Basil Tips

[Frana]

For the first time this year I am growing basil from seed.

It has germinated well on m window sill in a seed tray and is currently standing a proud centimetre (ish) high.

Any advice on how to continue with guaranteed success folks?

[Two_Sheds]

warmth and light



(same as for your chillies!)

[taff]

dont put it outside till the frosts go, and then try and put it somewhere sheltered and sunny. And beware, in encloised spaces it has a nasty tendency to smell like cat wee.

[Florence Fennel]

Yep, it really likes to be warm and I always water from the bottom.

[alex-adam]

I have posted this before, but it stands repeating,

Here's a neat trick to get good supply of Basil. - Buy a little plant from Sainsbury's / Tesco etc., - pot it on to a 5" or so pot. It will grow into a nice big plant in a few week. Then, at regular intervals take off a few (3 or 4) sprigs, put the in a jar of water until you see the roots forming, then pot up in the usual way, and you have another plant, and another, and another.....!

We usually make one purchased plant last a year (Sorry Sainsbury)

a-a

[chris]

Seed is even cheaper adam

If you are growing tomatoes, it goes really well with them (in terms of growing conditions). I believe it's a good companion along with marigolds too? Could be wrong though. This year I'm planning on growing it in my GH alongisde my toms with some marigolds (all in the ground - have dug up the base of my GH).

[elleme]

It's the only herb I grow indoors. I find it does fine on a sunny windowsill as long as it doesn't get too dried out. It's always on hand for the kitchen.

[di]

I like to sow a few seeds around my tomatoes too Chris.

[Farmer_Gyles]

i have never had any success with herbs from seeds ..... this year i have one batch in the greenhouse, had one seedling that has wilted and died ..... i have another batch on the kitchen windowsill, most herbs have shot up, got tall and stringy, and have started falling over ....
might try alex-adam's idea ..... would be nice to have some herbs for a change!

[Two_Sheds]

i have never had any success with herbs from seeds ... most herbs have shot up, got tall and stringy, and have started falling over

You're starting them when it's too cold and dark FG. Try them late March or April, when the extra light and warmth will really make a difference

[Farmer_Gyles]

You're starting them when it's too cold and dark FG. Try them late March or April, when the extra light and warmth will really make a difference

i'm experimenting with different ways / times for sowings, so doesn't matter toooooooooo much if they fail now .... the seed packets say sow march, so i've done that .... will be doing more soon .... it's been quite a mild winter and fairly warm so was hoping they'd do a bit better than they have ....

[Two_Sheds]

it's been quite a mild winter and fairly warm so was hoping they'd do a bit better than they have ....

Light is more important than warmth FG. It's not you, it's the conditions

[herbman]

I grow the potted herbs for ASDA, Morrisons, Co-Op and Ocado. We grow a couple of million pots a year of Basil. We see a peak in the spring and we're convinced that people buy our herbs and plonk them in the garden - with sometimes limited success. So here's a few tips we developed.

How to plant your herbs

we've also developed a few videos on how to care for your herbs etc

LincolnshireHerbs's Channel - YouTube

Basil get chill damage below 12 degress and is very sensative. So its not easy to grow outside. Don't plant out until the frosts have gone and cold night temps below 12 degrees with cuase damage.