How to Grow Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a tasty herb, grown for the leaves. Also a good companion plant in the garden with tomatoes for deterring pests. There are many kinds of basil, they are all (for the most part) grown the same way. My favorite sweet basil variety is Genevieve. That's the basil featured in the picture.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. How to Start Basil Seeds:
   
   One to two months before the frost free date, start the basil seeds indoors. Plant them 1/4 inch deep in a shallow container with good potting soil. Provide light from a window or grow lamp. The seeds should germinate in 7-14 days.
   
   Water the seedlings regularly. You want the soil to be the wetness of fresh bread, spongy not soggy. Basil is very susceptible to damping off - a fungus that attacks the new sprout. Keeping the seedlings damp to slightly dry will help reduce this problem. Try not to let water sit in the tray.
   
   When the basil plantlets have their first true leaves, about 1-2 months, transplant them into the garden. Space the plantlets 10 inches apart with 18 inches between rows. Choose a location with full sun (at least 8 hours) and well drained soil.

2. How to Care for Basil in the Garden:
   
   When basil is at least 5 inches tall pinch off the top set of leaves, this signals the plant to produce more branches and thus more leaves. When the plants start to flower remove the flowers to maintain the sweet flavor. Leaves on a flowering herb plant change the flavor. The flowers generally make the flavor bitter. Plus you want your basil growing leaves, not flowers.

3. How to Harvest Basil:
   
   When the basil plants are 10 inches tall (usually 30-60 days after transplant) begin to harvest leaves as needed. The best time to harvest is early morning after having watered the night before.
   
   Store leaves in a vase of water until ready to use. Do not pick more than one day in advance for the best flavor.

4. Save Basil Seeds:
   
   Allow the basil to go to flower. The flowers will turn dry and papery forming the seed head. Cut the seed head off and tie the stems together in a bunch. Hang them upside down in a brown paper bag in a warm dry place. After two weeks, or when dry, crush the stems and seed heads. Little black seeds the size of a pin head will fall out. Collect these and store in a dry paper bag in a cool dark place until ready to plant. There is also the lazy man's method of simply saving the whole seed head and crushing it the next spring over the pot you want. Generally you'll get pretty good results as long as the seed heads dried thoroughly.

5. How to Cook with Basil:
   
   Basil is wonderful for making pesto and adding flavor to Italian and other Mediterranean dishes. Use lemon basil leaves for tea or in Thai cooking.

6. Nutritional Information about Basil:
   
   The oil in basil is antibacterial. Raw basil contains antioxidant as well as being a good source of vitamin A, C, calcium and phosphorus.

[chevalita]

on 11/5/2009 Sure you can bring Basil inside for the winter. It needs a bright window and lots of water, but it should never have stading water on it's roots. I usually don't harvest much off my indoor herbs. They don't grow very fast. It's more of a keep them alive until next year type of deal.

[chevalita]

on 11/5/2009 Sure you can bring Basil inside for the winter. It needs a bright window and lots of water, but it should never have stading water on it's roots. I usually don't harvest much off my indoor herbs. They don't grow very fast. It's more of a keep them alive until next year type of deal.

[southerngirl09]

on 11/5/2009 Very informative article on how to grow Sweet Basil. Do you know if plants can be dug up, and brought into the house for use in the winter? Looking forward to reading all you how to grow articles. 5*

[sbarry77]

on 10/29/2009 Love basil! Great tips! 5* and recommended