Even if you’re planning on keeping your basil plants outdoors, you can start them indoors to protect them from the cold. Try planting them 6 to 8 weeks ahead of time, either in late winter or early spring. Although basil can be grown at any time during the year, it tends to turn out weak and sickly during the winter months. Seeds are available online and at most gardening centers, along with pots and soil. Basil seed packets contain 100 or more seeds that stay good for up to 5 years. Plant according to how much basil you wish to harvest each year.
Bigger pots are fine, too. They are useful if you don’t want to bother with replanting every single basil sprout later. You can usually grow several smaller basil plants together, although it’s better to separate them. You can even use small, plastic growing trays to get seeds started.
The soil’s pH level should be 6. 5 to 7. Most store-bought soils are a neutral 7, but you can use a pH testing kit from your local hardware store to test this. To make your own soil-based mix, combine equal amounts of sterilized loam, peat sand, and a supplement like perlite, vermiculite, or coarse sand. [3] X Trustworthy Source Penn State Extension Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source You can also make your own soilless potting mix so transplanting is easier. For example, try combining 2 parts peat moss with 2 parts perlite or vermiculite.
Test the soil’s consistency by scooping up a little with a spoon. Squeeze it between your fingers. It should be a cool, damp clump when you first pick it up, but fall apart when you squeeze it.
Keep in mind what you plan on doing with the grown plants. If you intend on keeping some together, space them 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) apart. Don’t put additional seeds in unless you’re willing to dig them back out later. No matter how much you scatter the seeds, they may not all sprout. They don’t need a lot of space to sprout, so placing them far apart doesn’t guarantee that they will all grow.
If you’re looking to give your basil a boost, use an organic compost instead of more soil. Try using a loam-based compost mix or even a layer of vermiculite, for instance. Compacting the soil could bury or otherwise damage the seeds, so be gentle when topping the basil seeds. You don’t have to press down on the soil at all.
If you have a seed propagator, you can move the potted seeds into there to lock in the moisture. Another option is to lay a freezer bag over the pot and secure it with rubber bands. Too much water will cause the seeds to rot, so use a light touch to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
When your basil starts to grow, you can leave the pots in the same, warm spot. If you’re moving them outside, select a similar spot that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight. To figure out which areas in your home get plenty of sunlight, check around during a sunny day. Note which spots get shady as the day goes on.
Another option is to get a 12 in (30 cm) pot and space 3 basil plants 6 in (15 cm) apart. Small basil plants can also survive for a while in 3 in (7. 6 cm) pots, but be prepared to transfer them to something bigger if they outgrow those ones.
True leaves look like mature basil leaves on a fully-grown plant. They are green and full. Regular basil leaves have a rounded shape, but sweet basil leaves are more pointed. The seed leaves will fall off as the basil continues to grow.
If you’re dealing with an older basil plant, follow the same steps. Make sure the hole is wide and deep enough to hold the plant’s root ball. If you’re transplanting an older plant, put its pot inside the new pot. Pack dirt around the old pot to make a perfectly-sized hole.
If you have the basil in a pot, tip the pot over to make the basil a little easier to remove. For seed-grown basil, be careful to avoid hitting the roots of any nearby sprouts. Also, don’t attempt to pull the basil out if it feels stuck.
Any leaves that are in the soil will rot, so don’t bury them. If they are touching the soil, they could also get infected with a bacterial disease.
The last frost is usually in late May for the northern hemisphere and November for the southern hemisphere, but it can vary a lot depending on where you live. You can help shield outdoor plants from a sudden temperature drop by covering the soil with pine straw or another type of mulch. However, it’s usually easier to move potted basil back indoors.
