Grow Basil

It’s easy to grow basil to use in your recipes as a tasty spice. There are several varieties of basil which grow will in containers or in your outdoor garden. Some have unique, unusual flavors. Of course, you can choose to grow basil of the traditional type which is so commonly used in Italian dishes as well as other types of food.

The first step to growing basil is to select the types you which to grow. Plant some of the traditional basil, but you might want to also plant cinnamon basil which smells sweet and has beautiful fragrant flowers. Lemon basil has a hint of flavor of the citrus fruit and smells lemony. Purple basil can be grown for decorative purposes but also has a great taste. African blue basil has pretty blue veins on the leaves and is a perennial, returning year after year. Thai basil is another perennial variety of basil. More difficult to grow but pretty are the glob and Greek basil varieties.

Most gardeners grow basil from seed. The seeds are started in doors a few weeks after the last frost. Fill flats with a mixture made of equal parts of perlite, vermiculite, and peat. Compress the soil so that there are no air pockets and dampen the soil. Drop one or two basil seeds into each of the compartments of the container and cover lightly with soil. Cover the entire flat with clear plastic wrap and place it in a sunny window. As soon as plants begin to emerge, remove the plastic wrap. Lightly water the seeds and young plants twice per day.

Wait until two sets of leaves have formed on each plant and then transplant the basil your grow into the permanent containers or outdoor location. If planting outdoors, be sure there is no chance of frost coming or you will not grow basil plants well since they do not tolerate any frost.

Plant your basil or place the containers where they will get good sunlight.Sunlight is needed to produce vibrant plants.

If planting outdoors, pinch off the two bottom leaves when transplanting. Place the plant in the soil so that it reaches the spot where the two bottom leaves were removed. If planting in containers, place the plant in the soil to the level it was in the flat. Compress the soil firmly to eliminate any air pockets. To grow basil well, water container basil when the soil feels dry if you stick your finger one inch into the soil. Water outdoor basil when there as not be sufficient rain to keep the soil moist.

As you grow basil into mature plants, pinch off the two top pairs of leaves when the plant reaches a good height. Look for two tiny leaves that grows at the stem and pinch off close to these tiny leaves. Do not damage the tiny leaves in pinching the growing basil.

Watch for flower buds to develop and pinch then off as well as the two pair of leaves just beneath them. If you allow the basil you grow to develop blooms, it will cause the flavor to change drastically. The flowering process is called “bolting” and often happens when there is a lot of sunny days. Leaving the flowers will not only change the flavor but will produce lanky plants with less foliage.

More information: Gardenaction