Basil plants are one of the most popular and accessible herbs and vegetables that are easy to grow. Growing this plant requires one to grow it in warm and sunny weather. But how do you plant them? This article explains how to plant basil from seeds.
Basil is planted from seeds, which do well in containers or raised beds. The following are ten steps to follow to plant basil:
Step 1: Select the Best Place to Plant Basil
You need to choose the best areas since basil requires rich, fertile, well-drained soil and full sunlight for at least six to eight hours. The soil PH should range from 6.0 to 7.5, from acidic to neutral.
Step 2: Select the Basil variety to plant
You need to select the recommended variety, like cinnamon basil, sweet basil, lemon basil, purple basil, and Thai basil.
Step 3: Preparation
Basil seeds can be sown directly in the garden as long as the soil is warm. You can also start your basil seeds indoors to get a jump on the season.
In this case, the seeds are sown in pots about six to eight weeks before the last frost in the area you want to plant. Prepare seed starting trays, newspaper pots, or peat pots. Fill the pots with well-drained soil rich in nutrients.
Step 4: Planting of Basil Seeds
Sow two to three seeds per cell or pot at a half-inch depth, then firm the soil well over the top and cover it with a humidity tent. Place the pots in a warm, ambient-temperature location; the seeds will germinate in 5 to 7 days.
Once they sprout, remove the cover and move the plants to a sunny place. Thin the seedlings to six to eight inches apart. Once they are six to eight weeks old, harden them off and transplant them outdoors.
Step 5: Transplant the Basil Seedlings
Once the basil plant has formed two leaves, you can plant them in the garden or permanent containers. To grow the basil in the garden, dig holes at a distance of 0.3 m apart, place the seedlings into the holes, and place soil around the stems.
And if you want to plant them in containers, make sure they are large enough to accommodate the number of plants you are growing. Plant the seedlings 1 foot apart since they grow quite large.
Step 6: Care of Basil Plants
After seedlings have produced their six leaves, prune to just above the set to encourage the plants to start branching for more leaves. Once the branches have six to eight leaves, repeat the pruning process to bring the branches back to their first set of leaves.
After about six weeks, pinch off the center of the shoot to prevent early flowering, and if flowers grow, just cut them off.
Also, fertilize basil seedlings with liquid fertilizer or use organic manure to add nutrients.
Step 7: Watering Basil
Basil plants need water, especially during dry periods in summer. In the garden, water only one inch of soil every week, and in a container that drains and dries out faster, it should be watered more. Avoid overhead watering to keep the leaves dry; instead, water plants at the base, under the foliage.
Step 8: Pest and Disease Control
Fungal diseases like uranium wilt, gray mold, black spot, and damping off in seedlings can affect basil plants. This can be avoided by planting outside until the soil is warmed and not overcrowded with plants.
Pests like slugs and snails, aphids, and white flies can be controlled by handpicking or using insecticides.
Step 9: Harvesting
Start picking the basil leaves as soon as the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall. Harvesting is done early in the morning when the leaves are at their juiciest. It is done by snipping basil right above the larger leaves and regularly harvesting to encourage growth.
If you harvest regularly, 12 basil plants can produce 4 to 6 cups of leaves per week.
Step 10: Storage
Once you have harvested them, the best way to store basil is by freezing it. You can package whole basil or chopped leaves in airtight, resealable plastic bags, then place them in the freezer.
Also, you can practice drying basil by pinching off leaves at the stem and placing them in a well-ventilated and shady area.
Should Basil Be Grown in the Sun or Shade?
Basils do best in the sun; therefore, it is good to plant them under sunlight for six to eight hours because they perform better when given warmth and shelter.
Alternatively, they can thrive in partial shade, especially in places that experience a dry climate and hot summers. As a result, it is best to keep them shaded during the hottest part of the day because they require protection from the harsh intensity of the sun.
When planting basil in pots, the best soil is rich, moist, and well-drained with a PH of 6 to 7 and has plenty of organic nutrients from compost.
How Often Should Basil Be Watered?
After growing your basil in a garden, it should be watered with an inch of water per week to moisten the soil and keep roots growing deep. Planting in containers will need more frequent watering to prevent the soil from drying out.
Basil plants should not be crowded when grown in both gardens and containers because they compete for light, moisture, and nutrients and are prone to diseases due to a lack of air circulation, which hinders growth.
How Long Does Basil Take to Grow?
Basil takes 65 to 70 days to be ready for harvest and will germinate 7 to 10 days after planting, depending on the type of basil grown.
Basil leaves are harvested by pinching off each leaf at its base, where the leaf meets the stem. Therefore, pick basil leaves from the top of the plant, where more foliage will quickly fill in. The plant will likely look lanky and thin if you harvest from the bottom first.
