How to Plant Sweet Basil
Sweet basil is one of the more popular herbs to grow and eat. Many herb gardeners include sweet basil in their garden in order to have it readily available to use for cooking, in oils, for aromatherapy and to scent the air. Planting and growing sweet basil is easy, but you do need to consider a few things before you start. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sweet Basil seedling plants or seeds
- Compost
- Organic fertilizer
- Hand shovel
Instructions
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Prepare a planting bed that receives morning sun and is shielded from wind. Midday sun will make the plant wilt. A good choice for planting is the east side of the house. Loosen the soil and remove all weeds, grass, rocks and debris from the ground. Basil requires soil that is well drained; it will not tolerate clay. Sweet basil grows best in zones seven through 10.
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Make sure all danger of frost is gone. Plant the taller varieties of sweet basil at the back of the prepared bed. Smaller, bush varieties do well in the front of the bed. Sow the seeds at a depth of 1/8 inch, covering them lightly with soil.
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Mulch around the plant with organic material, such as leaves or a compost mixture. Fertilize the soil around the plant with an organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion.
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Water the plants or seeds well, then keep the soil slightly moist. Sweet basil does not require a lot of water.
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Use sweet basil as a companion plant, as it repels aphids and spider mites. But it does not do well near mint plants, because it can pick up other pests.
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Tips & Warnings
Plant basil indoors approximately six weeks before the last frost, to get a jump on growing times.
