Basil? What am I doing wrong?

[Gardenveg]

I have tried growing it in a greenhouse, outdoors, indoors but it always turns black.

What the hell am I doing wrong?

[smallblueplanet]

Too wet?

We grow ours in the greenhouse border under the toms and it romps away...

[MalUK]

Um, follow the guide on your own website.

[rustylady]

Well, according to the huge green letters on your post you already have the best website available so why do you need us? If you genuinely want to be part of the Grapevine then welcome, but please do tell us a bit about yourself. Try the Introduce Yourself thread.

[annacruachan]

I think you are probably overwatering as sbp says. Mine grow very happily on a warm, sunny windowsill. I grow Genovese, large leaf, Thai and bush basil and they all do well in that situation. Hope you can solve this, being without basil is no fun.

[wellie]

This will probably not remotely help anyone now, but, constantly referring back to my favourite books on a regular basis, a rather lovely sentiment jumped out at me today from the ever-lovely Sarah Raven, and I quote:

"If growing these herbs outside, don't plant them out until you are happy to have supper in the garden yourself. If it's warm enough for you, it's warm enough for them.".

Beauty, Brains, and nice Wellies....
Given half the chance, if she wasn't married and beautifully happy already, Trousers would be first in the queue to ask for her hand. And I wouldn't blame him.

[Croila]

Hello! I'm really glad I found this thread because I've been growing Greek basil outside in a pot all summer and it went black a couple of weeks ago. And according to what everyone says above, I think I've been overwatering it. But then again, we had a horrifically cold night back in August, dunno if it was actually a frost, but the next morning the poor old basil was distinctly black. However, I'm not that bothered as it didn't taste or smell nearly as nice as the sweet genovese I keep on the kitchen windowsill :-)

[Jeanied]

I grew loads on my plot last year - split up from a big pot and planted out. It really did well till September, then a really cold night turned the tops black - but then it kept going lower down for a few weeks. I think it is cold that does the deed.

[binley100]

Can't even grow the bladdy stuff on the kitchen window sill let alone outside....
Hooray for supermarket growing herbs........

[Croila]

I grew loads on my plot last year - split up from a big pot and planted out. It really did well till September, then a really cold night turned the tops black - but then it kept going lower down for a few weeks. I think it is cold that does the deed.

Well, that would certainly explain what happened to mine. It didn't go uniformly black either ... Wee green bits started coming through again. It's stone dead now though

[Croila]

Can't even grow the bladdy stuff on the kitchen window sill let alone outside....
Hooray for supermarket growing herbs........

Oh no! You should persevere! The stuff you grow yourself is so much cheaper and tastes much better!

[wellie]

If you'd like to try this, Basil grows roots if you cut a bit off and stick it in water , and I've done that occasionally with huge success. Give it time, don't neglect it.X

[SueA]

Hello! I'm really glad I found this thread because I've been growing Greek basil outside in a pot all summer and it went black a couple of weeks ago. And according to what everyone says above, I think I've been overwatering it. But then again, we had a horrifically cold night back in August, dunno if it was actually a frost, but the next morning the poor old basil was distinctly black. However, I'm not that bothered as it didn't taste or smell nearly as nice as the sweet genovese I keep on the kitchen windowsill :-)

I've got greek basil growing outside in pots as well Croila & I agree it's an aquired taste, it's quite strong isn't it but it does make a nice plant & seems a bit hardier than the sweet basil, mine's still O.K. even though it's turned a bit cold. I think basils are a bit temperamental, I've got a pot of sweet basil indoors which is looking a bit sickly, might try Wellie's tip about rooting a cutting to see if I can revive it!

[Croila]

To be honest, I think I'll stick with the sweet genovese. Even watering it releases such an amazing smell it makes me feel quite dizzy! I LOVE the stuff! I sowed some in pots on the kitchen windowsill three days ago and was gobsmacked that they're coming up already. That is really quick! I thought it would be a lot slower at this time of year.

[cupcake]

Try Mrs Burn's lemon! Fabulous stuff!