Basil
Light
- Full Sun
- 6 hours of direct light
Hardiness
- Zone 10 - 11
Water
- Requires at least 1 inch of water per week. Assure water penetrates deep within the soil and water when 2” of topsoil is dry.
- Make sure the watered area is not soggy or mushy from overwatering
- Water in the morning to prepare basil for the midday sun and absorb nutrients
- Place mulch to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool
Container
- Perfect for a garden or a 2+ gallon pot
Transplanting
- Plant in June 1st - 15th
- Dig a hole 8 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Plant seedling 1 inch deep and place soil loosely around it.
Spacing
- Between Plants: 6 - 10 inches
- Between Rows: 8 inches
Size
- Height: 1.5 - 2 feet
- Width: 10 - 14 inches
Harvest time
- 75 days
Soil
- Loosely packed, well-drained soil composition:
- ½ compost or humus
- ¼ drainage and aeration material (perlite or vermiculite)
- ¼ loam (sand and silt. Small amount of clay)
- Preferred pH: 5.1 - 8.5
Fertilizer
- Fertilize soil before initially transplanting with 10-10-10 NPK, compost or fresh manure
- Depending how often basil is harvested, fertilize every 2 weeks to 1 month with either a 4-4-4 or 8-4-4 NPK.
Use
- Basil is a great addition to many types of cuisine. It can also be frozen, dried, preserved in salt or used in oil infusions.
Friends
- Plant next to anise, asparagus, beans, borage, broccoli, carrots, celery, chamomile, dill, lettuce, melons, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, radishes, spinach, potatoes, tomatoes and thyme
Foes
- DO NOT plant next to common rue, thyme, sage and cucumbers
Tips
- When basil reaches a height of 6 inches, start harvesting or pinching off the top leaves to prevent flowering.
- Basil will start flowering when 6 pairs of leaves have formed. The initial flowering stage is the best time to harvest leaves and keeping the leaf count below 6 pairs will encourage more leaf growth.
- Harvest basil leaves in the morning for the maximum amount of oils.
- Harvest leaves by pinching the stems just above a set of leaves from the top.