How Do You Grow Basil For Beginners?

1. Plant seeds/seedlings about 1⁄4-inch deep and 10 to 12 inches apart. They should grow to about 12 to 24 inches in height.
2. For larger varieties, plant farther apart (about 16 to 24 inches).
3. Tomatoes make great neighbors for basil plants in the garden—and on the plate!

How do you take care of a basil plant?

1. Water regularly – basil likes to stay moist and requires approximately 1 inch of water every week. …
2. Fertilize lightly –basil is a vigorous grower requiring very little to no fertilization. …
3. Pinch back leaves – pinch leaves from the tips of your basil as soon as the plant has two sets of true leaves.

How do you grow basil from a starter?

1. Prepare your starter pots by adding slightly moistened seed starter mix to about 1⁄2 to 1 inch below the top of your container. …
2. Add basil seeds to each pot. …
3. Cover the seeds with 1⁄4 inch of dry seed starter mix.
4. Gently mist your basil seeds with water.

Can I grow basil outside?

Basil is easy to grow, but it

only grows outdoors in the summer

—and only once the soil has warmed up nicely—so plan accordingly. If you’re planning on making pesto, grow several plants.

Is it better to grow basil inside or outside?

Basil is a hardy herb that grows

extremely well both indoors and outdoors

. As long as the plant receives the proper moisture and sunlight, it will thrive in any location. I grow basil in containers both inside and outside, and I also love to tuck it into my vegetable garden boxes.

Are used coffee grounds good for basil plants?

Yes,

coffee ground fertilizer is safe for basil and other herbs

. Again, just use it sparingly. Herbs definitely benefit from the nitrogen boost that coffee grounds provide.

What should I plant next to basil?

1. Asparagus. The combination of basil and asparagus appeals to ladybugs in particular, which helps control the presence of aphids and other pests in the garden. …
2. Borage. …
3. Chamomile, oregano, and chives. …
4. Marigolds. …
5. Peppers. …
6. Root vegetables. …
7. Tomatoes.

Does basil come back every year?

Also known as common or sweet basil, basil (U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 11 for outdoor gardens) is a true annual, which means it needs to be replanted each season.

In most circumstances, it does not grow back after a year

. … Basil plants are sensitive to cold weather and frost.

How do I make my basil bushy?

1. Cut basil stems with a pair of scissors about 1/4 inch above leaf sets or nodes. …
2. Prune or harvest basil in the same manner at least once every two or three weeks to keep the plant bushy and to prevent it from flowering.
3. Pinch off flower buds with your fingers if they appear.

How do you harvest basil without killing the plant?

You should

harvest the stems from the top down

. Always leave at least 1 leaf pair at the bottom of a stem when harvesting as this will allow the stem to keep growing after harvesting.

Do you water basil from the top or bottom?

Seriously, the best basil watering tips include simply sticking a finger in the soil. This works especially well for a container-raised plant.

Test both the top of the soil and the drainage holes at the bottom

. The top should feel cool and dry, while the bottom should be cool and moderately damp.

How do you keep potted basil alive?

Give your newly potted plants a generous soaking and

place them in a sunny spot, indoors or in a greenhouse

, and let them do their thing. They will soon recover, giving you months of fragrant harvests – and four pots for the price of one.

Is basil a perennial or annual?

Annual herbs

like basil and dill must be planted anew each year, but most other commonly used herbs qualify as perennials. They will go dormant where winters are cold, only to perk back up again each spring.

What is the life expectancy of a basil plant?

The lifespan of a basil plant is

less than one year

in any climate that experiences frost. Annual garden herbs like basil die with the first frost, roots and all. It won’t perk back up in spring after the winter freeze. It won’t come sprouting back up from the roots.

Why do I have trouble growing basil?

The

constant watering has clogged the soil around the roots

, and as a result of this the roots have started to rot. … In some cases, when overwatering occurred for a long period of time and the roots have been exposed to wet soil for too long, it can be possible that you no longer can save the basil plant.

Do tomatoes like coffee grounds?

For instance, you can sprinkle fresh coffee grounds around acid-loving plants like azaleas, hydrangeas, blueberries, and lilies. Many vegetables like slightly acidic soil, but

tomatoes typically don’t respond well to the addition of coffee grounds

.