The Soil If you are growing basil indoors then you are going to be using a pot or other container, which can make...

Artificial Lighting for Growing Basil After experiencing the joys of harvesting fresh basil during the summertime, many people find that they want fresh basil all year round. While growing basil indoors is not terribly difficult, many people often find that their plants do not thrive as they would when grown outdoors. This is often a combination of several factors. First, the duration of light or quality of light that a plant receives in the wintertime is often lacking. Placing a...

Care and Maintenance Basil should receive 6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Some suggest watering outdoor plants every 4-6 days, but I personally like to check mine every other day to determine if the soil is moist. If the soil is dry I will water them, otherwise I wait another day. In my experience, it is hard to over-water outdoor basil, especially if the plants are in good soil that drains well. For indoor potted plants, water them until the soil is wet...

Metal Halide Grow Lights Metal halide grow lights have been the choice among professional growers of basil for many years. As far as high-intensity discharge lamps (HID lamps) are concerned, metal halide (MH) produces the most desirable light spectrum for growing basil - blue light. Light that falls within the range of blue light, around a wavelength of 475nm, is best for plants that are in the vegetative state...

History of Basil and Other Tidbits Basil, one of the oldest herbs, is believed to have originated in India and spread to Europe via the Middle East. Throughout history it has been regarded as having extraordinary powers, claiming fame in the realms of religion, medicine and cooking. Its name is derived from the Greek ‘basileus’ which means ‘king’. It has been used as an antidote for snake bites, and to give ancient peoples a source of strength during...

Getting Rid of Basil Pests

No garden would be complete without a few residents making their homes in or around your basil plants. Some creatures can be beneficial to the garden environment while some are bad for your harvest. I have compiled a need-to-know list of some of the most common problem makers when it comes to growing basil and what you can do to get them under control...

Help! Common Problems with Growing Basil

Basil is a highly resilient herb. While it does not suffer from as many problems with pests and diseases as other herbs, you may find you need a little guidance from time to time. Here I have answered some of the most common questions and concerns surrounding the basil garden. When I sowed basil seeds this year, the seedlings germinated and started to grow, but then suddenly perished. This is most likely a disease...

History of Basil and Other Tidbits

Basil, one of the oldest herbs, is believed to have originated in India and spread to Europe via the Middle East. Throughout history it has been regarded as having extraordinary powers, claiming fame in the realms of religion, medicine and cooking. Its name is derived from the Greek ‘basileus’ which means ‘king’. It has been used as an antidote for snake bites, and to give ancient peoples a...

How to Dry Basil Leaves

Learning how to dry basil is an art as much as it is a science and everyone has their preferred method. Be warned that basil is notorious for turning brown when dried, however, this does not negate its use for cooking or other purposes. Now that you've been well advised, let's take a look at the various methods for drying basil.

Harvesting and Preserving Basil

Once your basil plant has reached 6-8 inches in height you can begin harvesting leaves. This involves exactly the same process as “pruning” which I covered in the article Care and Maintenance. Harvesting basil is important, not only to promote the growth of new stems but to ensure that the plant does not flower too early. Once the herb starts to flower it will stop producing new leaves and the existing...