1-50  »  51-100  »  101-150  »  151-200  »  201-250  »  251-300 » links » discussion 

Basil Growing Tips and Advice

Many types of this thirsty, tender, tropical annual exist, but most varieties grow quickly and easily in warm soil that should be fertilized lightly two or three times a season. Be wary of overdosing with nitrogen, since nitrogen can affect the flavor.

Find organic fertilizers and organic bug killer at Clean Air Gardening.

Planting Basil

Since cuttings often don’t survive easily, use seeds, which you should plant 1/8 inch deep and after the last frost. If you plant basil in your outdoor garden, plant seeds in rows 2 feet apart, spacing them 1/2 inch apart in the row. Most varieties grow to about 2 feet. If you pinch stems frequently, your sweet basil will grow bushy and full. Be sure to harvest branch tips when no more than seven sects of bracts have formed on the flower buds.

Days to Harvest: 42 days.
Days to Germinate: 3-6 days (indoors) or 10-14 days (outdoors in 45-70 °F temperatures).

Basil is an essential ingredient when you're cooking Italian, and you should keep it on hand with all your other Italian cooking supplies.

Grow your own basil indoors with the Aerogrow Indoor Kitchen garden.

We recommend Gardenfrog.com for daily updated links to the best new gardening articles on the web. You can comment on each article or even submit links to gardening articles that you think everyone else should know about. It's awesome.

Tips for growing vegetables:

Pumpkins
Beets
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Corn
Soybeans
Lettuce
Artichoke
Asparagus
Brussels sprouts
String Beans
Peas
Black Eyed Peas
Spinach
Peppers
Parsnips
Radish
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Turnips
Okra
Melons
Broccoli

Tips for growing herbs:

Sage
Rosemary
Parsley
Parsnip
Garlic
Chives
Dill
Basil
Cilantro
Saw Palmetto
Thyme
Oregano
Lemon Balm
Calendula
Lavender
Catnip
Chamomile
Mint
Marjoram
Sesame
Ginger
Nasturtium
French Tarragon
Fennel
Mustard Greens
Summer Savory

Tips for growing flowers:

Gloxinias