Everything You Need to Know About Basil
Basil is a very popular kitchen herb. You can find many recipes with Basil and it will add flavor to your most favorite dishes. Any tomato dishes will get better with added Basil! It also goes well in soups, salads, sauces, pizza, and pasta. Basil flavor blends well with Parsley.
Grow From Seed
Growing your own Herb Garden is fun and often way cheaper than buying the same herbs at your local supermarket. A well-pruned Basil plant can easily supply up to ½ cup of fresh Basil leaves each week! Plus, Basil is very easy to grow from seed, so it is a great start or anyone who wants to try growing their first Herb Garden.
Light/Temperature
Basil is very easy to grow, but it is better to start growing Basil indoor has it requires a nice warm temperature. Basil plants need a lot of sun: from 6 to 8 hours a day, so be sure to find a good spot for it! The ideal is to place your pots on a windowsill. If you are planting outside, wait for temperature to be around 70°F. Soil temperature should be at least 50-55°F. Basil is an annual herb which means that you will need to replace your plants each year.
Did You Know?
Cooking Basil leaves might destroy its flavors. You might want to add it fresh in your recipe, or at the very last minute.
Plant Your Seeds
Plant your seeds about ¼ inch deep and space them 1 to 2 inches apart so your Basil plants will have space to grow. If you are planting outside (not in a container), make sure to space the seeds 12 to 16 inches apart as Basil tends to spread.
Water
Until sprouting, make sure the soil is always moist. It should not be swinging in water, but it should be wet enough. A well moist soil is essential for sprout germination. Check the soil every day and start watering as soon as you see the soil getting dryer.
Germination
Basil seeds will typically sprout in 10 to 15 days. Once the plant starts to grow you can limit watering to every other day. Just make sure the soil does not dry, and that your plant always gets plenty of sun light.
Harvesting
You will be able to start harvesting Basil within 2 to 3 months once plant is about 6 to 8 inches in height. Cut the leaves from the tips of the stems to encourage the plant to grow more leaves.
Create Space
Once your plant reaches 3 to 4 inches in height, you will want to create more space for them. Start by thinning the weaker sprouts to make space for the stronger ones. Cut the stem at the soil level.
You should not let your Basil flowers. If you see flowers growing, just cut them off. Always trim the leaves from your plant to encourage its growth. And if you do not need to use the leaves right away: freeze them! Basil leaves will conserve their freshness even when frozen.