Pests and diseases: Keep an eye out for common basil pests such as cabbage moths, deer, rabbits, aphids and whiteflies, and diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew.ġ. Basil flowers are also edible and super delicious! At the end of the season when there is frost threatening, simply cut the entire plant off, bring it indoors, and hang it up to all dry. Regular harvesting will encourage bushier growth. Harvesting: You can start harvesting basil leaves when the plant reaches about 6 inches tall. Note: You can also propagate basil super easily! Simply stick some cuttings in a cup of water for a week or two until you see roots form, then simply transplant it to a pot with soil or directly in the ground! Free plants! Once a plant produces seed, the plant will stop growing and begin to die. This will also stop it from going to seed. Pruning Pinch off the tips of the basil plant to encourage bushier growth and prevent the plant from getting too tall. You can use a balanced fertilizer, such as Trifecta+ or Vegagrow which we use exclusively in our garden, or use a high-nitrogen fertilizer when the plant is actively growing. Avoid getting water on the leaves, as this can lead to fungal diseases.įertilize: Basil benefits from regular fertilization. Watering: Water the basil deeply and regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. If you're using seedlings, plant them about 8 inches apart. If you're starting from seed, sow them about 1/4 inch deep and about 2 inches apart. Planting: You can start basil from seed or purchase seedlings from a garden center. We use mostly compost for our growing medium, however our native soil also has a relatively high clay content. Basil does NOT like to be overwatered, and will show signs of root rot very easily if it is overwatered, so ensure soil is well draining. Mix in compost or well-rotted manure to improve the soil's fertility. Soil: Basil grows best in soil that is rich in organic matter. If you're growing basil in a pot, choose one that is at least 12 inches deep and has drainage holes. Location: Basil prefers full sun and well-drained soil. In this blog post I will explain how to grow basil from start to finish.
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