Basil is widely used all over the world. It has a peppery and sweet taste. It is mainly used in pesto, salad, wraps, pizzas, and many other dishes. It also has many health and medical benefits. it has anti inflammation properties.
Growing basil from seeds in containers is very easy. I have done this before. I am doing again. Some people ask me to do it again. Growing basil is fast, smells very nice, and even a single pot can give enough leaves for a few fresh pesto batches.
HOW TO GROW BASIL
Choose a pot at least 8 inches wide and deep with good drainage. Basil likes to be dry. If the roots get wet and saggy the plant gets moldy and dies fast. It the plant gets too wet it will get gnats. Use a mix of potting soil, compost, and a bit of coarse sand. Basil is a tropical herb. Seeds need warmth to germinate. The soil temperature will be 70 degrees Fahrenheit/ 20 degrees Celsius.
Fill the container with soil. Sprinkle seeds on the soil surface and cover them with a layer of compost. Plant about 3 to 5 seeds per small pot. Since basil seeds are tiny, use a damp finger to pick up individual seeds.
Use a spray bottle to mist the soil initially so you don’t wash the tiny seeds away. Keep the surface moist until they sprout. It will take up to 2 weeks to sprout. Basil can grow up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
Once they sprout, they will need 6 to 8 hours of sun daily. Place the container in a sunny area. Watch them grow. Enjoy them.
When the seedlings have 2 leaves, they are ready to be transfer to a bigger container if you want. They can be transfer to the ground. They will keep growing. They will get up to 2 feet tall. It could also get bushy.
HARVESTING BASIL
Cut the leaves once they are 2 inches long. The plant will continue to grow all season. The more you cut the more leaves you will get. If you don’t cut the leaves, the leaves will get flowers and it will go to seeds. If you don’t want flowers and want more leaves cut the flowers stems. There is also another resource for you if you want more detail information @ Best Pot for Basil: The Right Size, Material, and set up
