Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Seeds
• Method 2 of 3: Caring for Basil
• Method 3 of 3: Collecting and Using Basil
• Tips
• Warnings

Basil is easy to grow and transforms an ordinary dish into a culinary masterpiece! Fresh basil not only tastes better than dry, it tastes completely different, as if they were two different plants. This article describes the process of planting and harvesting basil.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Seeds

1. 1 Select the type of basil you want to grow. Basil comes in many different varieties, each with its own unique taste and smell. Read about the different varieties of basil and choose one (or more) that you like, then order the seeds or buy them from the store. Here is a description of some of the varieties:
   • Vietnamese basil tastes like sweet spice and has extraordinarily beautiful and aromatic petals.
   • Lemon basil contains citral, an aromatic substance found in citrus fruits that has a lemon scent.
   • Purple basil is often grown for decoration, for its scent and flowers.
   • There are also perennial basil varieties that yield year after year, such as African blue basil (which has beautiful blue vessels on its leaves) and Thai basil, while most other varieties are annuals that require annual planting.
   • Small-leaved Greek basil is much more difficult to grow, but it grows in very beautiful small bushes.
2. 2 Plant the seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Basil needs warm air and sun to grow, so it's easier to start planting indoors so that it won't be harmed by frost.
   • If you live in hot climates, you can plant seeds outdoors.
   • To determine when the last frosts will be, you can look at the forecast or consult with gardeners you know.
3. 3 Prepare a container for seeds. Pour a mixture of perlite, vermiculite and peat in equal parts into a common pot or into each individual pot. Press lightly on the soil to remove air pockets. Moisten the soil with soil to prepare a suitable seed growth environment.
4. 4 Plant the seeds. Place one to two seeds in each pot. Sprinkle them lightly with earth. Cover the pots with plastic wrap to retain moisture. Place the pots on a sunny window. After a couple of days, remove the wrapper and lightly pour water over the pots.
5. 5 When sprouts appear, remove the plastic wrap. Remove the wrapping from the pots when you see the first tendrils breaking out of the ground. Continue watering the sprouts twice a day to keep the soil from drying out. When the plant grows 5-7 cm tall and their leaves mature, they should be moved to a larger container.

Method 2 of 3: Caring for Basil

1. 1 Transplant the basil. After the basil has formed two sets of leaves, it can be transplanted in the garden or in a pot. Basil does not tolerate frost, so do not plant very early. It is best to plant the basil where it will get enough sunlight, in well-watered soil.
   • To plant basil in your garden, dig holes 15 cm apart. Place the roots in the hole and cover with earth. Press down on the ground around the plant to remove air pockets.
   • If you want to plant basil in a pot, make sure it is large enough to hold the amount of plants you plan to grow. Each plant should be 15 cm apart because they grow quite large.
2. 2 Maintain slightly moist soil. Basil grows well in well-drained soil and should not be in standing water. Water an adult plant once a day, in the morning, so the water can soak and evaporate without the plant being in the water all night.
3. 3 Pinch off blooms. When you see the buds on the basil, pinch them off and two pairs of leaves below them. Flowering creates hormonal changes that greatly diminish not only the palatability of the leaves, but also the number of leaves growing.This is called "screening" and is more likely to occur with supplemental sunlight. You will notice that leaving the flowers on will make the plant lanky and the leaves will not be as lush and tasty.
4. 4 Watch out for pests and mold. Basil can be the target of the Japanese crunchy. It is best to deal with them by manually removing each insect from the plant. If your plant is showing signs of mold growth, it may be lacking sunlight or growing too close together. Remove small plants to make room for larger ones.

Method 3 of 3: Collecting and Using Basil

1. 1 Pruning and harvesting basil. Watch for ripening and pinch off two leaves from the top of the stem when it grows to a certain height. If you look closely, there are two more tiny leaves at the base of each leaf that will grow outward if you cut off the stem growing between them. Cut close to these tiny leaves, but don't hit them.
   • By pinching, you force the plant to channel energy into its strong stems and leaves. Thus, the plant grows thicker.
   • Do not pinch off the bottom of the stem, or the basil will grow tall and leafless. You want it to be thick, so pinch off the top of the plant.
2. 2 Enjoy fresh basil. Rinse the leaves and use the basil in pesto or Karpese salad with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.
3. 3 Store basil in the refrigerator. You will likely have a lot more basil than you can eat, so keep it in the refrigerator. Rinse the leaves, pat dry, and wrap them in paper towels. Place them in a food storage container with an airtight lid.
4. 4 Freeze the basil. Freezing whole leaves is not a good idea, but if you crush them first, you can store them for several months. Place the basil in a blender and pour some water into it. Grind it until smooth, then place it in a food storage bag and freeze it until you need it.

Tips

• Basil can be grown directly in the garden. Since you don't have much experience at first, you can choose one of the fast growing varieties like lemon basil. On the other hand, all basil varieties grow equally quickly in order to produce a harvest, they simply will not have the benefits that fast growing varieties have.
• If the stems of the seedlings are tall and thin, they may not be getting enough light.
• When planting basil directly in the garden, be sure to keep the topsoil damp. Let the soil dry out, but remember to keep an eye on the level of dryness. Seeds and seedlings that do not yet have deep roots can suffer from even a few hours in dry soil.
• Water the basil twice a day with warm water until it hardens.
• Basil is known to improve the palatability of tomatoes and peppers, as well as repel aphids and caterpillars.

Warnings

• Don't hesitate to choose one of the many amazing plant varieties that will work best for you.
• When watering a plant, do not wet its leaves, unless, of course, you do not fertilize, otherwise they will become covered with spots.
• When transplanting a plant from a room to a garden, gradually expose it to external conditions so that after transplanting the plant does not receive a shock.