Trying to germinate basil

[smurfberry]

Germinating purple basil...

Hi!

I was in Waitrose today and I picked up a little plastic container of purple basil and lemon basil seedlings in the salad section - reduced from 99p to 15p, so I thought at that price I will give them a try Anyway, they were delicious - really pleasant strong aroma and taste, which surprised me as I have been munching my radish seedlings (sowed too thickly [doh!] and had to thin them out) and they taste of - nothing much!

As the purple and lemon basil really perked up my salad I decided to try and grow some (no way I am paying a quid @ Waitrose for a tiny container of seedlings!) - found purple basil seeds as well as lemon and also lime (interesting!) at SuffolkHerbs.com - but for the purple one it says they need a temp of 25C to germinate [Seeds, Herbs and Bedidng Plants from Suffolk Herbs BASIL PURPLE ] but it's not often we reach that here in Edinburgh - inside or out! So how long do they need to be at that temp for? Could I put them in the oven after it's turned off and cooled down or are there any other tricks? Was going to try them in those plastic strawberry/soft fruit containers from the supermarket, woud putting a lid on that be enough?

Thanks, very helpul and interesting forum you have here - especially useful for us newbies!

[Kristen]

I sow Basil in pots. We have 4 or 5 pots with 3 or 4 plants in each pot (I guess they are about 5" pots). We have one in the kitchen, and when that has been cut down to 2" or 3" it goes out to recover, and another pot comes in its place.

I would sow the seed in a pot, water, put in a sealed plastic bag, and put it in the airing cupboard. Check it EVERY day, and as soon as they have sprouted stick it on the windowsill, and then when the little chaps are big enough pot them on.

I've never had any difficulty germinating Basil, it has just sat on top of my tall fridge in the kitchen, but I don't know if Purple Basil needs warmer germinating conditions.

[Kristen]

P.S. Don't put the seeds in the oven! Maybe consider getting a pot from the supermarket that you can grow on, instead of cutting down to the ground? Your garden centre may have them too ... its probably getting a little bit late to grow from seed this year, but a seed packet will have loads of seed, so you could sow some now, and keep the rest for next spring.

[Two_Sheds]

My first lot of Basil failed miserably... patchy germination, weak growth, then got greenfly (sunny kitchen windowsill)
I still had a pack full, so I just sprinkled some more seed on top of the old compost, and forgot about them.
They've all come up! Look healthy, so far. No sign of greenfly yet.

[Alison]

No problems with germination what so ever. Sow seeds in pots from about April onwards on the window ledge, usually with a plastic bag / cloche over the top. Take that off as soon as it germinates and then you're off. Just make sure that they get enough light otherwise they'll go very leggy. I don't bother putting it outside as I find the weather ruins it (rain and wind are not basil's friends) but the window ledge is just fine. Currently have plain basil, red basil and thai basil on the go and they're all going fine. They can get pretty hot on the window ledge so you need to give it a bit of water most days but that's not a problem.

[valmarg]

another grape gave me this tip, don't know if you already know, apologies if you already do. pinch out the tips of basil (once around 7 inch tall) place in water and they root within a few days, pot up and repeat the process as many times as you want. no need to ever buy basil again. it works I have tonnes of the stuff.

Yes, I posted that tip on here. I got it from an Australian Women's Weekly cookbook, and regularly use the method.

Basically, it you buy a pot of basil from a supermarket, pinch out the tops (not just tips). This encourages the bought plant to bush out. The cuttings are placed in a bowl of water, and root readily. Pot up, and repeat the process.

valmarg


valmarg

[trebellangeminired]

I have grown both purple and sweet basil relatively easily. I have started them in a seed tray with cover inside on a south facing windowsill earlier in the year then in an unheated greenhouse later on. Germination was good. Apart from heat and light the other thing I do is after initially soaking the compost then letting it drain and sowing the seed, I hold back from watering until the first seedlings start to come through unless the compost is dust dry and then only mist it enough to wet the surface. I then remove the cover, in the morning if possible, and mist lightly with rainwater. When large enough to handle, I pot them on, watering wherever possible from below rather than above. Greenfly are a menace but I have got good crops though I haven't managed to overwinter any yet.

Thanks for the tip about cuttings, will have a go tomorrow

TGR

[Nelly]

I've got three varieties of basil on the go (mammoth leaf - HUGE! -, sweet genovese and purple). The first lot I started off in the bedroom (only room with any decent light - no heat though - and a windowsill) but the rest I've planted outside in seed trays and they're all doing fine (this is in very wet Cumbria). That is, until the purple basil gets to about 4 or 5 inches tall and then it just seems to keel over. Even the ones I thought were doing really well are giving up on me. I'll try the cuttings route. Maybe the plants are just drowning. I've been tempted to rescue the remaining purple plants and make wine with them before they too keel over in protest at the rubbish summer we're having...

[Cloud]

You are only supposed to water Basil when it starts to wilt as they don't like it wet and apparantley it improves the flavour!

[fwuffydragon]

hi, have had success germinating on windowsill covering lightly with compost and then a clear plastic bag. another grape gave me this tip, don't know if you already know, apologies if you already do. pinch out the tips of basil (once around 7 inch tall) place in water and they root within a few days, pot up and repeat the process as many times as you want. no need to ever buy basil again. it works I have tonnes of the stuff.

Oh nice - must try that!

[kunekunes]

Glad to see I am not the only one having problems with the old basil!! Just joined so first post and looked in to see just this .....if any tips for keeping basil growing... can get them to germinate but keeping them going is a mystery. Aware they dont like it too wet and that is probably still the problem... temperamental but delicious. would love to master it. Great tips... cheers.

[MrsC]

Glad to see I am not the only one having problems with the old basil!! Just joined so first post and looked in to see just this .....if any tips for keeping basil growing... can get them to germinate but keeping them going is a mystery. Aware they dont like it too wet and that is probably still the problem... temperamental but delicious. would love to master it. Great tips... cheers.

Hi and welcome,

Never water basil from the top always from the bottom. I let mine dry out a bit before watering also. Should be ok on a sunny windowsill or greenhouse. The ones I have in the greenhouse are just starting to flower. The smell and taste is beautiful!