Basil Herb Seeds

About Basil Herb Seeds

Basil is the warm-season herb most kitchens start with: fast from seed, generous through summer, and happiest in the same heat that suits tomatoes and peppers. Leaves are best picked young and often, which is also what keeps the plant productive.

When to plant

Sow outdoors only once night temperatures stay above 50°F and the soil has warmed — basil sulks in cold ground. For an earlier harvest, start indoors four to six weeks before your last frost date and move seedlings out after the danger of frost has passed.

Where to plant

Choose a spot with at least six hours of direct sun and soil that drains freely. Basil grows well in containers, which makes it easy to keep near the kitchen door; use a pot at least eight inches across so it does not dry out by midday.

How to plant

Sow seeds a quarter inch deep and press the soil down gently. Keep the surface evenly moist until germination, usually five to ten days in warm soil. Thin or transplant to ten to twelve inches apart so air moves between plants.

How to care

Water at the base, not over the leaves, and pinch out the growing tip once the plant has two or three sets of true leaves. Keep pinching flower buds as they appear: once basil blooms, leaf production slows and the flavour turns sharper.

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