Holy Basil

[Ader1]

I've tried growing this but didn't get any luck at all. I bought the seeds over the web and they came from Thailand. This year, I've had a coupld of catalogues from seed companies and both sell Holy Basil. These are UK based companies so I presume it's possible to grow them here. Anybody have any luck growing them? If you have, could you tell me how you went about it? What growing medium? Any specific temperature? It's a very fine seed. I tried growing Thai sweet basil at the same time and most if not all seeds germinated. Thanks.

[Two_Sheds]

It's much, much too early to sow it.

Sow at 18-20ºC, during April-May, using any good seed compost with added sharp grit for good drainage.

Cover seed very thinly with sieved compost or vermiculite.

Keep at 18C

Me, I can't grow any kind of basil - it always gets smothered in greenfly

[Ader1]

Thanks for your reply two sheds. I'm not attempting to grow quite yet. I've got a propagator this year so hope that will help although the temps you mention aren't that hight considering Holy is grown in India and Thailand. Sad to hear about your green-fly problem.

[Two_Sheds]

18C is quite a high temp round here! 20C is a roasting summer's day on the East Coast.

[Miss Jessop]

Basil is terrible for damping off which is why sowing it later gives better results. I grew some last year at the beginning of March with a heat mat and it germinated ok but the death rate was quite high. I tried it again in mid summer which was much more successful.

Perlite can help with small seeds - with drainage and it also helps warm them up. Sprinkle a thin layer on top of the seeds after sowing. Always water from the bottom.


Having said all that I still find it one of the more trying herbs that I grow..

[Ader1]

Basil is terrible for damping off which is why sowing it later gives better results. I grew some last year at the beginning of March with a heat mat and it germinated ok but the death rate was quite high. I tried it again in mid summer which was much more successful.

Perlite can help with small seeds - with drainage and it also helps warm them up. Sprinkle a thin layer on top of the seeds after sowing. Always water from the bottom.


Having said all that I still find it one of the more trying herbs that I grow..

Thank you for that reply. Sorry if this is a stupid question but would you fill a pot with perlite and then the thin layer of perlite on top of the seeds after sowing? I've recently bought an electric propagator so hopefully that will help too.

[Two_Sheds]

There is obviously NO nutrient in perlite - it is just used for drainage really.

I would mix it 50/50 with MPC myself.

[Miss Jessop]

Use seed compost in the normal way in your tray or plugs, sprinkle over your seeds and then cover with a thin layer of perlite. As Two Sheds says, its really for drainage - it stops the seeds sitting in water and because its white it reflects the light and helps keep them warm. Sorry if that wasn't as clear as it might have been

[binley100]

I can't seem to grow it either. I cheat I buy a couple of plants from the supermarket and pot them on . Keeps us going all summer

[Ader1]

Thank you Miss Jessop and Two Sheds for your replies.

binley100,
Which super-market is that? It is Holy Basil?

[Ader1]

I go some seeds from a different vendor this year. Last year, I bought over the internet from Thailand but this time I bought from a UK vendor and I'm geting quite good germination. Seems it was the seeds after-all. Any ideas what kind of soil/medium I should grow this in as they are very very slow to come along. My Thai Basil plants are grwoing much quicker. Any ideas?

[chris]

Are you just using MPC at the moment? There's seed sowing / young plant compost too - which supposidly has little nutrient / more nutrient in it for germination then growing on?

[Ader1]

Are you just using MPC at the moment? There's seed sowing / young plant compost too - which supposidly has little nutrient / more nutrient in it for germination then growing on?

They were in a compost which retains water. I've just bought some mpc and will transplant some into that later.

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

My many basil plants are rocketing away now the heat is here. I use 50% topsoil 30% compost 20% perlite . Eating pesto 3 times a week. Would av it every night if pine nuts were less than £3 per 100gm

[maypril]

I've tried growing this but didn't get any luck at all.

Grow it when the flea beetles are in full force, and then you'll have lots of holey basil!

I'll get my coat!