How to Grow Basil From Seed

 

According to most garden lovers, basil plants is actually one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs to grow from seed. Basil plant grows quickly, the plant smells wonderful, and they can be easily used in many dishes such as pasta, salads, soup, pizza, and sauces. Whether you have a garden space, a balcony, or just a sunny window, basil plants can thrive with the right care and climate conditions.

This article actually explains everything you really need to know about growing basil plant from seed successfully.

Why Grow Basil Plant From Seed?

Growing basil plant from seed has a lot of advantages:

·  The basil plant seeds are inexpensive

·  You can easily grow a lot of basil plants at once

·  There are actually a lot of basil varieties available you can grow

·  The fresh basil really tastes better than dried basil

·  Basil plant actually grows quickly and is a beginner-friendly

Some of the most popular basil varieties include:

·  The sweet basil varieties

·  The Genovese basil varieties

·  The Thai basil varieties

·  The Lemon basil varieties

·  The purple basil varieties

Each of the basil variety actually has a unique flavor and appearance.

The Best Time to Grow Basil Seeds

The basil plant really loves warm weather. The best time to really plant basil seeds is during spring after the danger of frost has passed.

If planting the basil seeds indoors:

·  You can start the basil seeds four to six weeks before the last frost date

If planting the basil seeds outdoors:

·  You need to wait until temperatures stay above 15°C (sixty degree Fahrenheit )

In warm climates the basil plant can actually be grown almost year-round.

Also read: How to Grow Carrots From Seed

Choosing the Right Growing Location For the Basil Plant

The basil plants grow best in a location with:

·  Six to eight hours of sunlight daily

·  A warm temperatures

·  Good airflow

·  A well-draining soil

You can easily grow basil plant:

·  In a prepared garden beds

·  In a good containers

·  In a prepared raised beds

·  On a windowsills

If you are growing the basil indoors, you can easily place the basil plant near a sunny south-facing window.

Selecting the Right Soil For planting

Basil plants actually prefer a rich, light, and a well-draining soil.

The ideal soil of planting basil should:

·  Actually hold moisture without becoming soggy

·  Contain a good organic matter

·  Have a pH that is between 6.0 and 7.5

You can actually improve the soil quality for plant by adding:

·  Good compost

·  Aged manure

·  Perlite

·  Coconut coir

Make sure you avoid heavy clay soil because it can retain too much water and then cause root rot.

How to Grow Basil Seeds

Step 1: Prepare the Soil For planting

You need to fill seed trays or containers with moist seed-starting mix. You have to smooth the surface gently.

Step 2: Sow the Basil Plant Seeds

The basil plant seeds are very small. You need to sprinkle them lightly on the soil surface.

Make sure you cover them with a thin layer of soil of about ¼ inch deep.

Step 3: Water Them Gently

You can easily use a spray bottle or a gentle watering can in other to avoid washing away the seeds.

Make sure you keep the soil moist but not soaked.

Step 4: Provide Warmth Condition

The basil plant seeds germinate best in warm temperatures between 21–27°C (seventy to eighty degree Fahrenheit).

You can use the following:

·  A greenhouse

·  A seed heating mat

·  A sunny window

The Basil Seeds Germination Time

The basil plant seeds usually germinate within:

·  Five to ten days

Once the basil plant seedlings appear you can move them to a bright area with plenty of sunlight.

Caring for The Basil Plant Seedlings

The young basil plants really need a careful attention.

Light Requirement

The basil plant seedlings require:

·  Six to eight hours of sunlight daily

If sunlight is limited you can use grow lights for twelve to fourteen hours per day.

Watering Requirement

Make sure you water regularly to keep the soil slightly moist.

Also avoid:

·  Overwatering of the plant

·  Letting the soil to dry completely

Also remember that too much water may lead to fungal diseases.

Provide Air Circulation

Actually a good airflow can also help to prevent disease. Make sure you avoid overcrowding the basil plant seedlings.

Thinning the Basil Plant Seedlings

When the basil plant seedlings develop two to three sets of true leaves you can thin them out.

You can leave the strongest basil plants with:

·  About eight and twelve inches spacing

Thinning helps the basil plants to actually grow bigger and healthier.

Transplanting Basil The Basil Plant

Once the Basil plant seedlings are:

·  Three to four inches tall

·  Strong enough to handle

You can carefully transplant them into larger a containers or the garden.

How to Transplant Basil Plant

1.    Water the Basil plant seedlings before transplanting

2.    You have to dig a small hole

3.    You need to carefully remove the basil plant seedling

4.    Then place the basil plant seedling in the new hole

5.    Make sure you firm the soil gently around it

6.    Water the basil plant immediately

Try and avoid damaging the delicate plant roots.

Watering the Mature Basil Plants

The basil plant likes consistent moisture.

The general watering tips:

·  Water deeply one to two times per week

·  You can water at the base of the basil plant

·  Try and avoid wetting the leaves

The container-grown basil plant may actually need more frequent watering because the containers dry out faster.

Fertilizing Basil Plants

The basil plant is not a heavy feeder, but light feeding of the plant encourages healthy growth.

You can use:

·  A compost tea

·  A balanced liquid fertilizer

·  An organic herb fertilizer

You can feed them every four to six weeks during the growing season.

Don’t forget that too much fertilizer may reduce flavor.

Also read: How to Grow Pumpkins From Seeds

Pruning and Harvesting Basil Plant

Pruning the basil plant is very vital because it encourages bushy growth.

When to Start Harvesting Basil

You can begin harvesting once the basil plant has:

·  At least six to eight leaves

How to Harvest Basil

Just pinch or cut the basil plant just above a leaf pair.

Doing this encourages new branches to grow.

Don’t ever remove more than one-third of the basil plant at a time.

Preventing the Basil plant From Flowering

The Basil plants in the end produce flowers. Once the flowering begins, the leaf production will slows and the flavor may weaken.

To keep the basil plant producing leaves:

·  You can easily pinch off the flower buds immediately

Nevertheless, the flowers are edible and they attract pollinators like bees.

The Common Problems When Growing Basil Plant

1. Yellowing of Leaves

The possible causes:

·  Overwatering the plant

·  Poor drainage

·  Lack of nutrients on plant

2. Wilting

This is usually caused by:

·  Underwatering of the plants

·  Heat stress on the plant

3. Leggy Plant Seedlings

This actually happens when the basil plants do not get enough light.

You can easily move them to a sunnier location or you can use grow lights.

4. Pests On Basil Plant

The common pest on basil plants include:

·  Spider mites

·  Slugs

·  Aphids

You can easily remove the pests on the plants by:

·  Spraying water

·  Using a good insecticidal soap

·  Hand-picking insects from the plants

Diseases That Affect Basil Plant

The basil plant may suffer from fungal diseases like:

·  Fusarium wilt

·  Downy mildew

To reduce the disease risk on the plant:

·  Just make sure you avoid overcrowding

·  Water the basil plant at soil level

·  Try and improve airflow

·  You can rotate crops yearly

Make sure you remove the infected basil plants immediately.