FollowText.com » Home » Gardening » Basic Tips On How To Grow Basil

Basic Tips On How To Grow Basil

by: LeeDobbins
Total views: 8 | Word Count: 391

Basil is a useful ingredient in many Italian recipes as well as in salads, on sandwiches and in casseroles. So, it stands to reason that learning how to grow basil is a surefire way to ensure you always have a fresh supply to use in your cooking.

As long as you have good light and the right temperature, growing basil is very easy to do. You can grow basil easily from seeds, or purchase an "herb kit" with everything you need. However, a packaged kit isn't necessary; all you needs are basil seeds and some fertile soil.

Basil requires excellent drainage so choose a flower pot that has holes drilled in it. You can also use rocks, clay or charcoal in the pot before adding the soil so the water has a place to pool up.

If you are planting the seeds directly into the garden, be sure to delay planting until after the last frost and sow the seeds thinly. When planting seeds in pots, sow enough seeds to yield several plants and later thin the smallest plants. Wherever you plant the seeds, cover them with a little soil and water them well.

If you are just learning how to grow basil, keep in mind that the plants will need six to eight hours of sun each day. Indoors the plant should be placed in a sunny window and outdoors you need to make sure the plant has sun for the majority of the day but that it is also kept away from the wind.

Basil plants need to be watered two or three times a week. They also need to be fertilized each month. Try to keep the water at the base of the plant because if they get on the leaves it allows fungi to set in.

As flowers appear on your basil plant, remove them by pinching them off. In that way the plant uses its energy to produce tasty leaves instead of flowers, providing you with the most flavorful product.

Learning how to grow basil allows you to have a stock of the herb available all the time. By using indoor growing containers, you can grow your plants all year long. Make sure to plant three or four pots at once, and only harvest the upper leaves of each plant, to make sure the basil stays healthy and lasts for a long time.

About the Author

For more gardening tips including a video on how to grow basil, please visit http://www.gardening-ez.com/howtogrowbasil.php.

More Articles from: Gardening

1: The ins and outs of planning a manmade lake or pond
    (By: Rick Carlisle1, On: Aug 9th 2008, Words: 524, Views: 14)
2: Courtyard Fountains And Ponds: Customize Your Own
    (By: HerbDaniels, On: Jul 17th 2008, Words: 531, Views: 9)
3: Surinam Cherry Bonsai Tree Care Tips
    (By: LeeDobbins, On: Jul 17th 2008, Words: 504, Views: 12)
4: Juniper Bonsai Care
    (By: LeeDobbins, On: Jul 17th 2008, Words: 502, Views: 7)
5: Lawn Care Tampa - Get A Professional To Do It
    (By: JimCarpenter, On: Jul 16th 2008, Words: 589, Views: 6)

FollowText.com » Home » Gardening » Basic Tips On How To Grow Basil