Basil Growing Guide
Ocimum basilicum
![Basil]()
Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous ●
Soil
Rich soil.
Position
A sunny spot that is convenient for quick picking.
Frost tolerant
No.
Feeding
Not usually required.
Spacing
Single Plants: 7" (20cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 5" (15cm) with 9" (25cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Make a late spring planting of seedlings started indoors or purchased. In summer, after the soil is warm, sow more basil wherever you want it to grow.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Cover transplants with flowerpots to shade them from strong sun for 2 days or so. To keep new leafy branches coming on, pinch off the upright flower spikes as they appear.
Harvesting
Harvest leaves a few at a time as you need them in the kitchen. In midsummer, cut plants back by half to stimulate new growth, and make big batches of pesto with the trimmings.
Troubleshooting
Plants that slowly wilt to death and show a dark ring on their stems near the soil line are infected with fusarium wilt.
Planting and Harvesting Calendar
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